Four Minutes Of JJ McCarthy Highlights

He definitely looked bigger at his presser.

StickierBuns wrote:

And he's the kind of kid that looks bigger in real life, PF mentioned this when he went to the preseason game last year. He's thicker than on TV.

So am I lol

StickierBuns wrote:
https://x.com/vikingzfanpage/status/1920279512459170207

I love how Kevin O'Connell, the Harrisons, Hock, etc are taking about JJ.  They KNOW he's going to be good from what they saw last year and how he's conducted himself around the facility. 

I think the media is starting to catch on a little but will still be surprised (not me or Sticky) how good he's going to play this season.  Think everyone will look back at the angst about Rodgers and letting Darnold and Danny boy walk and realize it was stupid since JJ McCarthy proved he is "the guy".

WOW 🚨:

Tom Brady says JJ McCarthy could win MVP this season on Logan Paul's Podcast 👀

"He is so similar to me. He'll do anything to win, and whenever he's played, he's won. Michigan just produced another elite QB, and I wouldn't be shocked if he won MVP this year."

WOAH 😳 pic.twitter.com/3oj5x71xvU

— Cam (@42Cyc) May 8, 2025

StickierBuns wrote:
Since we are a mere 12 days from QBs reporting to training camp, let's do a revisit to this thread.....basically the highlight video posted by JIT in the original post of JJM. What this short video shows really is a guy making quality NFL throws and some higher level running/mobility. You can see the talent and ability that is exciting. For me, here's what jumps out big time when reviewing this video:

Big boy throws at: 

• 0:18 seconds (scrambles to his left and fires a rocket for a TD, tough for a right handed thrower)
  
• 0:33 seconds (beautiful standing tall NFL pocket pass to the opposite shoulder that only the WRer can get)
  
• 0:44 seconds (calmly surveys than moves to his right and fires a strike on the run, dangerous outside the pocket)
  
• 0:52 seconds (beautiful placement over defenders for a NFL QB TD)
  
• 1:33 minutes (scrambles inside to pass, moving to his left and a 25 yard dart for a 1st down)
  
• 2:15 minutes (scrambles to his left, directing a WRer downfield and squares up and fires for a first down. All of these moving left passes for a right handed QB is pure arm strength and he's got a ton)
  

Runs:

• 1:04 minutes (designed run play and the old shoulder fake in, trucks a guy and beats the defenders to the corner for a TD)
  
• 1:14 minutes (designed run play, another inside shoulder fake, stiff arm and beats the defenders to the endzone)
  
• 2:38 minutes (designed run play and nothing but pure speed. Beautiful)
  
• 3:07 minutes (designed run play, trucks a few guys and never goes down)
  

Good stuff! I've seen him make a few questionable decisions and his accuracy deep can be inconsistent. But that's true with a lot of QBs. Either way, NOBODY should be questioning his foot speed, escapability, arm strength or his accuracy on short to mid-range passes. He's going to be a lot of fun to watch this year.

Just a reminder...

Jim Harbaugh on J.J. McCarthy going to Minnesota Vikings: “That’s where he had his heart set, and I’m just so happy for him. Love him like a son, and I was praying and pulling for it to work out the way he wanted it to work out.” pic.twitter.com/Xku3Dt7LZC

— Clayton Sayfie (@CSayf23) April 26, 2024

StickierBuns wrote:

Harbaugh loves himself some JJ....big time.

Watched the entire Jordan Addison interview from the last day of OTAs and he mentioned how JJM took control from Day 1 of the OTAs....moved guys around on the line and was the obvious leader of the team. The most animated I've ever seen Addison as a Viking is when the reporter asked him about McCarthy. Said its been 'amazing' to play with him and great of a QB he is, he's an even better person. Said the thing he didn't realize about him is that 'he's got swag'. The equity that JJM has on this team already is elite....they love this kid. I told everyone on this board that this is exactly what would happen, he'd win everyone over. And he has.

Next he'll show everyone on the field that he's for real. Its going to be a very fun time as a Viking fan with JJ McCarthy at QB. This kid is truly different. The reason he's going to resonate so hard with Viking Nation is because he's a Midwest kid and the wonderful things that go along with being raised in the Midwest. The personality traits. Humble. Polite. But a big time dawg. That calm demeanor hides an on-field ultra competitiveness. Super athletic. Big time arm. Loves football but loves more being a part of a team.

I love how his eyes stay down field as he moves in the pocket.  So many QBs would have run many of those plays, but JJM made bigger plays pushing the ball downfield.

My only concern, some of those off balance throws were a bit dangerous and could be intercepted in the NFL.

greediron wrote:

I love how his eyes stay down field as he moves in the pocket.  So many QBs would have run many of those plays, but JJM made bigger plays pushing the ball downfield.

My only concern, some of those off balance throws were a bit dangerous and could be intercepted in the NFL.

Agree on both counts. Love his accuracy under pressure, but here are two passes that I think most coaches would say he should not have thrown. 

StickierBuns wrote:

Noticed but the interesting thing is its moving to his right, so he's got the big gun out and he's shooting it....which big armed slightly mobile right handed QBs do. He's got a gunslinger mentality for a career at Michigan that required usually anything but. JMO, but this is the acorn that becomes the mighty oak. He's had amazing career coaching and he's always been a high upside ceiling QB prospect from high school moving forward. He's going to throw some passes that will get intercepted but he'll throw so many more TDs because of that mentality: it only matters in crunch time. And this kid has been honed via the fire. 

The critics in college said he couldn't throw the deep ball accurately. Just watch and see.

^^^

that's also what the prognosticators are saying for the NFL too...

I definitely see the Josh Allen comparisons, plus (and I hate saying this), I see some of the pre-OxyContin Favre in the kid, too. It's a little worrisome, because NFL level CBs wouldn't allow some of those highlights, but he's also a little older, now, and has been working with KOC & co.

I've been really impatient for seasons before this one, but this might be the most painful July I can remember....

StickierBuns wrote:

Well, this one was his first playing time in a real college game in mop up duty (Cade McNamara was starting) as a true freshman toward the end of a blowout win against Western Michigan I believe. Not sure I'd really put anything into that. I mean this was back in 2021....he was 18 years old. Nothing to lose here so he lets it rip. Michigan Nation was gaga over his potential as he was the highest rated HS QB ever recruited by Michigan.

Oh yeah, fully aware he was just a couple months away from his senior prom at this point. It's the kind of cross-body throw that will drive coaches mad. Still, it shows ridiculous arm strength for an 18 year old.

MaroonBells wrote:

Oh yeah, fully aware he was just a couple months away from his senior prom at this point. It's the kind of cross-body throw that will drive coaches mad. Still, it shows ridiculous arm strength for an 18 year old.

He planted before he threw.  It wasn't the traditional scramble to the right and throw left type of throw, though it still was impressive and maybe not a throw you consistently want to resort to.