Kevin O’Connell Got Asked to Commit to J.J. McCarthy. Did the HC Evade the QB1 Answer?
To a certain extent, Kevin O’Connell gave a perfectly sensible answer. J.J. McCarthy needs to get healthy and then get a full amount of preparation.
Nevertheless, the answer is at least somewhat notable, opening a sliver of doubt for conspiracies to grow.
O’Connell was in front of the podium on Monday, chatting to the Minnesota media. Is the head coach willing to publicly declare that McCarthy is going to be the starter once health allows? O’Connell’s answer: “Yeah, I think, first and foremost he’s got to get healthy. And then throughout that process, it’s not just, I don’t think it’s one of those things where it’s, hey, the day he’s healthy and if he’s healthy the night before a game, we’re going to just throw him out there.”
Kevin O’Connell on The Vikings’ QB1 Decision
Kevin O’Connell’s answer makes a lot of sense.
The point isn’t just health. The point, rather, is health that allows for preparation. Not too long afterwards, O’Connell clarifies that part of what went wrong in Week 2 is that McCarthy missed practice time. Being so young in his career means seeing his game suffer due to missing those reps. So, McCarthy needs to get his ankle to being at complete health and then partner that health with robust a workload. At that point, J.J. McCarthy is going to be ready to get inserted into the lineup.
Even within that answer, though, Kevin O’Connell could have shoehorned in a firm commitment. The clarity makes sense — requiring both health and a full week to get ready — but that could have been said.
Consider, as well, how the Vikings’ top coach went on to handle the direct question: “That also doesn’t require an answer on that question today. I think our goal was to win a football game yesterday. We’re in the day after of that. We’ve had our players in, we’re preparing for another top-tier opponent.”
So, a bit of a Bill Belichick response tacked on.
Keep the focus on the here and now, Kevin O’Connell is saying. Minnesota just took care of business versus Cincinnati, meaning the team is unpacking the aftermath of their major win while looking forward to the Europe trip where two more AFC North opponents await: the Steelers in Week 4 and the Browns in Week 5.
Add it all together and where does that leave the Vikings’ QB situation? An educated guess.
The Vikings will be moving ahead with J.J. McCarthy as the starter. As Kevin O’Connell explained, they’ll do so once they have the twin factors — health and practice preparation — working in harmony. There will be no rush to arrive at that point. Seeing the sophomore on the field before the bye would be a major surprise.
Note, as well, that the Vikings didn’t firmly announce that McCarthy was the starter during the offseason (ruffling some feathers along the way). Rather, the team moved forward with some non-mysterious uncertainty, feeding the young arm starter reps without making a grand proclamation about him being the starter. Something similar appears to be occurring.
At 8:30 am on Sunday, September 28th, Kevin O’Connell will be calling in the plays to Carson Wentz. Seeing the veteran replicate — improve upon? — the Week 3 effort would very likely lead to a Vikings victory overseas.
McCarthy, per O’Connell, isn’t in a walking boot anymore. The practice reports clarify that the young passer has not been participating yet.
