1. Quarterback back-and-forth
Returnee J.J. McCarthy and newcomer Kyler Murray have taken reps with the first- and second-team offense. There have been snaps with 1s vs. 1s, 1s vs. 2s, 2s vs. 1s and 2s vs. 2s.
There’s been considerable banter on social media with hyper analysis of each player that likely lacks some elements of context. Prior to Sunday’s practice, Head Coach Kevin O’Connell spoke to media members who sought an update on the QB competition.
“What I’ve loved about it the most is just the constant environment of the attention to detail that you need at this position in the National Football League,” said O’Connell before mentioning Drew Brees’ Hall of Fame enshrinement speech.
The fifth-year coach and former NFL QB pointed out that there are occasions, particularly early in camp, when a receiving target doesn’t run the correct route, or the protection doesn’t last long enough, causing the QB to “speed up a throw, where it’s a great rep in a quarterback world, but it’s an incompletion.”
“When the ball is snapped, you’re trying to end the down first and foremost with possession of the football,” O’Connell emphasized. “Then start working through the process of finding completions, taking explosives and being accurate when they’re there, and kind of running the orchestra of a drive.”
While there isn’t a full-fledged takeaway in the form of a starter being named yet, both have competed against each other, akin to other position battles, and teammates have tried their best on each rep, regardless of the combination of players on the field at any time.
Camp isn’t supposed to be easy, and it looks like neither will facing Minnesota’s defense.