I Don't Think We Understand What The Minnesota Vikings Just Did.. | JJ McCarthy 

JJ threw a football 61 mph at the combine, one MPH slower than Milton from Tennessee. His arm strength is very underrated.

The NFC North might be the new best division in the league man, I’m telling you, the Bears and Vikings both just got a major upgrade

The gap between J.J. and the #2 guy on the depth chart was enormous. The Michigan offense was designed with a primary goal of making the risk of injury to J.J. as tiny as possible. Without J.J., Michigan does not win the natty, and Harbough was smart enough to realize what he had with his starting QB. Exhibit A proving my theory is what happened to FSU last season. Haters claim that J.J. is mediocre because the "coaches were always looking to take the ball out of his hands". Good observation, but horrible assumption as to causation. The offensive playbook and weekly game plans were constructed to prevent J.J. from getting injured. When J.J. ran, he showed some great running talent. He's more of an efficient slasher than shifty dodger. He gets to choke points way faster than defenders think he will, and they can only see their weak arm tackles get broken by J.J. as he runs past them. Something J.J. just runs over defenders, which is a selfless way of making sure you fall forward and gain a few extra yards rather than stop and hop around until you are tackled in the original spot. I'd compare his style to Cristian McCaffrey. In 2023, he had a total of only 4 interceptions, and was elusive enough in the backfield that opponents could sack him only about once per game. But to me, seeing J.J. take the starting job away from Cade McNamara completely sold me on J.J. McNamara was a very good college QB for the Wolverines and led them to the first victory in many years over their hated arch-rival OSU, then on to the B1G championship and CFP. But watching the young J.J. in game situations made you immediately realize how enormously better he was than Cade. There really was no comparison to make, and putting Cade on the bench, and eventually into the portal to Iowa, must have been the easiest decision Coach Harbaugh ever had to make, and it directly led to the treasured Natty this past season. Did J.J. have to put the Woverines on his shoulders and carry them to college football nirvana all by himself? No. Do the Wolverins beat OSU in 2023, beat Alabama, and then beat Washington without J.J. running the show? No.

This was a really nice presentation of tape on JJ. This was good work, honestly. Showed lots of detail about what qb was looking at, his ball placement, and how he had to have confidence in his arm in getting it into limited space and time and how special some of those throws were. Best of luck with your channel!

All I needed to know he's the QB I want on our team was the one scout who reported when JJ was coming into Michigan from HS he got his roster together and told everyone if they were there to party or have fun, find another place to go. He was coming there to win a championship and they had better be on board. At 18 years old. That's the leader and the mindset I want running our team. Everyone these days is so obsessed with the physical gifts and athletic ability of QBs. Take a look at the QBs who have won SBs over the last 25 years. What they have in common is a winning mindset, not freakish athletic ability.

JJ was the best QB in the draft! The Vikings did very well!

I’m happy to come across this because the vidoes i’ve seen is these espn commentators bashing him. for him being 21 and his skills and awareness and smartness of the game is something the other players lack. i’m so happy to see this guy play this season!

I’ve watched every career snap at Michigan from McCarthy. I’m telling you, from his first collegiate play I knew he was different. He’s been slept on and bashed by everyone. The Vikings got a damn good qb

The _'JJ haters'_ are simply people who can *NEVER* be happy or Ohio State fans. As a HUGE Michigan fan, I've seen a lot of great players, but few have matured into the class of player JJ has. His ability to scramble while keeping his eyes down field is one of his best attributes as a passer. And lets not forget. Michigan has always been a 'run team', so his passing stats could have been much better. The 'Big House faithful' is going to miss him, and he's the reason I'll be watching and pulling for the Vikings this year!

As a Vikings fan I absolutely love this guy, we got an absolute winner and a grinder who badly wanted to be apart of our franchise. We needed more winners in MN

From a Michigan fan. You will absolutely fall in love with this kid. Been watching Michigan for over 40 years and he's our best QB and best human being to come through the program.

As a Viking fan, I'm ecstatic they landed JJ McCarthy. He has been a winner and great leader everywhere he has been. He has the "IT" factor that is something you can't teach. SKOL!

JJ is polished. He'll be fine even if he starts early. I've been sold on him sine his freshman yr at UM. He'd regularly come in, heave it for a 50 yard completion, and go sit. What Freshan does that???? Then when starter went down vs Georgia in CFP, he stepped right in, moved it downfield and got UM's only TD of the day in a tough loss.

100% agree. Great analysis. So happy we took JJ. Looking forward to hearing JJ to JJ!!!

Drake Maye went to the worst team he could have possibly gone to meanwhile McCarthy went to the best team he could have possibly gone to.

For anyone that watches the Pat McAfee show, he had Belichick on during his draft show. Patriots draft Maye and BB rips into the pick, basically talked about all his flaws. Then when the Viking ask BB about McCarthy, he just raved about what a great QB he is. Pretty interesting.

Best qb in the draft. Mark my words

Good take and video. I had same sentiments as you but am jazzed to have an Alpha leader at the helm. And on top of that, the steal of the draft Dallas Turner, Let's Go!

Not steep at all at 10. They killed it, and kept 23, which turned into 17 for Dallas Turner. 🤘 Great breakdown of the Xs and Os. 👍

Excellent breakdown, analysis. TY

Great breakdown! Dope channel bro!

This was a really good video man, good job!

great job dude this was great!

Great breakdown.

Loved your work. thanks

Great breakdown. Great energy.

2:16 that throw needs to go to the high post in the NFL that window on the curl gets closed much faster in the pros and the post is much more open anyways.

this kid is mega talented on top of that he has the highest poise and football iq. ill take that every day of the week. best qb in the draft what a steal. vikes are back baby

This is honestly the best breakdown and assessment of JJ McCarthy I've seen to date!! Really good work on this!!

Great job with this video , perfect presentation

Idiots who don’t like JJ are the people who gatekeep stats and don’t actually watch games. Michigan fans know the kids going to excel.

Great analysis! Thank you!

Super excited to have him in Minnesota. I love how he always keeps his eyes downfield and is amazing at throwing on the run. Needs some more touch on layering on deeper throws but that can be coached into him. Also don’t like to see him throw across his body hopefully Kevin will coach that out of him too.

I agree with you 1000% percent. As someone who's watched JJ for the past three years, him going 10th is still underrating him a little. What everybody says is he makes hard stuff look easy. He also is the best at delivering on third down. Great analysis, and I think he will fit in great with the Viking's scheme.

Minnesota is happy to have him. He has a good heart and I love his energy! Mn needs this

Great pick by Minnesota and great landing spot for JJ. Also no pressure to play right away necessarily. A lot of peolle clown Darnold but he's never really been in a good situation. He can at least start the season and let JJ continue to progress for another month or so

McCarthy has great footwork and accuracy. KOC and Kwesi picked him because he will be a perfect fit for the Vikings system. Darnold will be the number one opening day I'm guessing. I like Hall as the number three.

Yo as a Vikings that hated this pick but you going over his tape has made me feel like he’s got a chance at becoming something special

Excellent analysis - Vikes let's give this man the scouting job!!!

He’s from my town of LaGrange Park, he was a stud throughout HS and college.

JJ McCarthy is an under rated QB. You can see it in his foot work and watch his head as he reads and checks down. Plus he's going to be throwing to better pass catchers. aka Jefferson. so, Jefferson and others helping him out, plus the coaches will be better. I like the whole situation. Give it two years and see where's he at. The first year is school. Second year is development.

One key thing that every "expert" forgets is that the Vikings aren't starting him right away. He's gonna have at least a year to practice his ball behind a low stakes season with Sam Darnold under center. Just about every rookie QB thrives under those conditions

He honestly looked like the best combination of brain, arm, maturity, pocket presence, and mobility. Caleb looks like he might have an emotional meltdown his first bad game.. Drake can put the ball through a small hole in the barn, then miss the barn, and Jayden is one good hit away from being wormholed to a different universe.

I didn't have a strong opinion on McCarthy one way or another. Did see him here against the Gophers last fall but the running game just eventually mauled the Gophers even though it was close at half. I liked Penix for the Vikings just because I'd seen more of him and his interview on Sirius NFL with Pat and Jim was textbook KOC. Accurate, great throwing ability and the biggest was not getting rattled. Or as KOC calls it - A quiet mind. But also, going back That said - In the back of my mind I've had this thing that just keeps coming back and that is McCarthy is going to be REALLY good in the NFL. Maybe its because not many people until about 3 weeks ago really gave him much attention. I don't have anything specific to hang it on. But lots of times that intuition stuff with me comes to fruition. Hope it does again. I'm not sold on Williams, Maye just seemed to have "overrated" stamped on him and Jayden Daniels I liked in college but I don't know. He could be great, above average or out of the league in 3 years like RGIII. Not interested at all in Nix. Too many screen passes I guess. McCarthy and Penix just seemed to jump out. Hope it works out.

It's pretty fundamental.. get guys who win.. Look up Chipper Jones..

I appreciate the coverage on this, but it's overlooking the two key aspects where people are critical of JJ. His volume is obviously the primary concern, but his accuracy on crossers is also a valid concern as well, and while he had some great throws that you show here, he's shown concerns at hitting a man in stride accurately when he should. You said it yourself, leading the receiver and hitting them in the right spot is massively important in the NFL, and he hasn't shown above average capability in doing this when he's given the time to. I think all in all he's going to the best spot for any of the rookie QBs and will develop to be at least a game management type of player that also has enough athletic talent to probably be an upgrade from Cousins. I mean, it won't take much to be able to run better than Kirk and that itself is a significant upgrade in a league where we just saw Mahomes win multiple games in the playoffs with his legs when the game was on the line. The absolute biggest concern as a Vikings fan is the team is in win now mode and may be asking too much of him too early.

I am psyched!!!!

That throw at 9:20 with a dude in his grill was nuts

Great analysis! One question, everything I heard was that he was great under center, but all the footage you showed was out of the shotgun. Can he really play under center?

The Lions finally get good. Then the rest of the NFC north says, "absolutely not!"

what do u use to watch film and be able to draw over the video?

JJ & KOC is gonna be a thing of beauty.

He could develop but he is a long way from NFL ready. He stays on the first read for a while and holds the ball for a long time. I see some people say the safety was lurking at 2:17. I think in the NFL you need to throw that ball downfield along the sideline. From 4:00-4:05, he stays on receivers who are not open because of defenders dropping into coverage and misses a wide open crosser right in front of him. Pause at 4:29 and both crossers are open. The pass is completed because the defender in the middle of the field stands as still as a statue with a receiver settling in just a few yards away. The linebacker passes coverage off but the safety does not drive towards the player moving to his zone. The Michigan State defense positioning and footwork on defense was just atrocious in several clips. Again, Pause at 5:20 as the receivers knee in the middle of the field is at the hashmark. The pass should go there at this moment. A lot of these plays were good plays in college but would be sacks, incompletions, and interceptions in the NFL.

Us Michigan fans who have watched every snap, every throw, every interview know who JJ is as a player and leader.. its laughable to me all the slander on his name from casual fans, it's just ignorance.. led the country in completion % (accurate), led the country in 3rd down completion % (clutch), led the country in QBR under pressure, had the 2nd strongest arm in the draft, runs a 4.6, is a leader and only lost once his entire career, and just turned 21 years old.. upside is crazy

Great video

This is great tape for J.J, but it's also highlighting how #18 Loveland is an absolute stud TE.

I like how he's fearless because you can throw to Jefferson almost anytime he's covered 1 on 1.

Gotta Flip image so the Words on Hat are correct and the jerseys are correct. Will make a difference

Quick Edit: OH NEVERMIND I think the pause made me miss that the safety was lurking! But it still looks kinda open? Idk I'm all in on JJ, but I paused at 2:57 and walked away, came back and can someone tell me why he's not supposed to drive that post into the end zone?? I don't know that much but it looks like a wide open loft throw to the pylon.

2:17 "The only place it can be thrown" And it is, if you ignore the WR who is running into open space fifteen yards behind JJ's target.

You talk about the tight window throw on the 2nd play as a good read, when the wr on the skinny post on the back side was a TD. He had the db beat by 3 yards min.

I think he will be a great fit for my Vikings. However, I would've liked to see him make more throws to the outside or deepest receiver in a few of the plays shown here.

My biggest concern is that our interior offensive line is still in bad shape- hopefully we can fix that next offseason so that he gets more help

Alright i'm excited now

As a Vikings fan, I can't wait for the first time I hear, "JJ to JJ for a TOUCHDOWN!"

JJ is the next Tom Brady. The organization loves him, the fans love him and he loves being in MN.

Way to break it down Brother.

Great video. Some of the best analysis and play breakdowns I've seen on youtube Skol🟣🟣

The second play you showed, JJ misread it terribly. That curl wasn’t cloudy, it was zero viz fog. The deep crosser (receiver wearing 1) was a TD all day.

JJ will be looking good in #9. The guy has the athletic "feel" for space and throwing a ball. He did play hockey, so great anticipation and vision will only get better. If the Vikes can keep the pocket relatively clean, he will be the franchise QB. I think Darnold should start, unless JJ clearly beats him out in, which I don't think is going to happen, not yet anyways. Darnold has a skill set too. I think Darnold will find some success with the Vikes, he just needs to make good decisions with the ball.

Dont know what there is not to like about JJ.

I know some experts said we're high on maye daniels or pennix but i thought the vikes were all in on Mccarthy since day 1

Jj is the one who going win us the Lombardi💜

Best in the country on 3rd down. Not too shabby in my book.

And you are right

Hot take, JJ is the most NFL ready QB from the draft.

JJ can run and throw. He makes good decisions. The lack of pass attempts in college hurt his draft status, but that all changes now that he made the NFL.

Everyone forgets about Hockenson when they are talking about Vikings weapons too. He's going to have the best receiver in the league, a top 5 TE (IMO) and a up incoming star receiving in Adison oh and let's just throw in Aaron Jones at RB.

Can’t even lie we boutta SWEEPPPPP with JJ and Jettas etc etc SKOL vikes baby

What is the big deal about throwing over the middle? It is easier than the edge because the distance of the pass is shorter

What I see is him consistently throwing to the wrong receiver, which tells me that he does not go threw progressions very well at his young age.

Had he not thrown that question curl, he had a touchdown on the dig, though .

JJ is gonna be passing to JJ😲

Roman Wilson is wide open 35 yard down the field with a leading throw in clip two. JJ pre determines his throws, dude is the biggest bust ever.

The 2nd play you showed he missed the guy deep. Yes curl was his first read but sometimes you gotta take the chance and air it out

Nice analysis but he did miss a possible touchdown on the 2nd play.

To me that second play is scary. Against an NFL defense, that's a pick 9 out of 10.

He absolutely has the tools but damn near every play is a clean pocket and receivers way more open than the usually ever will be in the NFL. I wouldn't be surprised if he suffers from success and struggles early with the transition.

What are you talking about that second play was lucky it wasnt intercepted. And he didnt look because he "felt" him was more like he didnt see him. Nfl it would of been an interception.

Simply based on the teams they were drafted to, I don’t think it’s a hot take to say JJ will be a more successful QB in the NFL than Maye.

I think we do.

As a packers fan, it's hard to accept the reality that the bears might be good

Second play he missed the wide open cross deeper down field.

Love how no one mentions his good footwork, throwing on the run ability while looking at all his reads, hes accurate, and his velocity was 2nd at the combine. Just lazy generational takes all around.

Couldn't put it anywhere else the best target was that open running back

That's what JJ can do ☺

ima just say it. JJ Brady

Caleb Williams will be the next Vince Young, or Cam Newton.

Any film against better teams? Michigan state lost to Rutgers. 5 yards open on a check down is crazy open. Not gonna be like that I’m nfl

come on man... 3:14 he got lucky with that throw and the guy deeper is wide open with a TD if he leads him right.