McCarthy is only going to get better

[StickierBuns]

"We saw a lot of things that he's capable of doing," Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said. "And we saw some things that as he continues his ascension and his growth, he'll only get better and better at."

He (McCarthy) said afterward that he doesn't believe in a "clutch" trait and that he got plenty of help Sunday, but it was hard to ignore McCarthy stepping up in the fourth quarter once again -- this time in front of thousands of fans who once rooted for him at Michigan.

"I'm happy that we got the win, but I'm not proud, to be honest with you," McCarthy said. "There's a lot of meat on the bone, and I feel like I could have played a lot better. But coming into this environment and controlling my emotions, controlling my temperament going into it, I was proud of that."

Keep in mind this was his 3rd start in the NFL. He's 22. He played in Chicago, where he was born and raised, on MNF. Now just played in the state where he went to college and has a ton of attachment and emotion to. Won. Controlling his emotions indeed. Mentally you can see he's smart, has a control of the huddle and offense, knows the plays. Hell, he audibled out of a few for nice gains. But he's still learning. And he'll be less amped up as he gets more experience and won't miss a few easy throws I'm sure he'd love to have back on the run. His teammates love him. He may miss a few opportunities until he gets more reps, but in the 4th quarter when something is required, he's going to step up....not shrink up. He's tough as nails, doesn't mind taking a big hit after a pass. One game at a time, but this was a big win on the road against a big dog...and we got a dog at QB. Onward.

[MAD GAINZ]

Biggest thing I saw that was different in this start. Our pre-snap process looked great. No hurrying up to the line with the play clock winding down. Everything seemed well oiled and on time.

Just keep getting this kid reps. We've seen big plays downfield, clutch factor, and he's making some plays with his legs. The more experience he gets the better. He makes the hard throws look easy, but still has some trouble making the easy throws look easy. Not worried about that at all. Those easy throws will be easy when he's gotten his 10K reps that KOC keeps talking about.

Excited for his future!

BOOM

[MaroonBells]

Just like all the QBs from his class, JJ's going to play better and better as he gets more snaps. It's such a huge difference to go from Wentz's lack of vision, arm and mobility to McCarthy who has plenty of each. 

I love his intensity, but I do worry he might sometimes be a little TOO intense.

[Zanary]

His poise and body language may have been my favorite parts of his game, yesterday. It's his job to make throws, to make plays, to avoid sacks and turnovers as much as he can...but, the combination of intensity and mellow movement showed that he was totally within himself, in control of the moment, and wasn't overwhelmed despite the big game in divisional enemy territory.

Yeah, he had some passes sail, threw behind a bit, and maybe felt that he owed Nailor that last pass after some uglier balls earlier. That said, KOC trusted him, he trusted his arm and his receiver, and we got the game-sealing first down when needed most.

I've been OCD on Vikings' QB body language since Wade Wilson, because if he looked rigid in the bits of pre-game warmup shown on TV...we were in trouble. I saw much of the same since, where a bad game started with rigid movement and a worried facial expression just before kickoff.

JJM walks into that huddle with the movements of a guy who knows that it's HIS huddle despite his youth, and he's surrounded by talent that is hanging on his words and actions. Whatever people may say about his meditation and pre-game "chill rituals", it seems to work.

[StickierBuns]

JJM walks into that huddle with the movements of a guy who knows that it's HIS huddle despite his youth, and he's surrounded by talent that is hanging on his words and actions. Whatever people may say about his meditation and pre-game "chill rituals", it seems to work.

Yep. Have to love snarky comments from a few fans like: 'Hope JJ's meditation game is on point'.....like somehow its a bad thing, lol. It works for him. Seemed pretty ok going into the defending NFCN champ's home and laying some wood.

[MaroonBells]

This is pretty bizarre...

J.J. McCarthy Week 1 in Chicago: 143 passing yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 1 rush TD, 27-24 win

J.J. McCarthy in Detroit today: 143 passing yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 1 rush TD, 27-24 win

[purplefaithful]

I agree, patience is key and he needs to stay on the field. He's been way too snake-bit.

Damn, the kid is very green and so young...And he sure didnt come out of a pro style in Michigan. So I might argue his growth curve is steeper than others in that class.

But hell, it's not a stretch to see the potential. One of these days I might be able to relax and let go of my Ponder PTSD.

[comet52]

This is pretty bizarre...

J.J. McCarthy Week 1 in Chicago: 143 passing yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 1 rush TD, 27-24 win

J.J. McCarthy in Detroit today: 143 passing yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 1 rush TD, 27-24 win

Interesting.  Let's hope the Baltimore game doesn't mirror the Atlanta game.

[purplefaithful]

DETROIT - J.J. McCarthy is promising to put the “drama” in Dramamine.

If his third NFL start is an accurate indicator, Vikings fans better stock up on Prozac, Tums and CBD.

In a wildly entertaining and uneven performance Sunday, the Vikings’ once-and-current starting quarterback led what is certainly his franchise to a 27-24 victory over the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.

McCarthy has started three NFL games. The two in which he faced an NFC North rival on the road, he produced dramatic victories.

This was a major upset, and not just because that word described the state of fans’ stomachs all afternoon.

McCarthy played a brilliant first quarter, often looked lost or overwhelmed during the middle of the game, then made winning plays down the stretch.
His last pass came on third-and-5 from the Vikings 28-yard line with 1:41 remaining. Having thrown mostly fastballs all day, McCarthy threw a beautiful touch pass to Jalen Nailor for 16 yards — Nailor’s first catch of the game — to seal the victory.

After the game, McCarthy walked into a locker room waiting to celebrate him, and with him.

“It was awesome,” he said, choking up. “When you’re hurt — being on IR last year and being out for five weeks this year absolutely kills me. Not being out there with those guys, because I love every single one of them."

McCarthy won a national title for the University of Michigan, where he would show up for games wearing what looks like a gas-station work shirt with his initials embroidered on the chest. He wore that outfit again Sunday: blue work shirt, black cargo pants, black undershirt, black cap, untied gray shoes, and hair that stuck out at right angles.

He looked like the guy who cleans the pressbox after games, not the one who wrote the best story of the season.

“I’ve shed a lot of blood and tears in this state,” he said. “There’s so many relationships I’ve built over the three years that I was at Michigan.”

At times McCarthy looked like a panther, at times like a baby giraffe. His final stats — 14-for-25 for 143 yards — don’t hint at reality.

Which was: Watching this game live, it felt like McCarthy threw 100 passes and took 100 hits. Every play seemed scripted for maximum drama. He took five sacks, threw two touchdown passes, threw an interception, had another interception negated by a penalty and ran for a score.

The Vikings experienced Brett Favre in 2009. Now they’re experiencing what Green Bay Packers fans did when Favre was a youngster — the wild plays and wild swings of a burgeoning talent.

McCarthy has played in three NFL games. He engineered a wild comeback victory in Chicago with three fourth-quarter touchdowns. He played poorly and was injured against an Atlanta defense that has succeeded in stopping a few top quarterbacks this season.

Upon his return from a high right ankle sprain that inspired all kinds of inane conspiracy theories, McCarthy again looked like a premier athlete who looks like he wants to throw an 80-yard touchdown pass on every play.

He knows how to talk a good game, too. On Saturday, the team’s captains gave speeches. Asked about that, McCarthy said: “I just couldn’t sleep. It felt like I was catching this glare from the silver platter with the juicy opportunity on top of it.

“That’s what I told the guys, `You know, this opportunity is something that we’ve been asking for and praying for ever since we started wearing pads. You put everything into this moment, put everything into this game.”

The future is unknowable. What is certain is that McCarthy, in two of his three NFL starts, has offered glimpses into the thrilling experience of developing a talented, first-round, franchise quarterback.

He threw a bullet to Justin Jefferson for one touchdown, threw back against his body to T.J. Hockenson while running to the right for another touchdown, and outran the Detroit defense for an easy touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Then came that clinching throw to Nailor.

“Clutch is a myth,” McCarthy said, after proving himself wrong.

STRIB

[StickierBuns]

DETROIT - J.J. McCarthy is promising to put the “drama” in Dramamine.

If his third NFL start is an accurate indicator, Vikings fans better stock up on Prozac, Tums and CBD.

In a wildly entertaining and uneven performance Sunday, the Vikings’ once-and-current starting quarterback led what is certainly his franchise to a 27-24 victory over the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.

McCarthy has started three NFL games. The two in which he faced an NFC North rival on the road, he produced dramatic victories.

This was a major upset, and not just because that word described the state of fans’ stomachs all afternoon.

McCarthy played a brilliant first quarter, often looked lost or overwhelmed during the middle of the game, then made winning plays down the stretch.
His last pass came on third-and-5 from the Vikings 28-yard line with 1:41 remaining. Having thrown mostly fastballs all day, McCarthy threw a beautiful touch pass to Jalen Nailor for 16 yards — Nailor’s first catch of the game — to seal the victory.

After the game, McCarthy walked into a locker room waiting to celebrate him, and with him.

“It was awesome,” he said, choking up. “When you’re hurt — being on IR last year and being out for five weeks this year absolutely kills me. Not being out there with those guys, because I love every single one of them."

McCarthy won a national title for the University of Michigan, where he would show up for games wearing what looks like a gas-station work shirt with his initials embroidered on the chest. He wore that outfit again Sunday: blue work shirt, black cargo pants, black undershirt, black cap, untied gray shoes, and hair that stuck out at right angles.

He looked like the guy who cleans the pressbox after games, not the one who wrote the best story of the season.

“I’ve shed a lot of blood and tears in this state,” he said. “There’s so many relationships I’ve built over the three years that I was at Michigan.”

At times McCarthy looked like a panther, at times like a baby giraffe. His final stats — 14-for-25 for 143 yards — don’t hint at reality.

Which was: Watching this game live, it felt like McCarthy threw 100 passes and took 100 hits. Every play seemed scripted for maximum drama. He took five sacks, threw two touchdown passes, threw an interception, had another interception negated by a penalty and ran for a score.

The Vikings experienced Brett Favre in 2009. Now they’re experiencing what Green Bay Packers fans did when Favre was a youngster — the wild plays and wild swings of a burgeoning talent.

McCarthy has played in three NFL games. He engineered a wild comeback victory in Chicago with three fourth-quarter touchdowns. He played poorly and was injured against an Atlanta defense that has succeeded in stopping a few top quarterbacks this season.

Upon his return from a high right ankle sprain that inspired all kinds of inane conspiracy theories, McCarthy again looked like a premier athlete who looks like he wants to throw an 80-yard touchdown pass on every play.

He knows how to talk a good game, too. On Saturday, the team’s captains gave speeches. Asked about that, McCarthy said: “I just couldn’t sleep. It felt like I was catching this glare from the silver platter with the juicy opportunity on top of it.

“That’s what I told the guys, `You know, this opportunity is something that we’ve been asking for and praying for ever since we started wearing pads. You put everything into this moment, put everything into this game.”

The future is unknowable. What is certain is that McCarthy, in two of his three NFL starts, has offered glimpses into the thrilling experience of developing a talented, first-round, franchise quarterback.

He threw a bullet to Justin Jefferson for one touchdown, threw back against his body to T.J. Hockenson while running to the right for another touchdown, and outran the Detroit defense for an easy touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Then came that clinching throw to Nailor.

“Clutch is a myth,” McCarthy said, after proving himself wrong.

STRIB

Pretty good article. The JJ McCarthy Experience.