McCarthy needs a decent game today for obvious reasons

[greediron]

Lol, yah 13 personnel probably doesnt give KOC that same kick...

But I dont think you're giving coach enough credit for being rational or enjoying winning...There is just no way JJM is ready for 3d chess and consistently making back shoulder throws downfield to tight coverage on WR's. 

I think KOC knows that and I think he's ok with it as long as the kid makes progress and the result is a winning locker room more often. 

Judd can speculate till he's blue in the face. I have no doubt they know they need to bring in vet talent at QB next year, but I have a real hard time believing they have already relegated JJM to back-up. Thats just silly.

Yeah, Judd needs to throw shit against the wall, gets reactions and such.  JJ will likely be given every opportunity to win the job.  But yes, with hopefully someone other than Howell as his backup.

[supafreak84]

Lol, yah 13 personnel probably doesnt give KOC that same kick...

But I dont think you're giving coach enough credit for being rational or enjoying winning...There is just no way JJM is ready for 3d chess and consistently making back shoulder throws downfield to tight coverage on WR's. 

I think KOC knows that and I think he's ok with it as long as the kid makes progress and the result is a winning locker room more often. 

Judd can speculate till he's blue in the face. I have no doubt they know they need to bring in vet talent at QB next year, but I have a real hard time believing they have already relegated JJM to back-up. Thats just silly.

Well again, it took him 14 weeks into the season to figure out that this style of offense with a young quarterback gives him his best chance at winning (even with the media and fanbase screaming for it every week) then yeah I'm not giving him any credit for it. 

And I can guarantee you OConnell is not okay running a dumbed down version of his offense. He wants to run what he wants to run and this is being forced upon him out of necessity and likely influenced by a higher-up somewhere having a conversation with him. I think those are both rationale assumptions and have been floated in the media.

[purplefaithful]

Well again, it took him 14 weeks into the season to figure out that this style of offense with a young quarterback gives him his best chance at winning (even with the media and fanbase screaming for it every week) then yeah I'm not giving him any credit for it. 

And I can guarantee you OConnell is not okay running a dumbed down version of his offense. He wants to run what he wants to run and this is being forced upon him out of necessity and likely influenced by a higher-up somewhere having a conversation with him. I think those are both rationale assumptions and have been floated in the media.

So we'll agree to disagree on some points...

I agree it took KOC too long to change his stripes re: the play calling. That one surprises me cause I think he's a smart guy and would have realized it right away. The focus on mechanics was an issue that came back to bite them and was a blind spot in retrospect. 

I disagree that he didnt know they had to run a dumb-downed version of his O for a rook QB. The degree they needed to peel back that playbook and what to try and improve mechanically (or not) seems to be the other main issue. 

Hindsight is usually 20/20...

[supafreak84]

So well agree to disagree on some points...

I agree it took KOC too long to change his stripes re: the play calling. That one surprises me cause I think he's a smart guy and would have realized it right away. The focus on mechanics was an issue that came back to bite them and was a blind spot in retrospect. 

I disagree that he didnt know they had to run a dumb-downed version of his O for a rook QB. The degree they needed to peel back that playbook and what to try and improve mechanically (or not) seems to be the other main issue. 

Hindsight is usually 20/20...

Remember the famous KOC quote that "organizations fail young quarterbacks, before young quarterbacks fail organizations?" Well,  KOC has failed every young quarterback he's coached in Minnesota by trying to force them into an offensive system thats just not conducive to bringing along young quarterbacks. Hes thrown them into deep waters and any injury considerations be damned. Yesterday was the first time, first time ever, he's called a competent, well-balanced game that actually helped. That is incredible to me, and I'm going to be very curious to see how it plays out the rest of the season

[greediron]

Remember the famous KOC quote that "organizations fail young quarterbacks, before young quarterbacks fail organizations?" Well,  KOC has failed every young quarterback he's coached in Minnesota by trying to force them into an offensive system thats just not conducive to bringing along young quarterbacks. Hes thrown them into deep waters and any injury considerations be damned. Yesterday was the first time, first time ever, he's called a competent, well-balanced game that actually helped. That is incredible to me, and I'm going to be very curious to see how it plays out the rest of the season

Yes, it took way too long.  But as you admitted, he called a well balanced game that allowed JJ to thrive.  So I will see that as growth.  And that gives me hope.

[medaille]

There is zero percent chance that KOC has already started making plans for the offseason regarding what they're going to do at QB.

You don't even know which QBs are available.

[purplefaithful]

Former Vikings linebacker and team radio analyst Ben Leber was walking into U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday when he predicted, “If J.J. doesn’t turn the ball over, we win.” The Vikings not only won the turnover battle 3-0, but McCarthy did better than just not mess up. His first pass showed how dialed in he was to O’Connell’s plan. “Really, it was a matter of him being decisive,” O’Connell said.

The first pass of the day — second-and-7 on the game’s second snap — was called for Jefferson. “They took it away,” O’Connell said of the Commanders. McCarthy quickly pivoted and found backup tight end Ben Sims. It was Sims’ ninth career catch and first as a Viking.

“That was a big play to give us a new set of downs,” O’Connell said.

McCarthy completed his next three passes on that opening drive to three different targets for two more first downs and the first of two touchdowns to tight end Josh Oliver. The completion to Sims “allows [McCarthy] to be in quote, unquote decisionmaking rhythm,” O’Connell said. “He can be decisive.”

The 18-yard touchdown pass to Oliver came against a single-high safety look with the Vikings running a four-vertical concept. “J.J.’s going to have a chance at either one of those tight ends in the big grouping there or check the ball down,” O’Connell said. “We have to be able to call some of those plays and give him a chance to play quarterback and maintain possession of the ball.”

McCarthy did that by being decisive and finally not turning the ball over.

strib