FIRST THINGS FIRST | Nick Wright CONFIDENT Minnesota Vikings BELIEVE JJ McCarthy Despite Struggles
Earlier in the show, you tried to trade him for Justin Herbert. Uh, will the Vikings regret moving on from Sam Darnold with JJ? No. No. I mean, everything I’m hearing out of Minnesota, just from reports, it seems like they just are overjoyed with JJ McCarthy. And beyond that, Sam Darn, I know he’s your guy, Wild. He’s had one good season in seven years. I’m not ready to say he’s a franchise quarterback. I’m just not. I have to see him go do it without a QB whisperer at head coach and without the best arguably the best receiver in the league which he had last year. So, I’m No, I I even if JJ McCarthy isn’t all that, I don’t think they messed up by moving on from Darnold because I we saw Darnold when the bright lights got bright, the last game of the season against Detroit with things on the line, the playoff game, basically his two worst games of the year. And so, I just I don’t think they were going to go become like a Super Bowl team with Sam Darnold anyway. So, no, I don’t think they’ll regret it. But to your point, Brew, the fact that Sam Darnold played so well makes it that much harder for JJ McCarthy because everybody’s expectation is is if Sam Darnold can come in and do that, then obviously JJ McCarthy should be able to do that because that’s who they traded Darnell for essentially. The other thing is he he’s had the year of of where he was there, but he really didn’t get any experience. That’s a learning curve. Coming off the injury, that’s a learning curve and and this division is not easy. They’re going to have a lot of challenges from that perspective as well. So, they should hope that they can get to the bright lights and see whether or not JJ McCarthy can can manage that situation. I I’m not sold that he can. I even if JJ McCarthy’s not the guy, I think moving on is the right decision because you have to give yourself a chance to have the guy. And I where Wilds where you and I get, you know, look at this differently is you feel like they were kind of turning their nose up at 4,000 yards and 14 wins. Is that fair? I don’t I’m trying to I think it’s 4,300 yards. Okay. Yeah. Um and I think that they look they did not look at that as duplicable. I don’t I think that if they thought we run it back if we keep JJ on ice one more year and run it back with Sam franchise tag him you know whatever take the salary cap hit we you know we’re getting a carbon copy of last season and just hope the end is different I think they would have done it I think they having all the information they had said that was like a top 3% outcome and that no I’m sorry I’m I’m ending the clip there because that’s just that’s just one 10 1% % wrong. And that’s just absurd. Um, they moved on from Sam Darnold because ultimately they drafted JJ McCarthy and they feel as though that JJ McCarthy will be able to elevate the ceiling even higher than that of a Sam Darnold. Um, they believed in Sam Darnold. They went out and paid a a hefty price for a backup quarterback. Okay, so Sam Darnold was always a legitimate piece for them to use and they had an unbelievable season and Sam Darnold played awesome and in no way they’re like, “Ah, that was just a fluke.” That’s that’s that’s not how these guys operate. You think that’s how Kevin Oonnell is operating? Like that’s that’s that’s just absurd. That that’s that that’s that Wow. Hi. That’s just that’s just so fundamentally incorrect. I I I I don’t even I don’t even believe it. Um and I mean they would have they they would have happily kept Sam Darnold if they could have gotten him for a cheaper price. they didn’t want to pay too much because specifically of them having JJ McCarthy and the belief in JJ McCarthy. Um, so if they could absolutely run it back in a in a carbon copy and in and performances of what they got out of Sam Darnold, but they could have gotten it at a at a at a cheaper cost and what Sam Darnold was going to be able to demand. Um, they they would have done that, but it was just like kind of the price point and what they’re looking to build and looking how they’re trying to build for JJ. Again, it’s just that’s just a kind of just how it works sometimes. Uh, that’s just the way it goes. Um, and I don’t think Sam Tim Sam Tim Sam Tim Sam Tim Sam Tim Sam Tim Sam Tim Sam Tim Sam Tim Sam Tim Sam Darnold didn’t just fail because the lights got bright. He was running for his life. If if it’s okay for Justin Herbert and Matthew Stafford and Patrick Mahomes and company to struggle when when they’re being pressured 90% of the time and and have nowhere to go. Um, it’s okay for Sam Darnold for that to happen to Sam Darnold as well. Uh, so it’s just it’s just kind of absurd. And the reality is is that JJ McCarthy was always going to have struggles. He was always going to have struggles. He’s an incredibly young quarterback who got injured and was unable to practice and play throughout the year. Uh, he was he was not able to develop. He there was no development that took place. Yeah, he was able to look at the playbook and watch some film and whatnot. He was not developed. He was not practiced. I mean, Kevin Oonnell said this out loud essentially when he was just like, and this was like in OTAAS where he’s like, I, you know, now’s the time where we’re going to evaluate and see what we got with JJ. You know, we’re going to see what he’s good at and what he’s not good at and, you know, figure that stuff out. When a player is being developed and gets to sit for a whole year, they already got all that information because they had a whole year’s worth of of camp and practice and all of that, which is what they what Andy Reid was able to do with Patrick MS. Everyone always goes to that example more often than not. And it’s like they did not have that with JJ McCarthy. This is why I always say like this is year one. This is rookie year for him. And not to mention obviously coming back from an injury where not to mention you’re now also just not able to be who you were physically for a chunk of time. Uh which will just put you behind you know as well. So there was always going to be failures. There was always going to be struggles. I think it’s 100% irrational to think that a player like JJ McCarthy, a young quarterback who’s coming off an injury who who came off a year of not playing football at all, not even on not even practice, that he’s going to be able to step up and play as great as a seasoned veteran. I know everybody wants to downplay Sam Darnold. It’s just absurd. I mean, it it really is. You you you’re a you become a seasoned veteran for a reason. you become an important piece to a team and and and can and can contribute for a reason. And to expect that just like any old player can just get thrown into that who has no NFL experience, no NFL experience is just going to be able to hit the ground run and then ball from the jump. It’s irrational. I mean, it’s just it’s just you to expect that would be insane. If he does it, it will be amazing and it will be awesome. But to have that as as like the floor, the floor for him is 4,000 plus yards and 30 some touchdowns and low interceptions and and leading this team to 14 plus wins. Like that’s a bridge too far. He’s going to make mistakes. He’s going to get confused. He’s going to hold on to the ball too long at times. He’s going to force a throw and throw an interception. He’s going to look this way and then be stripped and have a fumble. Like he’s going to read the defense wrong at a time. He’s going to be confused by what Kevin Oonnell wants from him in the middle of a drive. Like, you’re going to have problems. You’re going to have miscommunications. You’re going to have issues. It’s a guarantee. It’s an absolute guarantee because it’s been that way for every other quarterback under the sun. Okay? So to think that that JJ McCarthy, no matter how great you believe him to be, is just going to be able to transcend that because you think Sam Darnold is such a trash, awful quarterback, yet he was still able to get 10 plus million dollars from the Minnesota Vikings in the first place um and be the starter for them and win all these games that we just think they’re like, “Oh, anyone could do it.” Yeah, you just throw anyone in there. It’s not how football works. It’s not how football works. Um, and it’s just it’s just a it’s just absurd at this point. Um, and then we don’t we don’t have to invent things like ah they think that whatever happened to Sam Darnold that was just like a 3% chance. No, you thought that that was a 3% chance. You thought that that was like practically impossible for it to happen. And the fact that it happened, you’re like, even the Minnesota Vikings don’t believe it. That’s not true. That’s not even remotely true. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have paid what they paid him for. You don’t give that amount of money for a backup quarterback. It’s just not how it happens in the NFL. And and and Kevin Oonnell throughout this that that summer kept talking about Sam Darnold, Sam Darnold, Sam Darnold. The writing was on the wall before JJ McCarthy got injured. And just because you guys wanted to fight against it week after week after week and pretty much just close your eyes and put your ears fingers in your ears and just say, “This isn’t real. This isn’t real. This isn’t real.” doesn’t mean that it’s not real. Doesn’t mean that it’s not real. So, um, you know, I I don’t think there’s regret. It’s a swing that the Vikings took. Um, I I I think if Sam Darnold wanted a little bit less money or a shorter contract or, you know, whatever it was, you can make the argument of, hey, J.J. McCarthy is young. We can have him sit for another year. You know, we’ve seen that with Aaron Rogers and Jordan Love and, you know, etc., etc. and it’s like we we we could do that, but he was in a position where he was going to be able to make a lot more money. And they were just like, nah, there’s other things that we want to do with this roster. Let’s hit the let’s let’s even though we might have to take a couple steps back with JJ from Sam just by the sheer fact that one is a rookie and the other is an is a legitimate veteran uh of the NFL. We believe that with the contract flexibility that we have as well as the development of JJ that we can get back to where we were with Sam and then have a longer runway and a higher ceiling. I just it’s you know it’s not that complicated. And that’s the choice that they took. That’s that was the path that they decided to take. They’re like all right this is this is this is worth the swing. This is worth the risk/chance that we are going to take. Doesn’t have to downplay Sam Darnold. It doesn’t even have to elevate JJ McCarthy. uh you know like it’s just I still we we still have like weird conversations about the Minnesota Vikings and and JJ and Sam for that matter honestly. Um but yeah, I mean the what JJ McCarthy is even saying here is exactly right. You know, learning from failures and trying to get better. Like that is how a young quarterback is is going to get better, right? you’re going to fail your way to success. Like that’s that’s how it works, you know? You got to find that touch. Again, there was a lot of throws in OTAAS where I felt I could have had a better outcome if I had that touch. Just learning from failures and trying to get better, right? You got to find that touch again, right? Like he’s this is this is part of the process of not really being able to play football for an entire like he had a stretch of time where he didn’t play football. He had the longest stretch of time of not playing football that he’s ever had in his entire life. And it just so happens that he’s now has to now go play in the NFL, right? Like that’s that that that is a thing. It’s an experience. It’s a new experience for him on top of another new experience. Like that’s what I’m that’s what I’m trying to emphasize as well. So like it’s it is stacked against him a little bit. It’s not say that he won’t succeed. It’s not to say that he won’t have a ton of success, but it’s just like this it’s it’s a steep uphill battle for him. Um, and that’s okay. That’s okay. The real question that I said about the Minnesota Vikings are is how great do they need JJ McCarthy to be? Because if we’re saying that Kevin Oonnell is this brilliant coach, which I think he is, we’re saying that this roster is awesome, which I think it is, we’re saying that they got the the other side of the ball taken care of, great defense, great defensive coach, which I believe it is, it’s like the question is, can JJ McCarthy just be average? Can he just be a good enough game manager that will be enough to have this team win 10 plus wins, 11 wins, you know, competing for a playoff spot. If JJ McCarthy can be really comfortable and confident and really have his legs under him and prove like, yo, I was I was a top draft pick for a reason, well then it’s like, well then you are back to 12, 13, 14, you know, and beyond uh wins. But the to me it’s just like if we’re saying that this roster is awesome, we’re saying that this coaching staff’s awesome, it’s like all right, then in order just to be able to win 10 games, like we just need a quarterback who cannot go backwards, right? You know, he doesn’t have to be amazing. He doesn’t have to stretch the potential of this team any more than it needs to be. He just needs to not hurt it and the wins and the success should be baked in. Uh, to me that’s that’s the target that you’re looking for, at least when looking at it from a Minnesota Vikings franchise perspective, not necessarily like a JJ McCarthy quarterback uh, perspective because it’s in a lot of ways it’s it’s kind of two different things, especially when you’re talking about having a firstear quarterback with a team that’s pretty well established at this point. A lot of veterans, obviously, a lot of special players like the Justin Jeffersons, established head coach, like they’re all in different timelines right now of one another. So, which is the benefit of a Sam Darnold. You’re just you’re adding a a veteran to this to this puzzle piece. But those are just my thoughts. I’d absolutely love to hear yours. What do you guys all think about the Minnesota Vikings and JJ McCarthy? Do you think they will regret uh moving on from Sam Darnold? And how do you feel about JJ’s uh struggles and failures? Let me know in the comments below. I read every single comment. It’s whether you agree with me or disagree with me. Either way, let’s get in some discussions. Let’s get in some fights, but ultimately let’s just have some fun. And please do consider subscribing. We are building an amazing community here and absolutely love to see you part of it. We want to build something that we all generally feel connected to, something that we’re really excited to be part of. I think we’re on our way to doing it. Please don’t forget to give this video a thumbs up. It really does help with visibility and the algorithm. Thank you so much. See you next time.
FIRST THINGS FIRST | Nick Wright CONFIDENT Minnesota Vikings BELIEVE In J.J. McCarthy Despite Struggles
#firstthingsfirst #nickwright #minnesotavikings
22 comments
Viking fan 1st, I hate media just goes and dumps it on Sam Darnold, yes he was part of the problem the last few games, but our flaws in the interior oline showed up our vulnerability. When it came to the powerhouse trench teams , we struggled. Yes Sam needed to do more dunk and chip passes. It also didn't help stunts created free lanes to Sam
Now the key is Sam would cost more than 10 mil to come back and he may not of wanted a bridge contract for a year.
Min had their draft QB they stayed the plan to see what he will do. And with all that cap they were able to fix the interior of the Oline, & invest in two very good DT who can collapse the pocket and sack the QB, making this defense that much more dangerous
So the flaws that held us back vs the elite teams with stacked trenches, have been fixed, we needed a rookie contract & needed to see what McCarthy can do
Hargrave, Allen at DT with Van Ginkle, Grenard, and Turner have been outstanding at camp…where we were good on defense, we are so much better, dangerous, so when we face those bug tough olines of Phi, LAR, TB we can cause havoc from just our front 4-5
And our CB looks very solid this year..we keep our run defense(?) .top 5 , top 3, top 1
McCarthy just needs to be solid and we should have a great year
Sam can take his great learning curve from KOC , and build upon his career
You dong have to believe McCarthy is better.
If the Vikings thought McCarthy could just duplicate what Darnold did, it is reasonsble to capotilize on the rookie contract.
I think Darnold would have had an even better year with a Second year in the same system thsn last year.
Now he has to learn vonpletely new players, coaches nd plays.
Where McCarthy has the advantage of not having to do that.
But i think Darnold will prove people wrong.
He was on one horrible, one bad organization.
In the Jets and then Panthers.
The first time he was able to be the starter on a good orgination and team he showed his 1st Round Talent
Not absorbed my friend, KOC & Josh M. were instrumental in Sam D earlier (HS-Pre-College) QB development, they have HISTORY with him. KOC “knew” he could be a “BRIDGE QB” for him when they were “drafting” JJ. Darnold was a developmental piece (1-2yrs) not long term! JJ is a “prototype” for KOC’s offensive schematics, that’s why he didn’t bring NO-ONE in to compete for the position. I know I’m a 〽️ man therefore I’m a homer! That’s cool I’ve been a “homer” for the 🐐 TB12 for the longest time #GoBlue #Bet
What Mangini said made no sense “I just dont believe he can get it done” from what evidence can you go by that?
He had a great camp and pre season last year and by all the reports looks great this camp.
Be skeptical a bit like you said that he is essentially a rookie and it will take time but, to suggest he can’t get it done just because is wild.
It’s like he said about he’s worried that Jeanty will have problems catching out of the backfield.
Guess he didn’t he that choice vertical and Jeanty tracking the ball over his head 20 yards down field.
I don't know about the bright lights but I will say that Sam darnold beat the Green Bay Packers and the whole team doused him with champagne and had that huge locker room celebration and then the next two games he was terrible and I do think it was because that he realized that he had officially usurped JJ as next year's quarterback and the pressure of that is what made him collapse in those last two games and you can say what you want about the Rams game maybe he wouldn't have had a chance regardless of his mental state in that game but you go back and watch that Detroit game and he just choked flatout choked
I also want to say that people think that it's just about the money with Daniel Jones and Sam darnold leaving for greener pastures but they also knew that if they did stay regardless of their contract value for the 2025 season and beyond they were going to have to compete for their job against the guy who was the organization's future. So it's not just the money when it comes to why those guys chose to leave the Vikings instead of staying here. Especially when it comes to Sam I think he would have stayed here for a lot less if he would have known that he didn't have to compete for the job.
McCarthy played a great preseason game. His pocket presence is next level. He was going to give Sam a run for QB1 week 1. I believe he's better this preseason than last. So I disagree with you. Let's roll! #skol
I think the point that everyone is missing is that he's being compared to Sam Darnold with the year he had last season. What people don't understand is had they resigned Darnold, they wouldn't have been able to sign Jonathan Allen, Hargrave, Ryan Kelly and Will Fries. They went with who the drafted 10th overall last draft, and have built around him, revamping the offensive line, adding Jordan Mason to help with the running game while still having Aaron Jones. JJ doesn't have to be the HERO. Just make plays when they're available. A better comparison would be Brock Purdy or Russell Wilson in his early years in Seattle. He has all the pieces around him including arguably the best receiver in football in Justin Jefferson. He'll be fine. He just needs to manage the game and WIN more importantly. I didn't even mention that right now he's practicing against a likely top 5 defense coached by Brian Flores who likes to throw different looks to confuse young QBs, so he's already seeing things in practice that's only gonna make him better. Relax everyone, he'll fine. He's got the QB whisperer KOC and QB coach Josh MCcown in his ears to help continue his development.
Yeah no, I disagree with your take and this is why. The Vikings didnt sign Darnold because they saw a 14 win season. They thought he would be a serviceable veteran to help tutor JJ as he sat for a year. In essence they wanted Darnold to be Alex Smith to JJ's Mahomes. What no one expected was a 14 win season but here is where we gotta dig deeper.
In both seasons where the KOC led Vikings won 13 or more games, ,both came in seasons where they played the AFC south, which is a terrible division. And then it ended up that the NFC west was terrible outside of the Rams.
Point being if the Vikings really wanted Darnold they would have submitted an actual offer,.they knew any team that really wanted Darnold would offer same. Just like they lowballrd Kirk and let him walk to Atlanta.
Dude you are WRONG and everyone knows that SAM CHOKED!!!!! That’s exactly what he did !!!! Hello, Vikings faced lions and Rams once before the end of the season!!!!!
Sam was missing open throws for TOUCHDOWNS!!!!!! He was big time flustered!!!! Your you blind ???!!! I told you this THEN and you don’t like the TRUTH!!!!
Here’s why you don’t !!! You are one of few like myself that predicted the 14 wins last year but you and I seen it differently!!!! I said we would win at least 14 wins if it was with Sam or JJ BUT if it’s Sam, he will choke in the playoffs!!!! I was correct!!!!
I don’t think you understand that season games are wayyyy different then playoff games. Sure Sam beat hawks and packers and some others late in games. That’s a regular season game and that’s what tricks people like you.
I have Vikings winning at least 15 games this year. I have Vikings actually winning the SB this year! Here’s the thing though, we still need to see JJ in a playoff game. Now I believe he gets better in playoffs and championships!!!!
I believe Sam will struggle this year. JJ will be the best QB this year. You will see. There’s levels to this and you have a lot to learn still !!! Sam choked!!!!! Get over it !!!!!
Sam CHOKED!!!! Get over it dude !!!!
This is a way better team than Darnold had last year.
Dude you just compared Sam to Patrick and Stanford because they ran for there life !!!! Dude BOTH of THEM won in the PLAYOFFS when it mattered MOST !!!!!!! What is wrong with you !!!! Also I’m not big on Justin!!! Are you because I’m not!!! Dude CHOKED !!!! Now If Justin had what Vikings had last year, maybe he still chokes witch I think he does but Justin did NOT have the same team as Sam. Big freaking difference!!!!
Move tf on from Sam. He choked !!! Go watch the freaking TAPE vs lions and Rams. Hello, he literally LOOKS at Jordan Addison and JJ and doesn’t throw because he can’t due to he’s to AFRAID!!!!! The TAPE shows this. I can easily PROVE IT !!!!
Now yes Vikings needed to improve the O-Line BUT Sam choked !!!! Very obvious and you like Sam so you can’t Amit it. Well I love Caleb and JJ and if they do the same crap, I’ll actually say they choked if they even do!!!!
Also I told you THEN, my Buddy is Kwesi’s CHEF !!!! I know things. I knew about the TJ trade before anyone, I knew about the trade with Texans before anyone!!! I knew Vikings were very big on JJ for years !!!!
I also knew they did not want to sign Sam as there Franchise QB. What they wanted and they told him this by the way witch is why he left and didn’t take it, Vikings told him, you will have to compete vs JJ and that contract was a 1 year 20 ish million deal. He didn’t like it. He moved on. They also said look, you deserve big money, so if you leave we understand.
So I know things. Here’s the big one. KO and Kwesi knew Sam choked. They did not want to offer him 40 a year because of it. They also knew JJ was outplaying Sam in training camp and preseason. So there’s more to this.
I told you this already. Get over Sam. He’s gone.
2024 Vikings DVOA:
Offense #15
Defense #2
What makes Vikings very good last season is still there and they add more talents to it bc they didn’t spend money on QB 🤷♂️
The plan was in place prior to the signing of Sam Darnold. They let Kirk walk & signed Sam knowing they are drafting a guy high & rolling with that no matter what happened in 24’. So happens Sam played awesome, that’s great. Let him walk cuz they stick to their process. Process over Results Regime.
I wouldn't say they believed in him to be a franchise QB. They still drafted JJ to be the franchise. They didn't pay Sam because they didn't want to pay him to be the franchise QB….if they really thought that Sam could be the franchise, they would have paid him money worthy of that title.
I think they looked at him as a solid starter but not a QB you build your franchise around. And there is nothing wrong with that.
Seattle also didn't believe in Sam. They paid him to be a bridge QB and drafted Milroe. If Jalen Milroe develops at all this year, than the Seahawks will trade him for a 3rd or 4th rd pick. 🤷🏻♀️
1. Most defenses tend to be ahead of the offense
2. Kirk Cousins complained about the B-Flo defense all the time. This isn't a JJ thing this is a B-Flo is a mad scientist as a DC.
3. Saying a player is struggling during camp isn't the full story you have no clue what the emphasis is on certain drills.
Yes Sam choked but the play calling was horrendous. He gave no outlets for Sam at all. The Oline was protecting him good enough but there was no outlets. JJ will be fine though.