Mike McCarthy Strikes Again
At the beginning of the year, I predicted the Minnesota Vikings would have a strong season, one that culminated in a playoff appearance. That prediction, uh, aged poorly. One prediction that went well, though, rested in the insistence that Mike McCarthy would hinder his remarkably talented roster.
Anyone who watched the 49ers/Cowboys game was likely dumbfounded by what they saw transpire at the very end:
Honestly, this has to be among the worst calls you’ll ever see. The game is on the line. Somehow, the Cowboys still have a chance at the very end. With 14 seconds, it’s very possible you can have two chances at the end zone. Instead, it’s a QB draw by design. Look at how Dak Prescott plants his foot and then immediately takes off. There is no hesitation there. Maybe Kellen Moore is the one who called the play, but Mike McCarthy has a headset.
This one fall on the head coach.
Purple PTSD: Vikings Secondary Remains Shorthanded
Part of what makes the situation even more ridiculous is the post-game comments. Prescott expressed support for the fans who threw garbage at the referees. Keep in mind that it was Prescott who ran for 7ish yards longer than he should have; keep in mind that Prescott made it more difficult for the official to touch the ball. McCarthy also explained that they practice the play a lot and that he expected the refs to put more time on the clock. Frankly, these explanations are ridiculous. Coaches continually preach about the importance of controlling what you can control. Dallas controlled the play call and then the execution of the play. They bungled both.
Vikings fans were disappointed when they learned that the Packers moved on from Mike McCarthy. He ensured a strong team with a historically-great QB underperformed. Obviously, seeing Dallas lose isn’t the same as seeing Green Bay lose, but it still warms one’s purple heart. Ideally, McCarthy will stick around Dallas for a while.
One other thing before wrapping up. The Vikings want to interview Dallas OC Kellen Moore and DC Dan Quinn. I still believe that McCarthy shoulders most of the blame, but there was a lot to be concerned about with that game. The penalties were really bad. One game doesn’t define a coach’s entire resume, and yet it does give the fan (and perhaps the Wilfs) reason for pause. Forced to choose between the two, I’d lean Quinn.
Last word: it’s officially time to become San Francisco fans. A dominant run game and fearsome pass rush may be enough to take down the Packers. Unfortunately, Matt LaFleur seems like a reasonably strong coach, so SF will really need to earn this one.
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