QB controversy...what I think
I'm pretty much over seeing so much ink devoted to our supposed QB controversy/position battle, here and elsewhere...however it is phrased by the pundits du jour.
Here's what I think will play out:
1) KM will win the starting position coming out of training camp. JJM second string and Wentz third on the depth chart. Brosmer to PS. Pretty black & white to this point.
2) At some point in the season, KM will get hurt. JJM will go in and "do okay". Not great, but better than any time last season. Starting to get shades of gray, but mostly black and white.
3) KM will heal and be back on the field, JJM back to being #2, but having improved showing a glimmer of hope. Shades of gray..."we'll see"...
4) The season will end and the QB controversy will continue into the offseason. This is where the fork in the road splits. KM will either show marginal improvement at the position compared to what we had last season, or a significant improvement given what we perceive as a vastly improved roster surrounding him. We'll know it when we see it. Very gray and fuzzy crystal ball.
5) Depending on how JJM does in relief of KM, will create a very clear impression of whether JJM might still be the QBOTF...or not. Black and white and we'll all intuitively know.
6) Wentz will see the field if both KM and JJM get hurt...yeah, it could happen. But if that happens, Wentz is going to manage the offense far better than he was able to early last season, given he had little time to absorb the offensive scheme.
7) The question then is whether our new GM will spend $100mm+ for a three year extension on KM, or if that money is better diverted to keeping other positions and let JJM's last two years of rookie scale support the continued roster build. If KM takes this offensive roster and brings us deep into the playoffs, then it's a pretty easy evaluation. Very much shades of gray here.
8) Having been stung by Darnold winning the Lombardi, if KM does really well and takes us deep into the playoffs...they'll surely bite on keeping him here and we'll all support that decision.
9) The Vikings will still pick up JJM's 5th year extension as protection/depth...because if KM doesn't get hurt this season, he will next season. His recent history predicts it.
So this is a long way of saying that this season is pretty much set, even though KM still has to "earn it". But it's up to both KM and JJM to seize the day when given their opportunity in TC as well as the regular season.
JJM, when (not if) he gets his shot, can't treat this like his personal "rah rah" college team. He needs to be mature and cool under pressure and not jaw someone in the face when he has a singular good play, drawing another unsportsmanlike flag. That was childish. Gotta keep that crap in containment.
However these two perform on the field under fire, will determine which fork in the road is taken.
Please God, just one Lombardi before I die.
MaroonBells wrote:
That's accurate. I'd even argue that McCarthy has more believers right now than Rosen did at the time. Vikings would be fools for trading JJ. 2027 might be a different story though.
For sure. If JJ gets a 3 to 5 game+ stretch were he gets a shot with a Murray injury and fails, that'll be it in Minnesota. We'd have to hope Murray is rocking it at that point or its back on the QB carousel again and that will be a very bad thing. And honestly, even if Murray does rock but proves injury prone how could you commit to him? Gross to imagine.
MaroonBells wrote:
That's accurate. I'd even argue that McCarthy has more believers right now than Rosen did at the time. Vikings would be fools for trading JJ. 2027 might be a different story though.
Trading JJM before this season would be selling low.
All I want is to see a TRUE competition. Not Murray handed the job like many people feel is a HOF now. That is all I want to see. If JJ can get a fair shot, and he still doesn't win out. Okay, then he sucks and we can send Skeleton man away. Hit him in head because he is obviously trash.
Canthony wrote:
All I want is to see a TRUE competition. Not Murray handed the job like many people feel is a HOF now. That is all I want to see. If JJ can get a fair shot, and he still doesn't win out. Okay, then he sucks and we can send Skeleton man away. Hit him in head because he is obviously trash.
He's had so few reps that I dont know if it's even fair to expect him to compete against a 7 year vet.
The reality might be that he's still not ready? Seems crazy to say that going into year 3, but he's gotten so few reps due to injuries.
I'm not advocating a year on the bench helps as much as others, but at least the pressure is off and he can focus on his craft.
I dont know how he'll get a fair shot at it tbh? I dont know how KOC/Staff plan on executing this completion, splitting #1 reps etc...
All should unfold next few mos.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
purplefaithful wrote:
He's had so few reps that I dont know if it's even fair to expect him to compete against a 7 year vet.
The reality might be that he's still not ready? Seems crazy to say that going into year 3, but he's gotten so few reps due to injuries.
I'm not advocating a year on the bench helps as much as others, but at least the pressure is off and he can focus on his craft.
I dont know how he'll get a fair shot at it tbh? I dont know how KOC/Staff plan on executing this completion, splitting #1 reps etc...
All should unfold next few mos.
Don't listen to the self proclaimed all god knowing people. Form your opinion. To say he can't compete with a 7 year vet is kinda silly. If he is the better QB, then he can show it. If not, you cut him loose to the Everglades. Come in and show you know the offense. Run the execution and gain the respect back from your team. I think a lot will depend on what kind of preparation and understanding JJ will show to KOC come OTA's. KOC will know relatively early on those things if he is willing to give him a fair shot or not.
Canthony wrote:
Don't listen to the self proclaimed all god knowing people. Form your opinion. To say he can't compete with a 7 year vet is kinda silly. If he is the better QB, then he can show it. If not, you cut him loose to the Everglades. Come in and show you know the offense. Run the execution and gain the respect back from your team. I think a lot will depend on what kind of preparation and understanding JJ will show to KOC come OTA's. KOC will know relatively early on those things if he is willing to give him a fair shot or not.
Thing is... JJM has the respect of the players and the locker room. Brian O'Neill just came out and said the locker room loves him and he has his teammates respect. No one ever doubted the kid last season. It's fans thinking he doesn't cuz he acted "immature" with being pumped up in a rivalry game and getting a dumb penalty.
Everyone writing him off now is being a loser fan that expects a top 5 QB from his first year as a starter. Get real.
The Murray move was the raise the level of competition in the QB room and give us a better option than Wentz or Brosmer if JJM isn't ready. KOC warned Kwesi about this last off-season and wanted Darnold back to let JJM likely marinate for another year since he missed 90% of his rookie season and couldn't do football stuff for like 6 months. That's the main reason why Kwesi got canned and KOC is still here.
We'll see what type of stuff JJM is made of... He won't come into this bowing and scraping to the Dwarf King (credit to Supa). There IS a reality where JJM comes in, competes, and keeps his job. He already has his teammates in his corner, he's just gotta show the coaches he fixed his footwork and learned to layer throws this off-season.
All I'm hoping for is one of JJM or Murray plays to their potential and we have a great season. If they don't, we're the Cleveland Browns under Kevin Stefanski (great HC and a talented roster with no QB).
Then there’s the consistency piece: how McCarthy shows up to work every day and how his habits progress in his third season. The Vikings have a high standard at the position. They want the starting quarterback to lift the tide for the entire team in 2026. This requires a level of discipline, which was up and down last season for McCarthy.
Maybe this is the maturity issue?
“Hell is empty and all the devils are here”
Shakespeare
JustInTime wrote:
Then there’s the consistency piece: how McCarthy shows up to work every day and how his habits progress in his third season. The Vikings have a high standard at the position. They want the starting quarterback to lift the tide for the entire team in 2026. This requires a level of discipline, which was up and down last season for McCarthy.
Maybe this is the maturity issue?
I would have failed pretty epically at 23. Not making excuses, but thats a lot to ask of someone so young in a locker room full of grown men.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
purplefaithful wrote:
I would have failed pretty epically at 23. Not making excuses, but thats a lot to ask of someone so young in a locker room full of grown men.
Not to mention he was 22 all of last year. Had his first kid. He was super young. Let’s see how he takes on the challenge.
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