McCarthy's Debut

[StickierBuns]

I think Viking's fans need to keep in mind that this is not only JJ's first NFL start upcoming, but he went a long period last year where he couldn't even throw a football because of the knee recovery. He's doing a great job of making up for lost time, but the fact remains there's catching up to do and a limited time to get there. Pluses are that he knows the offense ins and outs, is handling the huddle and line of scrimmage well and doesn't lack in ability or confidence. But he'll be learning a lot when the bullets are live. His accuracy I think will be a work in progress and will get incrementally better as the season progresses. He's going to rely on his feet a bit more than KOC will like, but that's how athletic QBs rookies do it: look at Drake Maye, Caleb and Jayden. Vrabel said he wants Maye running much less this year.

Its not always going to look smooth. He's not always going to be the most efficient. He'll probably be more playmaker than pocket passer the first 5 to 7 games. But everyone will see the potential, the high upside and some eye-opening athletic plays. Just hang in there, there'll be a learning curve. I think to expect otherwise is to not look at the realities of the circumstance and situation. But he's got a great supporting cast and smart coaches.

[MaroonBells]

I expect plenty of growing pains. But I also know KOC is a smart coach. He's not going to ask JJ to do too much early on. So more runs than normal, more high percentage passes to backs and tight ends. But at some point this year I expect the training wheels will come off and that will be the crosspoint. Will he struggle? Or will we'll see the JJ who was "humming" in the 2nd Patriots practice.

[pattersaur]

Didn’t he chuck a pick on his first preseason play last year? Lol yes. There will be growing pains. Excited to watch the kid grow up and into the savior this franchise is starving for!

[JimmyinSD]

I think Viking's fans need to keep in mind that this is not only JJ's first NFL start upcoming, but he went a long period last year where he couldn't even throw a football because of the knee recovery. He's doing a great job of making up for lost time, but the fact remains there's catching up to do and a limited time to get there. Pluses are that he knows the offense ins and outs, is handling the huddle and line of scrimmage well and doesn't lack in ability or confidence. But he'll be learning a lot when the bullets are live. His accuracy I think will be a work in progress and will get incrementally better as the season progresses. He's going to rely on his feet a bit more than KOC will like, but that's how athletic QBs rookies do it: look at Drake Maye, Caleb and Jayden. Vrabel said he wants Maye running much less this year.

Its not always going to look smooth. He's not always going to be the most efficient. He'll probably be more playmaker than pocket passer the first 5 to 7 games. But everyone will see the potential, the high upside and some eye-opening athletic plays. Just hang in there, there'll be a learning curve. I think to expect otherwise is to not look at the realities of the circumstance and situation. But he's got a great supporting cast and smart coaches.

which is why IMO he and the starting OL should get at least 1 series in this last preseason game,  to much time between now and the start of the season,  give them one last live session with some clear things to work on in the limited reps.

[MAD GAINZ]

Maroon hit it on the head. We'll likely see a more run heavy approach to start the season. We saw that on the first drive against the Texans in preseason. Pretty balanced attack with early down runs and play action. KOC will lean on JJM more and more as he proves he's capable of handling a larger load.

Luckily the Vikings have a very strong defense and added Mason to their run game so JJ won't have to shoulder the offense by himself.

Just for reference, here are the stats for his counterparts in their first 4 starts last season...

Bo Nix - Record 2-2
83-138 / 60% / 660 yds (165 passing yds per game) / 1 TD - 4 INTs / 2 rushing TDs

Drake Maye - Record 1-3
90-136 / 66% / 909 yds (227 passing yds per game) / 7 TD - 5 INTs / 1 rushing TD

Michael Penix - Record 1-2
58-100 / 58% / 737 yds (245 passing yds per game) / 3 TDs - 3 INTs / 1 rushing TD

Caleb Williams - Record 2-2
87-141 / 62% / 787 yds (197 passing yds per game) / 3 TDs - 4 INTs / 0 rushing TDs

Jayden Daniels - Record 3-1
87-106 / 82% / 897 yds (224 passing yds per game) / 3 TDs - 1 INT / 4 rushing TDs

None of these guys really had eye popping stats in their first four starts except Daniels. Just posting this so we don't overreact if he has a "slow start" statistically this season.

[badgervike]

I think Viking's fans need to keep in mind that this is not only JJ's first NFL start upcoming, but he went a long period last year where he couldn't even throw a football because of the knee recovery. He's doing a great job of making up for lost time, but the fact remains there's catching up to do and a limited time to get there. Pluses are that he knows the offense ins and outs, is handling the huddle and line of scrimmage well and doesn't lack in ability or confidence. But he'll be learning a lot when the bullets are live. His accuracy I think will be a work in progress and will get incrementally better as the season progresses. He's going to rely on his feet a bit more than KOC will like, but that's how athletic QBs rookies do it: look at Drake Maye, Caleb and Jayden. Vrabel said he wants Maye running much less this year.

Its not always going to look smooth. He's not always going to be the most efficient. He'll probably be more playmaker than pocket passer the first 5 to 7 games. But everyone will see the potential, the high upside and some eye-opening athletic plays. Just hang in there, there'll be a learning curve. I think to expect otherwise is to not look at the realities of the circumstance and situation. But he's got a great supporting cast and smart coaches.

You starting to hedge your bets Sticky?  lol.

[purplefaithful]

Maroon hit it on the head.  We'll likely see a more run heavy approach to start the season.  We saw that on the first drive against the Texans in preseason.  Pretty balanced attack with early down runs and play action.  KOC will lean on JJM more and more as he proves he's capable of handling a larger load.

Luckily the Vikings have a very strong defense and added Mason to their run game so JJ won't have to shoulder the offense by himself.

Just for reference, here are the stats for his counterparts in their first 4 starts last season...

Bo Nix - Record 2-2
83-138 / 60% / 660 yds (165 passing yds per game) / 1 TD - 4 INTs / 2 rushing TDs

Drake Maye - Record 1-3
90-136 / 66% / 909 yds (227 passing yds per game) / 7 TD - 5 INTs / 1 rushing TD

Michael Penix - Record 1-2
58-100 / 58% / 737 yds (245 passing yds per game) / 3 TDs - 3 INTs / 1 rushing TD

Caleb Williams - Record 2-2
87-141 / 62% / 787 yds (197 passing yds per game) / 3 TDs - 4 INTs / 0 rushing TDs

Jayden Daniels - Record 3-1
87-106 / 82% / 897 yds (224 passing yds per game) / 3 TDs - 1 INT / 4 rushing TDs

None of these guys really had eye popping stats in their first four starts except Daniels. Just posting this so we don't overreact if he has a "slow start" statistically this season.

Hella start by Daniels btw...If he keeps it up in yr2?!

I am really curious to see how all of this unfolds for JJM and the Vikings...

To me it's more important to know he can be the QBOTF after this season than even the final w/l record. I still have PTSD from the Vikings (pre koc) track record with QB's. 

Ponder still haunts me.

[hogjowlsjohnny]

I expect JJ to play small ball initially. Short passes and a lot of running. Should look a little like Michigan at first. But I also expect defenses to stack the box and send pressure. So they will need good run blocking, a screen game, and JJ will need to connect with Jets on some intermediate to long passes to draw the extra defenders out of the box. Once that happens, JJ will be able to operate the full offense.
I expect up and down play from JJ. I also expect excellent play by the O-line and the defense; that's where the wins and losses will come from.

[Waterboy]

Hella start by Daniels btw...If he keeps it up in yr2?!

I am really curious to see how all of this unfolds for JJM and the Vikings...

To me it's more important to know he can be the QBOTF after this season than even the final w/l record. I still have PTSD from the Vikings (pre koc) track record with QB's. 

Ponder still haunts me.

Ponder haunted me from the moment we picked him.  He was the pick I was most sure would bomb from the time it was announced.  I'm disgusted to this day that he came into a game against the Bears I attended live at Soldier Field, and I saw one pass he threw I was encouraged by and admitted to myself for one tenth of a second that I could be wrong.  He threw a deep in across the middle that looked like a big-league throw.  Luckily that flash passed back to reality on his next throw and I never went back to that hallucinogenic phase ever again.  I hated that pick so bad.  Total reactionary pick based on who went ahead of him.

[Montana Tom]

I expect JJ to play small ball initially. Short passes and a lot of running. Should look a little like Michigan at first. But I also expect defenses to stack the box and send pressure. So they will need good run blocking, a screen game, and JJ will need to connect with Jets on some intermediate to long passes to draw the extra defenders out of the box. Once that happens, JJ will be able to operate the full offense.
I expect up and down play from JJ. I also expect excellent play by the O-line and the defense; that's where the wins and losses will come from.

I don't necessarily agree with you on this.  
Just because he was familiar with that type of offense in Michigan does not translate to the NFL.  I think KOC may have tweaked the offense, but more to the point, he and Kwesi have tweaked his supporting cast on OL and backfield.  
We'll see soon enough.