A little birdie told me....

The ghost formerly known as PG wrote:
McCarthy is the guy I hoped for from the get go. I was ecstatic when we picked him. His demeanor, his team first attitude, dedication to always get better, the maturity, and his hunger to be great are such awesome attributes and then you add in his athleticism…. Am so excited about this kid!!!

Yep, he's 'that guy'. Not to get too hyperbolic, but McCarthy is going to be a game-changer for the Vikings. Changing narratives. Winner mentality is in the house at QB, with the high end athleticism and arm talent that don't usually go with a 'college winner'.

MAD GAINZ wrote:
I know right?  I thought I was reading too much into it being the #3 biggest fan of JJ McCarthy [b](right behind his parents at #2 and Sticky #1[/b]), but I really think he went from a guy they "loved" at a certain pick to a guy they LOVE once they got him in the building and saw what he's all about. These workouts and draft interviews give teams a quick look at guys, but you never really know for sure until you get them in the building and see them everyday.  I think we'll look back on this draft in 3 years and JJ will be in the discussion for top QB in the class.

That is the correct order.

MAD GAINZ wrote:
Oh I know...  :-D As excited as I was when we drafted him, it's even more exciting as a fan knowing the coaches and organization fully believe in this kid.  I don't want to wish this season away, but next season is going to be must watch Vikings football.

If you watch the Zoom call that was an unscheduled presser that KOC did the day after it was determined he'd need surgery, you could see and hear the disappointment. I think the light bulb went off for KOC and the organization that this kid was beyond what they expected: more upside, more arm talent, more work ethic, the way his teammates respond to him, his maturity and the rapid improvements of slight mechanical footwork techniques he was instructed to work on. And then KOC basically unabashedly saying he's the franchise QB that fans have been clamoring for....on the Zoom call, KOC wasn't thinking of Darnold, he let it flow how he feels about McCarthy in a real way, fairly demonstrably. I mean, strong words for KOC to use. It almost felt low-key emotional. I felt KOC said it both for the fans but also so JJ could hear it. So as a few others have mentioned: you can see and sense they thought one thing on Draft day.....and another, elevated sense of what JJM could really be as a franchise guy throughout camp and after game 1 of the preseason. The narrative changed. But that is on-brand for McCarthy: underestimate him at your own risk. He'll prove you wrong every time.

MaroonBells wrote:
That's exactly the way I saw it too. Even that "REEEALLY" look he gave KAM on draft day seemed a little uncomfortable. But I thought it was just me. My guess at the time was that he was really hoping the Pats would take our offer and he was a little miffed he wasn't able to get "his" guy, who was obviously Maye.  [b]Fast forward three months and he was absolutely giddy about McCarthy. I think there were reasons he had McCarthy below Maye, and those reasons must've just dissipated when the kid took the field. [/b] Still early, but I think Harbaugh was right.

This is spot on. IMO, its three things: [list] [*]More accurate than anticipated [*]Leadership, maturity and 'it' factor more genuine. Blown away how people react to JJM. [*]Quick learner, major league work ethic.  [/list] He and Viking Nation haven't seen the 'ice water in the veins' moments yet. He's smooth and looked it against the Raiders. Just the right amount of swag and a howitzer to give that fear factor to a defense. [hr]

MAD GAINZ wrote:
I agree that Maye has some bust factor, but I think his skill set would have been a great fit in KOCs offense.  Big strong kid, can run like Josh Allen, doesn't have the arm of JJM or Josh Allen but it's NFL quality.  He reportedly did VERY well in interviews, has a presence about him. He may end up busting in New England if he starts to early with that supporting cast and a defensive HC who may not have the correct pulse of when he's ready. I still have Jayden Daniels as my top bust candidate for this class.  The skinny frame, average arm strength, and he wasn't good throwing in the middle of the field.  I think he's been way over hyped in preseason.  Caleb Williams, JJM (in his one game), and Bo Nix have been the most impressive rookie QBs early from this class.

Interesting about your opinion on Daniels. Man, its going to be fun to watch the top 6 QBs develop....or not.  p.s. heard Spencer Rattler has been showing out a bit. We'll see if its preseason hype. Rattler was one of the highest rated QBs coming out of high school in like 15 years.

MaroonBells wrote:
It was for Maye. They didn't even really try to disguise that. But you're right that it's sometimes better to be lucky than good. It's too early to say anything about the careers of Maye and McCarthy, but if Andy Reid had gotten his weay, he would've drafted Paxton Lynch and not Patrick Mahomes.

Mahomes is a major outlier. He looked like total bust material for the NFL in college as a prospect: but he got the right coach and support. And he's incredibly driven. It makes a difference.

MaroonBells wrote:
Oh I don't know. When he followed up that pick with two perfect TD strikes, that showed me that he had the kind of short memory that is rare in young QBs. After that I thought you can probably put this kid in the game earlier than most. I'm betting KOC was thinking the same thing.

There's a little Brett Favre in McCarthy: he knows he has a special arm. He's great like him in that he'll make some extraordinary throws off-script, in the middle of chaos.  Zero doubt about KOC re-thinking they could move their timetable up on JJM: that was evident on that Zoom call. The reaction said it all, at least to me: I had plans for this kid THIS YEAR.