The Vikings guess it all on J.J. McCarthy and, so far, the returns haven’t been sturdy.
After Sunday’s 19-17 loss to the Bears, Vikings Hall of Famer Cris Carter had some harsh criticism for McCarthy in response to a constructive tweet from Emmanuel Acho.
McCarthy guided a 10-play 85-yard go-ahead landing drive with 50 seconds remaining in the sport before the Bears answered with a game-winning discipline aim after a Devin Duvernay kick return set them up in prime place.
J.J. McCarthy has performed properly in some fourth quarters, but that’s about it. Getty Images
“J.J. McCarthy got that clutch gene!! Struggled all game, but this was nasty! #Skol,” Acho posted on X with a clip of McCarthy’s go-ahead landing move.
“Did you watch the first 59 mins?” Carter responded.
McCarthy’s private coach Greg Holcomb didn’t take these feedback evenly, calling Carter a “F’kn clown” in a tweet that seemingly has since been deleted, per a Sports Illustrated display screen seize.
While Holcomb defended McCarthy, head coach Kevin O’Connell admitted on Tuesday that McCarthy has room for enchancment.
O’Connell said on KFAN-FM 100.3 that McCarthy has proven strides on the apply that have not always translated to his performances on Sunday.
To make, as the phrase that I have been utilizing with him, we gotta begin seeing the cement dry on some of the issues that we’ve actually labored exhausting to make soccer habits from a fundamentals and approach standpoint,” OConnell said, per Sports Illustrated.
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O’Connell particularly pointed to the footwork by McCarthy impacting his accuracy.
“It’s just a matter of applying those things with discipline every single snap,” O’Connell said. “Fundamentally, he’s tying a hand behind his back at times with giving himself an opportunity to be as accurate as he can be.”
“You can’t be thinking about your fundamentals and techniques in those moments. If you are, that’s going to be pulling away from your ability to play fast and be aggressive with your arm, because it’s going to slow everything down in the process. So we’ve got to continue to try to make that habit, and let the concrete dry, as I say.”
Cris Carter had no love for JJ McCarthy’s efficiency on Sunday. Getty Images
The bulk of McCarthy’s manufacturing Sunday came on that last drive.
He tallied just 10 completions for 74 yards while throwing two interceptions before giving Minnesota a 17-16 lead it could not maintain.
That last drive allowed him to end 16-of-32 for 150 yards with one landing move.
McCarthy admitted that his efficiency Sunday was too uneven to win video games persistently.
“I need to be better in doing my job at a higher level,” McCarthy said postgame.
Star receiver Justin Jefferson didn’t precisely have the finest physique language on a few errant McCarthy throws.
J.J. McCarthy’s private coach Greg Holcomb. @QBCoachHolc/X
“I just can’t miss those,” McCarthy said postgame, referring to a significantly errant throw to Jefferson that resulted in an interception. “This league is too hard. There were three or five decisions, plays, that I want back more than anything. That’s one of them.”
Jefferson largely put a straight face on to the media despite the poor physique language, ending with 5 catches for 61 yards.
“It wasn’t the best game for any of us, I felt like we should have played better overall. But at the end of the day, when it really counted, J.J. stepped up,” Jefferson said. “Of course, there are things to work on and fix on the offensive side of the ball. We also need to help the defense out a lot more than we’re doing. Like I said, we have to look at the film, see what needs to be fixed, work on it, and come back ready to go.”
The Vikings (4-6) have robust matchups the next two weeks as they host the Packers before dealing with the Seahawks, as their playoff hopes dangle firmly in the steadiness.
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