Good stuff here from the Athletic on Kyler Murray, NFL stuff

[Canthony]

There’s no “default starter,” but barring injury, Murray will be the starter. The sooner we all get used to that idea, the better. In fact, I’d even say it’s more likely that Carson Wentz is our QB2 than McCarthy is our QB1. 

And no, KOC is not currently on the hot seat, despite what the big forehead guy on Twitter might say. Is it possible he could end up there given a bad season, some internal conflict, a couple of late nights with Addison's dog, and a new GM who wants to blow everything up? Sure, anything’s possible, but he’s not there now.

Only way that is possible is if JJ gets traded. I assume that is what you were implying. 

Hot seat or not, he hinged his future on two QBs. I will admit one thing; JJ would only benefit from this experience. JJ has had enough distractions his first two seasons. KNee surgery rookie year, not enough reps, has baby in the first 2 games of season, then injuries like he's glass joe. If anything, it will make him go back to the work ethic and fire he possesses, Murray will or should do that. You aren't a 21 year old kid that your dad gave you the keys to the Lambo of anymore. You crashed it, totaled it. Now learn from it and absolutely do everything you can to prove this is your team.

[medaille]

There’s no “default starter,” but barring injury, Murray will be the starter. The sooner we all get used to that idea, the better. In fact, I’d even say it’s more likely that Carson Wentz is our QB2 than McCarthy is our QB1. 

And no, KOC is not currently on the hot seat, despite what the big forehead guy on Twitter might say. Is it possible he could end up there given a bad season, some internal conflict, a couple of late nights with Addison's dog, and a new GM who wants to blow everything up? Sure, anything’s possible, but he’s not there now.

KOC is on the hot seat for sure.  You can call it a hot seat.  You can call it not a hot seat.  It doesn't matter if his seat is "hot" now or if people are internally talking about firing him and "serious" people are reporting it.  What matters is how people feel at the end of the season.  Just roll through the various ways the season can play out and how you think the fanbase and owners are going to feel in response to those outcomes.

• Kyler Murray gets injured early, and we replay last season with JJM and Wentz as QB ... Fired
  
• Kyler Murray plays acceptably but gets injured late.  JJM or Wentz takes over and we end up with 10-7 record and lose the first wildcard game.  You can't resign a QB you don't trust to be healthy to a big deal.  You basically don't have a QB at this point.  Disapppointing season ... disappointing future.  Are we keeping KOC or restarting fresh to get this taste out of our mouth?
  
• Kyler Murray plays acceptably but loses the wild card game ...
  

...  etc.

Just go through all the possibilities you can think of.  Which ones feel good and which ones feel bad.  I just don't see very many outcomes where we either don't make the playoffs or we lose the first playoff game and then feel like we want to keep going down the KOC path.  Maybe 14 wins gets us there?  Maybe Kyler sucking but pivoting to JJM too late but JJM looks great gets us there?

I just think if, you need to win a playoff game to keep your job, pretty much a hot seat.

[MaroonBells]

KOC is on the hot seat for sure.  You can call it a hot seat.  You can call it not a hot seat.  It doesn't matter if his seat is "hot" now or if people are internally talking about firing him and "serious" people are reporting it.  What matters is how people feel at the end of the season.  Just roll through the various ways the season can play out and how you think the fanbase and owners are going to feel in response to those outcomes.

• Kyler Murray gets injured early, and we replay last season with JJM and Wentz as QB ... Fired
  
• Kyler Murray plays acceptably but gets injured late.  JJM or Wentz takes over and we end up with 10-7 record and lose the first wildcard game.  You can't resign a QB you don't trust to be healthy to a big deal.  You basically don't have a QB at this point.  Disapppointing season ... disappointing future.  Are we keeping KOC or restarting fresh to get this taste out of our mouth?
  
• Kyler Murray plays acceptably but loses the wild card game ...
  

...  etc.

Just go through all the possibilities you can think of.  Which ones feel good and which ones feel bad.  I just don't see very many outcomes where we either don't make the playoffs or we lose the first playoff game and then feel like we want to keep going down the KOC path.  Maybe 14 wins gets us there?  Maybe Kyler sucking but pivoting to JJM too late but JJM looks great gets us there?

I just think if, you need to win a playoff game to keep your job, pretty much a hot seat.

Like I said, anything can happen. But it's just so unlikely it's really not worth the words on the page. I think the Wilfs are smarter than you give them credit for. They don't run their team like basement keyboard bros who want to fire everyone every year. I also think they genuinely appreciate that every QB in the NFL wants to play in Minnesota. There's a reason for that, and it's not just Justin Jefferson. 

The only thing that's going to change that is a GM who wants to blow everything up. And I really doubt a guy like even gets an interview with the Wilfs.

[medaille]

Like I said, anything can happen. But it's just so unlikely it's really not worth the words on the page. I think the Wilfs are smarter than you give them credit for. They don't run their team like basement keyboard bros who want to fire everyone every year. I also think they genuinely appreciate that every QB in the NFL wants to play in Minnesota. There's a reason for that, and it's not just Justin Jefferson. 

The only thing that's going to change that is a GM who wants to blow everything up. And I really doubt a guy like even gets an interview with the Wilfs.

How do you think it's so unlikely it's not worth words on the page.

KOC will have finished his 5th season this year.
27 out of 32 teams have coaches that have 5 or less years of tenure.

We're not talking about just garbage teams, who randomly turnover for the sake of turnover.  The entire NFL doesn't give non-winners more than 5 seasons.  He has to win.  The Wilfs have already given him enough leash

If Kyler isn't a stud this year ... the only player that's been QB whispered by KOC is Darnold.

Our offense has high draft picks and expensive veteran players at literally every position on offense outside of WR3, FB, C, and QB.  Flores routinely takes chicken shit talent and turns out a top 5 defense.  Those are large reasons QBs want to play here.

[MaroonBells]

How do you think it's so unlikely it's not worth words on the page.

KOC will have finished his 5th season this year.
27 out of 32 teams have coaches that have 5 or less years of tenure.

We're not talking about just garbage teams, who randomly turnover for the sake of turnover.  The entire NFL doesn't give non-winners more than 5 seasons.  He has to win.  The Wilfs have already given him enough leash

If Kyler isn't a stud this year ... the only player that's been QB whispered by KOC is Darnold.

Our offense has high draft picks and expensive veteran players at literally every position on offense outside of WR3, FB, C, and QB.  Flores routinely takes chicken shit talent and turns out a top 5 defense.  Those are large reasons QBs want to play here.

OK, we've gone on long enough about this. Talk about much ado...

[medaille]

OK, we've gone on long enough about this. Talk about much ado...

It’ll be an interesting season.  So many parts of our team have a lot to play for.  Kyler can’t afford to be injured and miss time.  He’s probably losing $60M-$100M on his next contract if misses time due to injury, especially if it affects the last couple games or playoffs.  He also can’t afford to be too conservative and playing to avoid injuries.  JJM is watching his opportunity slip away.  If he gets in a game, what are the odds that he’s super amped up and slinging every ball at the fastest possible velocity?  Probably 100%.  KOC needs some success as the QB whisperer.  KOC needs to show he can develop players (Was KAM just bad at picking players, or are the coaches bad at developing them?)  KOC is doing both this year.  Only one person to look at it.  What about the entire roster pretty much playing for their next contract?

Which side is getting the most support in the draft?  The defense who is the reason we’re winning all these games? Or the HC who’s got the most to lose if his side of the ball doesn’t get better?

If Murray is injured and it’s hurting the offense, what does KOC do?  Murray probably isn’t taking himself out of the game, but KOC needs to win a playoff game.

Lots of interesting story lines that can unfold this season.  It’ll be interesting how KOC maintains stability when there’s so much for everyone to stress about.