McCarthy needs a decent game today for obvious reasons

[StickierBuns]

I agree, there's just no way you make that pick with OConnell, who in the words of Mike Zimmer, can "drive down to any 7-11" and find a running back to fill that role in the KOC offense. You move on and bring in Joe Brady as coach who actually utilizes the running game and makes Love his James Cook...now you're talking.

lol, take a breath, I know you hate KOC. But he can't mess him up either....did you read my post? He's also not getting fired. 

If there is any brain-space in the Draft room at all, when Minnesota drafts and Jeremiah Love is there, the pick is made. Done and done.

[supafreak84]

lol, take a breath, I know you hate KOC. But he can't mess him up either....did you read my post? He's also not getting fired. 

If there is any brain-space in the Draft room at all, when Minnesota drafts and Jeremiah Love is there, the pick is made. Done and done.

Sure you can. Look at what Chip Kelly did to Ashton Jeanty this year. You can absolutely mess up a running back simply by not utilizing them. What after four years of watching OConnell makes you think he'd even know how to use a back like Love? Again, 31st in rushing attempts over a four year period. And looking for brain space in our draft room is a rather large ask

[Zanary]

Well, we rushed a ton today, JJM had a 3 TD/no pick performance, and our defense has a shutout...complete with a Gink INT and one more for Harry.

I think we'll take it.

[comet52]

JJM had a better game today. Still has issues hitting the target in some scenarios, staring guys down, lacks pocket awareness. I don't know if he has a high NFL ceiling but he can make plays at times.

But they went to a 34-23 run pass ratio which made a huge difference. I think someone in the front office read KOC the riot act after that Seattle game--he was unusually contrite at the midweek presser and lo and behold, after 66 games in the NFL he figured out basic football with a young, inexperienced qb at the helm. Beat a defense that is atrocious--it helps to play some weaklings when you are down. Called successful runs on 3rd and 4th and short, like a fucking miracle or something.

Kevin O'Genius may finally learn that running the ball, running clock and keeping your D off the field keeps them fresh when it counts and able to bury the opponents, shutting them out in fact. Maybe he'll learn, we'll see. I think the inner Kevin is dying to pull out the triple reverse tight end option on 3rd and one and show the world how briliant he is (never mind the failure) but for now he quelled his inner idiot and won the game. Imagine if he'd done that since week 1, we might still be relevant instead of playing out the string in a lost season.

[supafreak84]

JJM had a better game today.  Still has issues hitting the target in some scenarios, staring guys down, lacks pocket awareness.  I don't know if he has a high NFL ceiling but he can make plays at times.

But they went to a 34-23 run pass ratio which made a huge difference.  I think someone in the front office read KOC the riot act after that Seattle game--he was unusually contrite at the midweek presser and lo and behold, after 66 games in the NFL he figured out basic football with a young, inexperienced qb at the helm.  Beat a defense that is atrocious--it helps to play some weaklings when you are down.  Called successful runs on 3rd and 4th and short, like a fucking miracle or something. 

Kevin O'Genius may finally learn that running the ball, running clock and keeping your D off the field keeps them fresh when it counts and able to bury the opponents, shutting them out in fact.  Maybe he'll learn, we'll see.  I think the inner Kevin is dying to pull out the triple reverse tight end option on 3rd and one and show the world how briliant he is (never mind the failure) but for now he quelled his inner idiot and won the game.  Imagine if he'd done that since week 1, we might still be relevant instead of playing out the string in a lost season.

Bingo. Exactly what I was saying in the other thread. I think I read a stat heading into the game that OConnell was 0 for his last 14 attempts on 3rd and short passing the football. Someone (maybe the players) were in his ear this week

[purplefaithful]

JJM had a better game today.  Still has issues hitting the target in some scenarios, staring guys down, lacks pocket awareness.  I don't know if he has a high NFL ceiling but he can make plays at times.

But they went to a 34-23 run pass ratio which made a huge difference.  I think someone in the front office read KOC the riot act after that Seattle game--he was unusually contrite at the midweek presser and lo and behold, after 66 games in the NFL he figured out basic football with a young, inexperienced qb at the helm.  Beat a defense that is atrocious--it helps to play some weaklings when you are down.  Called successful runs on 3rd and 4th and short, like a fucking miracle or something. 

Kevin O'Genius may finally learn that running the ball, running clock and keeping your D off the field keeps them fresh when it counts and able to bury the opponents, shutting them out in fact.  Maybe he'll learn, we'll see.  I think the inner Kevin is dying to pull out the triple reverse tight end option on 3rd and one and show the world how briliant he is (never mind the failure) but for now he quelled his inner idiot and won the game.  Imagine if he'd done that since week 1, we might still be relevant instead of playing out the string in a lost season.

Is this the "happy" comet52? 

I'll bet you're a blast at a party too? I'm just busting your chops...I actually like and value snark. 

Much as I still like a lot about KOC, the fact it took so long to find a winning kinda formula for such a green QB is almost hard to fathom...

Certainly a big bunch of this was the Commodes, but this is also how our offense has to operate until (if) JJM develops the skills to find those #2/#3 options more often and can feather the ball with some touch when needed. 

He's not there yet and needs lots more reps.

[comet52]

Is this the "happy" comet52? 

I'll bet you're a blast at a party too? I'm just busting your chops...I actually like and value snark. 

No I'm not really, but hey, I know who I am. Why do you think I changed my forum sub-handle to curmudgeon? "A man's got to know his limitations." -Dirty Harry

Much as I still like a lot about KOC, the fact it took so long to find a winning kinda formula for such a green QB is almost hard to fathom...

Certainly a big bunch of this was the Commodes, but this is also how our offense has to operate until (if) JJM develops the skills to find those #2/#3 options more often and can feather the ball with some touch when needed. 

He's not there yet and needs lots more reps.

This was one win in a lost season against a really weak Commanders squad whose starting qb went down (again) in the game. It was nice to win, nice to get a shutout, but there already purple bobos on Twitter glazing the squad, KOC, JJM, dunking and taking victory laps off this. So no one needs yours truly to give up the Curmudgeon post and go all rah rah lol, there's no shortage of that in the Vikings universe. It doesn't take much to get the hype train rolling. I'll just try to be the antidote to purple delusions, as always.

[purplefaithful]

No I'm not really, but hey, I know who I am. Why do you think I changed my forum sub-handle to curmudgeon?  "A man's got to know his limitations." -Dirty Harry

This was one win in a lost season against a really weak Commanders squad whose starting qb went down (again) in the game. It was nice to win, nice to get a shutout, but there already purple bobos on Twitter glazing the squad, KOC, JJM, dunking and taking victory laps off this.  So no one needs yours truly to give up the Curmudgeon post and go all rah rah lol, there's no shortage of that in the Vikings universe.  It doesn't take much to get the hype train rolling.  I'll just try to be the antidote to purple delusions, as always. 

And its that kinda shit that drives me crazy on Reddit, Strib and more...I just couldn't partake in that and why I limit my social media. There is one or 2 other forums who have knowledgable posters (imo) and offer value to me for my time. 

God bless and SKOL Vikings nation...Maybe the young fans will get to win a SB someday for their troubles and $$$

---

Overall, McCarthy finished with career highs in completion percentage (69.6) and touchdown passes (3). Perhaps most importantly, it was his first NFL game without a turnover after entering the game with the highest average number of turnovers per game (1.83) in the league.

"It's definitely reassuring," McCarthy said. "I always knew I had that and I always knew the potential is there. But I'm looking at it right now, and there's so many ways I could get better. I'm so far from where I want to be, so it's just great to get the win and grow in this game."

[Vikergirl]

[StickierBuns]

Decent game, definitely progress. Got rid of the ball quicker than other games. No INTs. A much needed outing for him AND the team. Nice to see, now he needs to build on it incrementally. I'd like to see some consistency develop as its just one game. Hopefully KOC has learned and tweaked something in his mentorship so JJ isn't overthinking constantly. Let him get a better grasp of a simplified offense, then expand incrementally.