Minnesota Vikings QB got very honest recently in a session with the media regarding his early struggles.
Both on film and via the metrics, McCarthy has been indisputably pretty bad to begin his NFL career. Sure, he had a couple big moments. His comeback in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears and big win over the Lions and Week 9 are some iconic highlights in Vikings lore.
Outside of all of that though, the kid has struggled mightily with the simplest of things. He is miss receivers very high, and holding on to the ball way too long. Even with the best pass blocking performance of the season by the Vikings offensive line in Week 11, he struggled a lot.
J.J. McCarthy isn’t backing away from the heat, though. Per a report from The Viking Age, the 22-year-old opened up to the media about his struggles.
J.J. McCarthy Gets Honest About Early Struggles
GettyQuarterback J.J. McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings opens up about early-season struggles with the media on Wednesday.
Consider McCarthy’s explanation, per that report from The Viking Age:
“I would say just my posture. The way that I’m processing the defense in terms of I know what I’m getting, but let the rhythm of the play play out. You know, don’t be getting to that answer too quick because it’s a timing and rhythm of the concepts and the defenses.
And just decision-making. Just understanding the situation of the game, not just the concept that I’m trying to execute.
Understand, like, for instance, that first pick last game, it’s four minutes going into half, we’re on our own side of the territory, and just understand what that risk factor should be and go from there.
So I’d say those things.”
Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy reveals reasoning as to why he’s struggling early on in his NFL career
Within his struggles though is a small nugget of something that could be spun as a positive. For whatever reason, J.J. McCarthy is pretty good on the road. All of his struggles have come at home. This is probably just coincidence, though, as Minnesota has had a lot of home games for contests that McCarthy has actually been healthy.
A Hopeful Road Ahead For Vikings Fans
GettyMinnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy talks with head coach Kevin O’Connell.
Quarterback development can take a while. J.J. McCarthy doesn’t necessarily have to have it all figured out yet. However, the complete lack of accuracy and throwing balls with touch by the kid is quite concerning.
Fortunately, that is something that can be fixed. J.J. McCarthy badly just needs to settle down and focus on the fundamentals. His leg very often whips out when he is throwing the ball, leading to a lot of these throws that are off of the mark.
Continued work on refining his mechanics by head coach Kevin O’Connell and QB coach Josh McCown can go a long way in fixing these issues. The NFL is very fast right now for McCarthy, but it is completely possible that it slows down for him soon.
It is great to see that the kid is self-aware for the issues to his game, and Vikings fans everywhere are still more than justified to place hope upon the kid.
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