Bercich Breakdown: Mean Mugging McCarthy — Is this the way the Vikings turn the season?

Bercich Breakdown: Mean Mugging McCarthy — Is this the way the Vikings turn the season?

It is time now for the Bersich breakdown and he is down in the laboratory once again. Pete Bersich from the Vikings Audio Network joining us. Vikings come off a stunner. Pete, they go into Detroit and the guy who likes to play bully ball and wants to be the intimidator. not only beating you on the scoreboard, but beating you physically was unable to do either last Sunday. And to me, and to probably everybody watching this video, how did this happen? I mean, this team looked like it was done after the trip to LA. They looked like there was no fight left in him and then all of a sudden, huzzah, the Minnesota Vikings appear. Yeah, it’s amazing what you can accomplish when you put your mind to it. And I say it in that way because this team uh I wouldn’t call it a total transformation per se, but they were they were a different club. Much more physical on defense uh than we’ve seen them over the last couple of weeks. Having Ven Ginkle in there, yes, that absolutely helps. Um but you listen to the like Grard all week long. Grard wanted this win. A lot of these guys wanted this win and they did what was necessary to get it done. So the I think the physicality of the defense was a huge part and and by that I mean they were physical and then Flores allowed them to be aggressive meaning we blitz quite a bit. Right. This is a, you know, Jir Gibbs was averaging last year averaged 160 all-purpose yards against us and multiple touchdowns. He had five last year. We gave up 12 rushing touchdowns all last season. He had five of them. They kept him in the back field um by blitzing and doing a number of other things. That’s the scheme part of it taking over. Uh but they got Jared Goff off of his game. He’s a he was against us. He’s a 76.4% 4% completion guy and I believe he was somewhere in the 60s mid60s. Uh and you saw it during the game, right? Some normal timing routes that that the Lions are, you know, unbelievably good at doing, they just weren’t there. There were some drops, the getting rid of the football. G was on the ground, he was sacked a number of times. All that together uh really changed the dynamic of the game and you know offensively they wanted to be aggressive. They gave us a bunch of single high safety and for JJ McCarthy to his credit he was he was very accurate on the outside. He was very accurate um throwing the ball down the field especially in in the in the red zone. So um Aaron Jones loves playing against these Lions. He had 70 he had averaged 70 allpurpose yards uh last year against the Lions and he was kind of doing the same thing. It’s that just the front that they play. He he can kind of jitter bug all over the place and and he was very very effective and u that’s kind of something we’ve seen with McCarthy when he’s in the fourth quarter of the Bears game when the running game kicks in. Uh yeah, this thing starts this thing starts flowing especially in the in the passing game per se. But um yeah, although you know being healthy is important and and having the right guys in there is important, but um the overall attitude and that was the most remarkable part I think for the whole thing was Thursday to look as you know just flat um uninspired. I mean, honest. Yeah. The whole thing. I mean, to lose by 27. Uh, and then play which what a team that should be more physical than the one you just lost to that ran up and down the field on you. Uh, and then to match him, not just match him in physicality, but really dominate the game. Uh, probably the most, well, my opinion, the most impressive win that Kevin Oonnell’s had as a coach because he’s never won in Detroit. I don’t think we’ve won in Detroit since co since 2020. Yep. So, um yeah, that place is has turned into a nightmare in a few short years. And you know, going in there and and planting a flag and saying, “No, we’re we’re going to an eight and a half point underdogs.” I mean, that was that energized everybody, right? And not just the team, but everybody around the team, the fans, us. So, uh now we know what they’re capable of. All right. They just have to do it every single week. Okay. You talked about attitude and the postgame comments in the locker room was, “Well, the captains got up and spoke and there are eight captains of your Minnesota Vikings.” And they say that really changed things. You’ve been around, you’ve been a player, you’ve been a coach, you’ve been an analyst. So when you hear players say that or you were in those rooms, was there a time when you were on a team and the players kind of took over and said, “Look, this is stupid. We are not this horrible. Let’s get this going.” And then the ship was writed. So do you buy into that or was it more the schemes that Okonnell and Flores put together for them to be successful against the Lions? Well, the when you have a player meeting like that, it it’s not necessarily about the schemes per se. Uh it’s more about execution and attitude, uh effort, uh those sort of things. Normally, those those meetings happen when the the captains and the stars of the team aren’t really carrying their weight or they’re not playing with the way they want to, right? So, it’s kind of a rally to get everyone together to say, “All right, you know, clean slate. we’re you’re going to get every single thing I have tomorrow. Match, you know, follow me, match me, right? That’s that’s leadership. Okay. And I think for for everybody to hear each and, you know, all the every single one of the uh uh captains get up there and talk about what they’re planning to do and how they’re planning about doing it, it’s it’s inspirational, but it showed, right? So, um, again, the physicality of the whole thing, the effort, uh, you know, um, just, uh, you the force the force fumbles that we had, um, you know, the one that we had, I mean, just right, that was effort, right? The Cman fumble, that was that was all effort, pursuit, the whole thing. Those those things haven’t, you know, necessarily always been happening. And you know, if if it takes that kind of a meeting to get everybody on the same page, then they should be doing it every week. All right. Uh see if I can dig this up. I may have to wait a question for this one because this is about JJ McCarthy explaining his attitude, right? We’ve seen the face paint on him this year. Uh make John Randall blush that how much he puts on there. It’s It’s good. Um but I’ll give you my other question first. is what you saw Sunday and then I’ll dig up this McCarthy thing. So, we’ll get to that in a second. And by the way, as long as we’re promoting stuff and what’s coming up, Eye in the Sky, that’s Pete’s YouTube channel. He’s got one on the three-headed monster. We’ll get into Baltimore, but he’s got a whole specific film breakdown that’s attached right after this video, so stay for that. But is this sustainable? What you saw? Is this truly what this Viking team is or was this a one-off where you say the captains spoke and rose the emotion of the team to a fever pitch? But can you stay at that level now going up against Baltimore? Yeah, you can. I think it it’s again it’s it’s just a matter of effort and the amount of effort you put in week in and week out taking care of your body having a you know raising the base level so to speak right and not just you’re not just going out there to do your job quote unquote you’re out there to you know hurt people break things right um you know cause damage so to speak that’s what you’re trying to do uh and it’s not a normal thing and it takes you have take yourself to a certain level mentally. Um, but doing it together, I mean, the guys can feed off of each other, you know, that’s that’s a that’s a tremendous thing. That’s a tremendous thing. And and hopefully they can keep this thing going. I think they can. You got to stay healthy, but it’s a challenge, I think, now with a 17game season and there’s a lot of other things and headwinds in that regard. But, um, overall, you’re you’re you already about halfway through this thing. So, just finish out the second half of the season that way and uh good things will be I think just on the other side. All right. Uh I’m going to read Kevin Seafford’s tweet of ESPN. He put this out there. JJ McCarthy has a name for the mean mug that showed up Sunday in Detroit. You saw it when he was on the sideline in the tunnel about to come out. He calls it nine. It is quote from JJ. It is an outlet for the rage he has felt on IR last season. There’s a lot of power that comes from that builtup anger that you could translate into your performance.” Unquote. JJ McCarthy. I mean, whatever whatever works for you, man. Right. Whatever whatever works for you. You know what I’m saying? And and that was kind of that was kind of the feel that you got from some of like Grenard’s statements where he’s, you know, saying they just don’t like the Lions. And and I I kind of chuckle at it because um you’re not supposed to like your division opponents. We didn’t like the Packers, that’s for sure. It’s not like we personally hated these people and 20 years down the road you weren’t going to if you saw one, you wouldn’t, you know, sit down and talk and do whatever. But not liking your rival is okay, right? you you have to not trick yourself, but put yourself in a position mentally that’s not easy to get to. But it’s much easier if you’re grumpy and if you don’t like things and you allow things to get to you and bother you, uh, you know, for JJ, the the year on IR, if if that’s if that’s a rallying point for him, it’s taking a negative and really turning it into a positive. I guess it’s it’s it’s a way of doing that. So, um I I that’s awesome for him. The problem is is that that’s going to go away after time and you have to keep reinventing the wheel and finding something else. So, just make that a part of who you are. Meaning, when you step on the field, you become number nine or what, however it is that you you want to call it and do it. And if that’s what you need to do, then then go ahead. I mean, um, I mean, I was around one of the best in in John Randall, a guy who could whip himself up into a frenzy like nobody else have ever seen. Uh, and you know, it was it didn’t matter who we were playing. It did it just if if he was putting the pads on and going on the field. This that’s just that’s just how he was. Yeah. Well, and Harrison Smith has told me before in the past that he said, “Look, if we really thought about this game in realistic terms of what we’re putting our bodies out there for, he said, “You’d never cross that white line.” He said, “I’d have a better time crossing 35W at rush hour and not getting hit and getting hurt than I would on a football field.” But he says, “You have to put that out of your mind. You have to take on this role of invincibility.” And I’m sure you did that same thing when you played that. You know what? I’m going to inflict the pain. I’m not going to take the pain. And you don’t think about, oo, if I stick my head in there, you know, I I could injure my clavicle. Yeah. No, you’re not you’re not worried about life when you’re 50 and 60 and 70 when you’re playing when you’re playing football. It’s a short window. you’re trying to make as big of an impact and as play as long as you possibly can. You do not worry about the the you know how this is going to affect yourself later on down the road. You’ll survive all of that. You’re not you know what I mean? So yes, it’s a it’s a definitely a um uh you know what’s important now style of thinking. And for you know Harrison Smith, he’s what pushing 40, so he’s pretty close to that to that age anyway. So, he might be feeling some of that stuff. I you know, I don’t know. But he’s uh he’s right. And but that’s something that it’s from day one. As soon as you start putting the pads on, um yeah, you’re not worried about how you’re going to feel in the morning. If you, you know, if you did, nobody would play the game. Um but it’s for, you know, it’s worth it to go out there and be able to do that. Uh um fly around, hit people, you know, just do all those things. You got to really you have to really love what you do. You can’t fake that. All right. Uh the offense and JJ McCarthy’s numbers overall, they weren’t eye popping, but they were critical to the Vikings. And this is the point you brought up last week. If you want to go back to the YouTube clip last week, his main point was the Vikings need to get the lead. All season long. They have had the lead going into that Detroit game. 64 offensive snaps. In the Lions game, they had the lead on 42 snaps. So, that changes everything. You pointed that out. You said if they get the lead, they can dictate what’s going on. Then it also puts the pressure on golf. They can’t use their vaunted running game because they’re behind. They’ve got to try different things. And that’s where you said Flores’s defense excels. And sure enough, that’s what happened. Yeah, it matches the identity of this team. This is not a uh necessarily a come from behind type team. This is a team that’s supposed to be explosive on offense, uh put up a lot of points, and then have a defense that um could take can just really take advantage of you if you’re trying to score quickly. Uh yeah, and we did give up a touchdown on the opening drive, right, to the Detroit Lions. I mean, that’s three weeks in a row. It’s uh you know I think or it’s the yeah third week in a row the I think believe the uh fourth or third touchdown that we’ve given up on the opening drive. I mean so that is that is still there. Um but they did respond with in kind. I mean, that’s where all three phases of of the of the game matter. And that was another, I think, point um on this victory is, you know, the defense gets out there and they uh you know, don’t um um Detroit gets very aggressive and they end up scoring a touchdown. Well, special teams comes out and Price takes that thing all the way to the opposite side and uh you know, cross the 50. I think it was a 60s some yard return and then you go ahead. So, it’s it’s it’s special teams leading to a short field, offense gets out there, they put up a touchdown, cover a kick, defense goes out, makes a stop, make a punt, good punt return, offense gets back on the field, next thing you know, you have a lead. Um, and they they did change that they did change that around and that’s that’s a big that was a big point of emphasis I think going into this game. Um, so they went out and executed it among a ton of other things and again that’s why this victory was so amazing. Um, yes, but all three all three phases played well. All right. Uh, let’s get to Baltimore and your video gives us a preview of what people can find on the eye in the sky. Just put in his name, Pete Bersich. high in the sky that will pop up. The three-headed monster. Uh the Vikings are going to be dealing with something that really is unique to the National Football League. I don’t think there’s another team that possesses three powerful human beings like the Baltimore Ravens do. Yeah. I mean, we don’t play the Ravens that often. I remember the 2013 game when there were what, five touchdowns scored in two minutes and five seconds. It’s it if you if you’ve never seen it or have aren’t familiar with it um you know jump on YouTube um and there’s there’s a number of videos about it. Cordel Patterson with the kick returns and everything and that was actually Toby Ghart’s probably best game had a 41 yard touchdown run if you remember Toby Gart that name. Um yeah the Ravens they’re a schizophrenic team man. I mean, last year they started out rough and then they turned it around and became a good team by the end of the year. And the same thing is kind of happening this year where you uh you know, you start out one and five and you’re thinking, what’s going on? Yes, you know, they they lost Lamar for three games in there, but they’ve won two in a row. They beat the Bears uh at home and then they went out and beat Miami. And so now they’re kind of getting back on the ro on a roll. And and you look at Lamar’s numbers, 136.7 passer rating, number one in the league, 14 touchdowns, only one interception. His completion to touchdown ratio is the best in the NFL. He’s led the league twice. If he does it again this year, that’ be three years in a row, which ties in with Steve Young for doing it for three seasons. The only people that have done it for four seasons are Aaron Rogers and Brett Favre. So, uh, yeah, he’s he’s he’s doing a phenomenal job and the video kind of explains all the different areas where he’s so good. He’s so good at extending plays and his receivers making things happen. He’s so good at pre- snap diagnosis where he knows if it’s man-to-man, he’s going to do one thing. If it’s zone, he’s going to do another. Um, scrambling uh when it is manto man and just taking the ball down and running with it when the opportunities are there. He’s very smart. Um, I think he still struggles with some short range or underneath accuracy despite his completion percentage. Uh, I think you can coax him into some into some bad throws. Uh, but he’s he’s super good. Derrick Henry, I mean, he’s kind of back on a roll. You wondering how Okay, so how are they winning these games all of a sudden? Well, Derrick Henry has over 100 yards in two of the last three games. He had 119 yards on 19 rushing attempts against the Miami Dolphins. um and they kind of wear you out with them. So don’t don’t relax if he’s didn’t have a stellar first half. It’s that third and fourth quarter where Derrick Henry likes to really, you know, start flexing flexing that muscle. He’s going to wear you out. Um and then third on defense because their defense has been as black and white as as you could possibly imagine. um over the last three games, I mean, they were they were giving up 34 12 points a game, I think, through the first five. In the last three, they’ve dropped that by 22 points. They’re giving up uh 93 less yards per game over the last three games. So, what have they done? Well, part of it is is um Alohi Gilman. They made a trade in week six and brought in Alohi Gilman and they kind of put him at deep at deep safety. So that allows them to bring Kyle Hamilton and put him in the box and they’re going to play Kyle Hamilton a lot like we do Josh Matelis or Harrison Smith. Um they’ve had troubles getting to the quarterback. They only have 11 sacks. That’s the second lowest in the league. And so over the buy, um, they they sat down, Zack Ore, their defensive coordinator, they sat down and said, “Okay, we need to start getting aggressive.” And how are they doing it? Well, they’re bringing guys like Kyle Hamilton down in the paint. And and what you’re finding out, cuz well, let’s say prior to the trade, the the trade, Hamilton was in the box around 17% of the time. He’s now down there almost 57% of the time. And he’s blitzing. He’s blitzing off the edge, he’s blitzing up the middle, and he’s a very, very good blitzer. Um, can defeat a running back, blocking him, plays the run really well, even though he’s down in the paint. So, this this you you’re kind of uh finding a whole new talent set for Kyle Hamilton and he’s been very, very effective. Um, because you don’t need to be dropping them off in coverage all the time anymore. And that’s really been the big change. And against Miami, he probably blitzed off the edge four or five times and uh made an impact on on every one, you know, almost every one. Tackle for loss, uh excuse me, doing a number of other things. So, um those three players have, you know, really stand out. Um and those are the three guys I think they’re going to lean on going forward. All right. Well, check it out. It’s coming up right after this video. The three-headed monster eye of the sky podcast. Pete Bersich. Uh, catch him Sunday on Fox 9. He’ll be on Game Day Live. He’ll be on the audio call of the Minnesota Vikings with the great Paul Allen. A national treasure, I think. Uh, he’s been now labeled. That’s all I’ve heard. What do they label you as if he’s a national treasure? I’m a sidekick, man. That’s it. Just a sidekick. But a good one. Look at how good Ed McMahon was all those years. Yep. That’s true. Or GMO. Would that be more fitting? That would be me when you’re on Vikings postgame tonight. I’d be the gumo of that show. That’s what I am. So, in other words, catch all of Pete till we get to Sunday. Check out his videos on his YouTube page. And you got a new one, too. Sunday’s the uh flipping the flip card. Is that what it’s called? Just it’s just a a day before the game. Just all the info on the flip card. There’s so much information that we have going into these games. I just want to get it out there. let the let the fans hear about it and have them be as prepared as possible for the matchup on Sunday. So, it’s a lot of fun. Go into the game smart, people. Know what you’re talking about when you’re complaining to your friends. Know what to look for. There’s a lot to watch. Exactly. There’s a lot going on. All right. We’ll see you Sunday at kickoff, Pete. Thank you so much. All right, Jim. See you.

Former Vikings linebacker Pete Bercich breaks down how the Minnesota Vikings pulled off a stunner against the Detroit Lions. Will they be able to keep the momentum against the Baltimore Ravens? FOX 9’s Jim Rich has the latest in this week’s Bercich Breakdown.

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