Vikings’ lack of ‘strategic thinking’ has hurt J.J. McCarthy | Pro Football Talk | NFL on NBC

GOING ANYWHERE, IT’S JUST ABOUT THE BODY HOLDING UP. SOMEONE REMINDED ME OF SOMETHING. I SAID BACK IN THAT TIME. PERIOD. AND FORTUNATELY, I HAVE A VERY SHORT-TERM MEMORY WHEN IT COMES TO THE THINGS I SAY, BOTH SMART AND THAT’S THE THING. WHEN YOU DEVELOP THE SHORT-TERM MEMORY, SO YOU CAN FORGET ALL THE DUMB STUFF, YOU SAY, THE GOOD STUFF TENDS TO SLIP INTO THAT BLACK HOLE AS WELL. APPARENTLY, I WAS USING OPENLY ABOUT MAKING A RUN IN PURPLE. STAFFORD. REUNITING HIM WITH KEVIN OCONELL. WHO WAS THE OFFENSIVE? COORDINATOR, THE SUPER BOWL YEAR, THE VIKINGS HAVE A SUPER BOWL READY. TEAM, ALL THEY NEED IS A HIGH-END QUARTERBACK. SOMEBODY WHO CAN DELIVER WITH A BIG THROW AND A BIG SPOT AND I THERE WAS NEVER ANY STEAM THERE NO, BUT I JUST KIND OF RECALL THROWING IT OUT THERE. NOW THAT I’VE HAD MY I’VE BEEN SAYING OR WAS SAYING AT THE TIME, MAYBE THIS IS A CALL, THE VIKINGS SHOULD MAKE SO REGARDLESS, HE WASN’T LEAVING. THAT’S THE 1 THING, THE RAIDERS, AND THE GIANTS FOUND OUT. IT WAS ALL A RUSE TO GET THE MOST MONEY POSSIBLE OUT OF THE RAMS, LEAVING THE GIANTS AND RAIDERS PISSED OFF THAT THEY WENT THROUGH THE EXERCISE BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS REAL THAT HE WAS GOING TO LEAVE. AND IN THE END OF THE DAY IT WASN’T REAL. THAT HE WAS GOING TO LEAVE. NO, IT WAS, IT WAS A LEVERAGE ROOM, THAT’S FOR SURE. RIGHT? I MEAN, GOTCHA, IF HE WENT TO MINNESOTA, THOUGH, THEY THE RAMS MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT IT THERE WITH LIKE KEVIN OCONELL. WAIT, HE CAME FROM OUR COACHING STAFF. WAIT, THEIR TEAM IS READY. WE’VE HEARD THEIR FLIRTING WITH AARON RODGERS, RIGHT? AND MAYBE MAYBE HE COULD HAVE SQUEEZED A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY OUT OF THE RAMS. IF IT WAS MINNESOTA IN THAT B IN THAT, YOU KNOW, LEVERAGE MATCHUP THERE. BUT, YOU KNOW, YOUR POINT ABOUT THE VIKINGS IS REAL MIKE. I MEAN, AGAIN, THAT’S WHERE THEY’RE THEY’RE IN A WEIRD SPOT RIGHT NOW. THEY THEY’RE IN A SPOT RIGHT NOW WHERE YOU JUST SAID IT. WE’VE SAID IT A BUNCH. IT’S JUST TO GO. COME ON MINNESOTA IS A TEAM. THAT’S THEY’RE READY. THAT’S WHY THEY FLIRTED WITH AARON RODGERS A LITTLE BIT. YOU KNOW, THERE’S A LITTLE BIT HERE, TOO OF GOING. WHY WHY DIDN’T, YOU KNOW, YOUR TEAM WAS READY? WHY WHY DID YOU DRAFT A QUARTERBACK AND DO THIS AND DO ALL THIS? WHEN YOU COULD SEE THE THE TEAM WAS CLOSE TO BEING READY A YEAR FROM NOW, A YEAR OR 2 YEARS FROM NOW? LIKE WE ARE NOW, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE’S A LITTLE BIT THERE THAT IT HAS TO GO ON THE FRONT OFFICE TO NOT KNOW, OR FEEL WHERE THE TEAM WAS GOING AND WHERE IT’S AT AND NOW IT’S BEEN DISRUPTED BY A YOUNG QUARTERBACK. AND DEVIN. AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY AND I’M WRITING SOMETHING CURRENTLY NOT LITERALLY CURRENTLY BUT I STARTED ON IT THIS MORNING. USUALLY I LIKE TO IF I GET UP EARLIER THAN USUAL GET A POST UP, COPY PASTE, SNARKY COMMENT BUT THIS IS LIKE THOUGHT PIECE. NO COPYING, NO PASTING AND MINIMAL SNARKY COMMENTS, BUT THERE’S ALWAYS AT LEAST 1. MY THEORY IS AND THIS GOES BACK TO MARCH WHEN PEOPLE WERE DEALING ON THE OUTSIDE WITH THE VIKINGS. SAM DARNOLD, DANIEL JONES JJ MCCARTHY THESE BIGGER PICTURE STRATEGIC DECISIONS AND EVEN THOUGH, THE APPARENT REALITY THAT JJ MCCARTHY DOESN’T HAVE IT, WHATEVER IT IS AND I’M INFORMED BY 50 YEARS OF WATCHING GREAT QUARTERBACK, PLAY FOR THE MOST PART, 70S AND 80S. YOU KNOW, UNTIL DAN MARINO JAM, DAN FOUTS LIKE IT, YOU KNOW, IN THE 70S IT GOT A LITTLE ROUGH UNTIL THEY OPENED THE GAME UP SOME. BUT I’VE SEEN A LOT OF GOOD QUARTERBACK PLAYOFFS. I’VE SEEN A LOT OF BAD QUARTERBACK PLAY AND IT’S THE EYEBALL TEST THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AND MCCARTHY HAS YET TO PASS IT HORRENDOUS, BUT ORGANIZATION. IN MY ESTIMATION. AND IF THAT PERSON IS THERE, I DON’T KNOW WHO IT IS. AND THAT THAT PERSON IS THERE THEY FAILED. NOBODY BOTHERED TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND SAY WE MADE THIS GUY FIRST ROUND, PICK 10TH OVERALL, WE TRADED UP TO GET HIM. SEASON. WE HAD A GREAT YEAR WITH SAM DARNOLD. WE HAD DANIEL JONES FALL INTO OUR LAPS. WE LET DONALD GO. WE LET JONES GO. WE SAID NO TO AARON RODGERS, WE DIDN’T JUMP IN TO THE MATTHEW STAFFORD PURSUIT BECAUSE WE’RE RIDING. WITH THIS GUY, WE DRAFTED LAST YEAR, I MEAN, AT SOME POINT, THE PRESSURE THAT IT PUT ON MCCARTHY AND I’M NOT MAKING EXCUSES FOR MCCARTHY. THIS IS AN INDICTMENT OF THE VIKINGS LACK OF STRATEGIC THINKING THEY HAVE CREATED, THERE’S ALREADY ENOUGH PRESSURE. WHEN YOU’RE THE 10TH OVERALL, PICK IN THE DRAFT, WHEN YOU’RE THE GUY THAT JUST KIND OF CAME OUT OF NOWHERE BECAUSE YOU UP. EXCESSIVELY AND RELENTLESSLY ALL OF A SUDDEN MCCARTHY’S IN THE MIX WITH ALL THESE OTHER GUYS WHEN MAYBE HE WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN, I DON’T KNOW. BUT YOU HAVE THE PRESSURE BEING THE 10TH PICK AND THESE WEIRD CIRCUMSTANCES DIDN’T PLAY AT ALL ROOKIE YEAR GREATER URGENCY TO PROVE YOURSELF. THEY LET THE GUY THAT WENT 14 AND 3 GO GREATER URGENCY DANIEL JONES. LET HIM GO. GREATER URGENCY AARON RODGERS. NO THANK YOU ALL TIME. GREAT! NO THANK YOU! GREATER URGENCY. SO TO THE EXTENT THAT TRYING TOO HARD THINKING TOO MUCH. IT’S A PRODUCT OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND THEY CREATED THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES AND THAT IF YOU’RE A VIKINGS FAN AND I’M ALMOST NOT ANYMORE. BUT IF YOU’RE A VIKINGS FAN, THE THING THAT SHOULD DISMAY YOU THE MOST IS THE LACK OF A VISION SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THESE FACTORS ARE GOING TO COME TOGETHER AND DUMP A A CRAPLOAD OF PRESSURE ON THIS KID. YEAH. AND AGAIN I’M NOT MAKING EXCUSES FOR HIM, I’M SAYING HE’S IN HE’S IN A SITUATION THAT IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR ANY YOUNG PROVEN QUARTERBACK TO THRIVE IN CUZ YOU WANT TO GO OUT THERE AND WIN. THE SUPER BOWL WITH 1, THROW, AGREED, AGREED, AND AND AND UH I THINK THAT’S WHY 1 2. THEY DIDN’T GET A HIGH-END BACKUP, RIGHT? BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T WANT TO ADD EVEN MORE PRESSURE TO THAT SITUATION WITH ALL THE PRESSURES YOU’VE ALREADY LAID DOWN IN THE RIGHT WAY. RIGHT? AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT HERE WE ARE NOW WHERE I MEAN YOU GOT TO QUESTION CAN THE KIDS CAN THE KIDS STAY HEALTHY ENOUGH EVER HERE TO, YOU KNOW LAY DOWN THE FRAMEWORK TO THAT’S THE PROBLEM WITH YOU GOT TO WORRY ABOUT TOO, AND THAT WAS THE PROBLEM AND PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT THAT A LITTLE WITH HIM COMING OUT IN THE DRAFT HIM AND JAYDEN DANIELS. THEY WERE A LITTLE FRAIL, RIGHT? AND WE’RE SEEING HERE IN, YOU KNOW, YEAR 2, IT CAUGHT UP TO JAYDEN DANIELS A LITTLE BIT, WERE WITH JJ MCCARTHY AND, AND WE KNOW HOW FRAIL HE GOT THIS AT THE END OF LAST SEASON INTO THE EARLY OFFSEASON THIS YEAR. AND SOME HE’S REALLY SKINNY, HE’S GOT TO PUT WEIGHT ON ALL OF THAT, BUT YEAH, THERE’S A LOT OF CONCERN THERE IN MINNESOTA ABOUT HOW THIS GOES. ALRIGHT HE WAS LOOK LIKE MY 18 YEAR OLD NEPHEW. WHEN I SAW HIM ON THE SIDELINES OF 1 OF THE LATE SEASON GAMES, HE DID. YEAH, NO OUT THERE. IS THAT SOMEBODY’S KID, RIGHT? YOU’RE DEALING WITH THAT AND NOW YOU HAVE THE, YOU KNOW, THE INJURY BUG BASICALLY, THE GUY THAT CAN’T MAKE IT OUT THERE FOR MORE THAN 2 GAMES IN A ROW WITHOUT SOMETHING HAPPEN. YOU KNOW, THAT’S CONCERNING AS WELL. IT’S HURTING HIS DEVELOPMENT, HE’S NOT BEING ABLE TO PRACTICE AND ALL OF THAT. SO,

Mike Florio and Chris Simms unpack the Vikings’ future with J.J. McCarthy at quarterback, explaining why the team is in a “tough spot” given the decisions they’ve made. #NBCSports #NFLonNBC #ProFootballTalk #NFL #MinnesotaVikings
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Vikings’ lack of ‘strategic thinking’ has hurt J.J. McCarthy | Pro Football Talk | NFL on NBC
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27 comments

  3. Its NOT all on JMc (re: Fault). Check out QB analysis videos on You tube (Like Kurt Warner's and others) and you'll see OL play (or lack thereof) Play designs (KOC schematics) and WR "errors" have helped the Kid fall in confidence and performance. Yes, some mistakes are solely on him but that's to be expected of any QB in the NFL.
    I wish Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, or even Coach Belichick would analyze the MN Vikings Offensive problems; I'd guess they'd lay the blame out accurately, play by play.
    Hopefully, Mad Max can do well this week for MN; even though it would be an "indictment" against JMc if Max does "ball out" and Vikings win.

    On the other side of the equation, Vikings need Flores to whip up a nightmare for Darnold and Seattle, or the Vikings "D" is going to collapse (in spirit) as well as the "O" currently has.

  7. There was a vision- the Media, Fans and Team decided Cousins was too expensive and by drafting a rookie it would give them over 100 million to build a team around the rookie. Thats what they did but they got the wrong rookie

  8. Drafting a project in the top 10 you don't need to be a gm Kwesi Adofo-Mensah can't draft and bad Decision-making his killed this franchise making to look like his old team Cleveland browns so he did a great job messing this team so I hope we get a house clearing at the end of the season

  9. At the very end of the day, this isn't about JJM who is just a kid doing his very best in a very difficult situation. This is ALL on management (Wilfs, Kwesi and KOC).
    Wilfs hired an inexperienced GM who hired a "lack" of experience Head Coach. The results are poor drafting (very, no Kyle Hamilton but we got Cine and Booth or do we: DTurner not working out for 1st D guy taken in the draft), poor signings (Packers signed Parsons and we brought back Thielen???), poor $ deployment (we gave Hock top $s to be below average), poor (very) in game coaching decisions, and poor (very) alignment of a ready team with a "I need 3 tears to develop" QB. So bloody sad!!!

  13. The reality is they incorrectly made a judgement based on the last and best of what they saw prior to his knee injury. it was a major blunder at this point. we'll see what happens

  16. The same lack of football thinking has been going on in the city of Pittsburgh for years now under Mike Tomlin the wannabe head coach and a lot of players of greatness have come and Gone without a championship because of it and will happen as long as Tomlin his head coach, so-called

  17. Lmao lack of strategic thinking??? What kind of excuse is that??? McCarthy just isn't good. Old washed up Carson Wentz was giving the vikings a better chance every Sunday than him. You just don't want to admit that you were wrong about McCarthy.

  18. Agree 100%. Since day 1 I wanted Vikings to retain Jones or at minimum Darnold knowing JJ needed work. Only rationale is staff didn't realize JJ needed work. That's on KOC if they didn't see it.
    No to Cousins. No to Rodgers.

  21. The problem with the organization is Kwesi is an awful GM! He can't draft, makes stupid trades, and his free agent signings are a crap shoot! JJ McCarthy was a basic game manager with bad mechanics who has no history of being a prolific passer and the idea you were going to put the team in his hands was ridiculous for anyone with common sense!

  23. People forget that these same fans were calling out ownership to draft a franchise QB. Remember!? Fans ran Cousins out of town …Darnold lays an egg at the end of last season…this is what the fans wanted! They just got the wrong guy…🤔

  25. The team believed in Sam last year. Obviously the Rams seem to have his number no matter who he’s playing for. That being said trying to figure out new schemes and personnel packages seems a bit easier to me than handing JJ a team that won 14 games last year. Talk about being set up for failure. SMDH.

  27. These are valid points. The pressure has crushed this kid, and I think that is why the only time he has looked good is when they are down in the 4th quarter because he stops thinking and just lets it rip.

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