Just a gentle reminder....

MaroonBells wrote:


I'm not as convinced as you that JJ is QB1 in 26, but I do think it might be the most likely. Depends on who else they bring in. 

I love the pass to Hockenson in the end zone. He could've thrown to Jones in the flat, but it would've been blown up. JJ chose to wait a beat and hit Hock who smartly broke off his route and just stopped in the open space. 

Of course you can hear Brady start to say he doesn't like it when QBs roll right and throw against their bodies, despite the fact that Patrick Mahomes does this on a weekly basis with no added commentary by anyone other than how brilliant he is.

I just don't see who they're going to bring in that would beat him out....and I don't think that's what they want or think is going to happen. JMO. Malik Willis? He's going to be in a bidding war with several teams because after Fernando Mendoza, there is a bunch of garbage in this Spring's Draft for QBs. Aaron Rodgers? Why even go there THIS season? Mac Jones? He's no Uncle Sammy for another organization. I just don't see a clear path to a real QB competition. And for god's sake get Brosmer out of QB2 territory....I think that is a done deal. Kyler Murray? I think Indy is going to push super hard to resign Daniel Jones.

That leaves guys like Anthony Richardson as a trade candidate. Ok. I think the way that Indy moved on from him is going to give a lot of teams pause unless they give him away. I'm just trying to think of a viable candidate and I can't get to one.....although I know they are going to trade/sign somebody. And its not going to be Joe Burrow, lmao. I just don't see them swinging for the fences.

I know we're all really in a holding pattern with JJ, big year upcoming. Some have optimism, some are wait and see and others just don't see it: I get them all. Just a reminder that it wasn't all bad and some of it was pretty strong. Fingers crossed a kid with this toolset can make it for a franchise that needs it.

FLVike wrote:

Right now number 9 is Tommy Kramer, JJ has a long way to go before number 9 has his picture in mind.

What about this guy? ;)

Montana Tom wrote:

Just a gentle reminder Sticky...you were JJ's biggest cheerleader last season...until you weren't.
Do I want him to stay healthy for the next 15+ years?  Yes.
Do I want him to become an All-Pro wearing purple?  Yes.
Do I want him to win the big one (in my lifetime) with the Vikings?  Yes.

I'm also a realist...no matter how much I want him to be great, he is going to have to do it on his own and prove all the naysayers wrong...just like Sam Darnold did in Seattle this season.

For me, Tom, I assess the team and play week to week. I say it alot during the season. At JJ's lowest point, he was making the offense dysfunctional and was very inaccurate. And I mentioned this as it was concerning. I wasn't understanding why it was happening, but there it was in my face, undeniable. What I didn't put together was what came when KOC decided to get the team together and say 'lets play like we did when we were 16 years old' and he told JJ to 'not worry about his mechanics'. Remember that? When KOC let JJ off the hook for his mechanics, he then started to play better and throw more accurately. It was undeniable, he wasn't pressing anymore. There was the guy I thought he'd be, at least emerging and improving. I was never going to cheerlead through his issues, I may be optimistic about his potential but I'm not blind.

Nowhere did I ever say he wasn't going to have to 'do it on his own'. The fact is the team still feels strongly about him, my guess is their major concern now is him staying healthy. Was it fluky or is this is a kid that's going to banged up often? That can only be answered this upcoming season. Jaxson Dart has been in concussion protocol 5 times in 10 games. Also, lets not deny at times the O-line didn't do JJ any favors. I think there is very very little chance of him not being QB1 this upcoming season.

Take with a grain...

IceRatz16 wrote:

Loved the video.  I’m with you again, Sticky.  I’ve been a big McCarthy supporter, and for some reason I’ve probably given him a longer leash than most.  He’s definitely had some brutal fortune to start his career, but he’s also shown he can compete at this level.

A few things that get lost in the noise:

[list]
[*]When McCarthy was on the field, he was setting or brushing up against positive franchise/rookie/QB benchmarks/records
[*]He also had a major life moment right out of the gate, starting a family after his first NFL game
[*]He was stepping in after not playing meaningful football for 600+ days, which is about as tough a “rookie” runway as you can have
[*]By Week 13, the Vikings had rolled through 20+ offensive line combinations, which is chaos for any QB, let alone a young one
[/list]

Like others have said, this fan base has been begging for a QB with real grit, presence, leadership, and competitive edge.  McCarthy checks those boxes.

I’m really excited to see what Year 2 looks like.  If the O-line stabilizes even a little, he’s now got a real foundation, games played, full practice cycles, command of the offense, chemistry with teammates, and the chance to fully step into being the leader this team wants.

I hear ya, man. Its coming, only delayed. He's gathering the stones people are throwing because he's got a castle to build.

Vikergirl wrote:

Most importantly and glaringly is JJM is young and immature. He needs to grow up. He needs to have a thicker skin and mental toughness in addition to improving mechanics, footwork, etc.

Not sure where he's lacking in either. In what way? This criticism makes no sense to me. There's certainly other things to be critical of, but these two?

pattersaur wrote:

KAM getting canned is probably gonna be one more thing McCarthy has to overcome. Historically, QBs get a longer leash from the GM who drafted them than from his successor.

I still believe.

Yep, we are going to find out if JJ was KOC's guy or if he was just trying to make lemonade out of lemons.

IceRatz16 wrote:


A lot of this feels like over-analysis searching for a problem that isn’t really there.

Criticism is fine. Turning normal rookie development into a psychological diagnosis or a referendum on his future isn’t.  Let the kid play, let him grow, and judge him on results, not vibes.  At some point this stops being analysis and starts being nitpicking because people are impatient.

This ^. I mean, it might be time for a few fans to breath the air if they are going this far into some kind of a reach for some kind of weird armchair psychoanalysis, lol. Good lord.  :s
[hr]

Vikergirl wrote:


If KOC thought JJM wasn't ready, how is he going to respond to that. Or if there is a division otherwise on which qb should have been picked, how is that dealt with. The whole nine thing is dumb as hell at this point. The taunting penalty was stupid, I get his excitement and enthusiasm but I can see where the ADHD is an asset and a hinderance for him. ADHD strengths can include energy and creativity. ADHD challenges can include difficulty with concentration and focus. He has had moments where he was able to channel that energy and creativity and that has helped him on the field. But the hypersensitivity could be an issue. He has had mental lapses (focus and concentration) and again that could be due to immaturity and learning on the job but it is something to consider. He was overthinking the part about mechanics and dumbing down the playbook for him. Part of it was learning on the job and finding what he was and was not ready for. He is a work in progress. KOC did not do him any favors at times either. We'll see if he can get his head and whether or not he succeeds. I want him to succeed but he has to take the criticism and get to work. Same goes for KOC, he has to take the criticism and accountability now. There is no one for him to hide behind. He needs to balance play calling more. Ideally give up play calling but that is not where he is at. Mental toughness can always be improved and should be. Also he has so much to catch up on. More growing pains on the way, he is young still. Thick skin because of the changes, the media is going to be less kind this season.

What? JMO, but slow your roll here, Dr. Phil. I think you are diving into the weeds that aren't there with the ADHD. And you think he's the only QB that is fiery? I mean, I don't have anything to add after IceRatz's post, it says it all...actually every fan should read it all in its entirety because its full of perspective. But some of you act like the team won 2 games last year. The projection here is a bit weird, JJ was 6-4 as a starter. Who's hiding? Certainly not KOC nor JJM, all I've read is them taking full responsibility.

MaroonBells wrote:


I could be wrong, but I think Vikergirl does this professionally. I'm not going to get too far into his brain, but I do think his mental and emotional makeup is a big part of who he is...and isn't yet. 

The weight loss is the thing I keep coming back to. It was blamed on an inability to workout after surgery. Man, that just doesn't compute for me at all. He was said to have lost 25-30 lbs. One report suggested as much as 40 lbs. For a kid who weighs 219, this is unfathomable to me. And all because he missed a few months of leg days? I don't buy it, and I wonder if it might have had something to do with his history of depression. 

And now all the offseason upheaval on the team is just more shit he has to deal with. So likely more social media posts from JJ about ignoring the haters, which obviously means you're not ignoring them. Jim Rome placed most of the blame for Kwesi's dismissal on the shoulders of JJ McCarthy. Rome's a knob and this is an obvious oversimplification, but man I don't envy the kid and all he's having to go through.

So I'll just say this, again JMO: its silly to say this about his 'mental and emotional' makeup....I guess I give up on this, lol. Everyone can believe whatever they'd like. 
But the whole line of thought on this.....IMO.....is really something. In any event, we'll find out soon about the QB position!

IceRatz16 wrote:


You’re dramatically overstating this. That stiff-arm penalty is the one I was talking about; a QB making a grown-man play and reacting in the moment.  That call almost never gets made on QBs, especially when guys like Baker routinely jaw, bump facemasks, and chirp without consequence.  Pretending this is some clear-cut line the league enforces evenly just isn’t true.

As for the practice story, let’s stop rewriting it like KOC dropped a “do this again and you’re benched” ultimatum.  Coaches tell players all the time to rein things in during practice.  McCarthy laughing about it isn’t defiance, it’s a 22-year-old acknowledging emotion and competitiveness.  If KOC truly viewed it as a serious discipline issue, we wouldn’t be guessing, we’d know.

The “QB must be emotionless at all times” argument is outdated.  Brady screamed, Rodgers smirked and taunted, Baker lives in defenders’ heads, and Mahomes celebrates constantly.  Leadership isn’t about suppressing personality, it’s about channeling it.  Nothing McCarthy has done suggests he’s losing focus or command.

If a brief celebration after fooling an entire defense is suddenly a red flag, then yeah, the No Fun League is officially back.  This is being magnified because people are already looking for reasons to nitpick him, especially you.

Let the kid play football.  If this is the worst thing we’re worried about, we’re doing just fine.  This is manufactured outrage because some people already decided they don’t like him.

JR wanted to keep Uncle Sammy, so he's not a big JJM fan. And spot on: the manufactured outrage is because they don't like the kid, which I don't get but I've been around long enough to understand fans are going to fan. The 9 thing is SO overblown I can't even....but again, its content for the X-heads.

pattersaur wrote:


Brother I'm 99.9% it was Sticky and you who were downplaying the weight loss thing last year lol. I posted about it a few times on this board and was told by many, "nothing to see here". Guy looked like a waif. It was extremely odd. I'm a huge fan/apologist of JJM's but that was just strange.

Nah, if I remember right, MB was worried as well....but I wasn't so your memory of me on that is correct. You might be thinking of MadGainz. And it was a big nothing burger, he easily put the weight back on. Was the organization probably unsettled? Probably. But as I mentioned in another thread, that was JJ's first major injury and he took the rehab advice very seriously and kept that leg immobile and lost a bunch of muscle mass being sedentary. But like I said, fans are going to fan. Its inevitable as the sunrise. They'll glom onto any kind of conspiracy theory, etc. or manufacture something based off nothing for drama. Hence the name 'fanatic'!