Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has shown flashes that he can be the face of the franchise. In his performances against the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, the young signal-caller played a significant role in the win, but there’s still one major issue that analysts have with the player.
McCarthy completed 14 of 25 passes for 143 yards in the game against the Lions in Week 9, throwing two touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for a score that helped secure the win. The second-year quarterback even mentioned having an alter ego that pushed him through the matchup.
Despite this performance against Detroit, which keeps the Vikings in the middle of the playoff race, FOX Sports broadcaster Daryl Johnston shared his one important concern he has over McCarthy.
“The one thing that we need to see more from J.J. McCarthy is consistency throughout the game,” Johnston said on the latest edition of ‘One on One.“ “Two wins on the road in the division are very impressive. Chicago is a much different team this year than last year, and that was an impressive win, especially with how it started. To be able to hang in there and have your teammates believe you’re the guy who can still get it done after struggling says a lot.
“He played at a high level in the back end of the game in Chicago and started really well in Detroit. I just want to see J.J. become a little more consistent with his play. He has great people to lean on, and that’s one of the big things for a young quarterback — getting in sync with the Justin Jeffersons and the other guys on offense, while also being able to rely on the run game a bit.”
J.J. McCarthy Still Has Doubters
Johnston isn’t the person who wants to see more from McCarthy. Nonetheless, the NFL analyst doesn’t appear to be a doubter of the Vikings quarterback, unlike FS1 host Colin Cowherd. On the November 3 episode of “The Herd,” Cowherd shared a blunt assessment of how he sees Minnesota’s young signal-caller heading into Week 10.
“He’s like the UPS driver,” Cowherd said about McCarthy. “I don’t know who he is, but they always deliver on time. The package is never screwed up. I love the delivery system. I don’t know if the UPS driver is any good. Seems like a nice guy.
“So it just felt a lot like the Michigan J.J. McCarthy, which is I love the coach at Michigan and the tight end and the defense. And that’s what I felt yesterday. It was fine. He was good on script, but it’s not a script league.”
Can Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy’s Persona Help Him?
On November 5, McCarthy met with reporters and sent a clear message to upcoming opponents, such as the Baltimore Ravens, ahead of their Week 10 matchup. He explained that once he steps onto the field, a different side of him emerges — one that might be the key to unlocking the steady play Johnston has been referring to.
“There’s definitely a level of a switch that gets flipped,” McCarthy said. “For me, it’s that I call him nine. Nine comes out, and I have to understand that he can’t be at his peak performance throughout three and a half hours.
“So, how do I find little ways on the sideline, get back to my breath, get back to my visualization, that could maintain that intense competitive stamina throughout the whole game. It’s just the pure will and determination to get the job done.”
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