In a Cluster of Three Words, The Vikings’ HC Spiked Hope for His New QB1
Want a passer to operate the scheme at a high level? Go ahead and pay (lots) to Kirk Cousins — as least the pre-2024 version. What happens, though, when scheme starts to breakdown?
To that end, consider what the Vikings’ HC recently had to say about the matter in relation to his new QB1, the 22-year-old J.J. McCarthy. The thoughts arrived following the victory over the Texans. Check it out: “There’s going to be some plays where guys gotta rise up and make some plays maybe above the scheme. And he did that a couple times, once with his legs.” Hang onto three key words: “above the scheme.”
The Vikings’ HC & Playing “Above the Scheme”
Recently, Dustin Baker took on the issue for Vikings Territory.
Baker builds an argument about what’s going to be most crucial for J.J. McCarthy in 2025, doing so while contrasting him with Cousins (the NFL’s scheme passer par excellence). “Yet, where McCarthy can truly win hearts is through adversity,” Baker writes. “For example, when the defense has an awful game — guaranteed to happen eventually — or a keynote playmaker is injured, Minnesota must rely on McCarthy to ‘do the rest.'”
Essentially, Baker is pointing toward an ability to elevate at critical moments, offering play that puts wind in the Vikings’ sails as they move toward victory even if the waters are choppy.
Baker builds his argument in relation to the insights from Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports, someone who similarly feels that performing in the clutch is what’s going to matter. “Let’s not sugarcoat it: that is the single-most important trait McCarthy can showcase and develop. His clutch gene,” Baker concludes.
Consider a pair of examples to help illustrate the point.
In Week 1, J.J. McCarthy steps onto the field late in the 4th quarter. Minnesota is winning by thirty points, meaning a victory is a 99.99% certainty. The sophomore still goes out and performs well, adding onto his 3 touchdowns from earlier in the game by tossing just one more. The Vikings win the game easily.
In Week 1, J.J. McCarthy steps onto the field late in the 4th quarter. Minnesota is behind by six points, largely because the sophomore has struggled. He has yet to throw a touchdown — there have been a couple of interceptions along the way — but somehow finds a way of flipping a switch. He leads his team down the field efficiently, tossing a touchdown before Will Reichard secures the narrow victory with 0:00 on the clock.
Each example offers several similarities.
The hypothetical Week 1 game leads to a victory in both instances. The hypothetical Week 1 game involves J.J. McCarthy throwing a late touchdown in both instances. Could we reasonably say that each TD pass has been made equal, though?
Part of the point is simply to say that both of Baker and Benjamin (CBS) are correct to insist that performing in the clutch is what matters the most.
To that end, Kevin O’Connell’s observation about the young fella being able to make plays “above the scheme” feels crucial. An NFL football field can be a chaotic place. Even the best playcallers whiff (sometimes due to players executing poorly, sometimes due to poor design, sometimes due to other factors). Can the QB1 still find a way of succeeding, refusing to find comfort in excuses?
At 22, J.J. McCarthy isn’t a finished product. He is, nevertheless, a promising player who appears to offer an ability to elevate. If that proves to be accurate, the Vikings could be in store for a very captivating season.
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