Watch J.J. McCarthy Erase the Storylines
Since the moment Sam Darnold finished off a 14-win season during his first with the Minnesota Vikings, the storyline should have been obvious.
The Minnesota Vikings are going to start J.J. McCarthy this season, and there’s a pretty good chance he could quickly change the narratives.
Kevin O’Connell turned a former first-round castoff into a star because of the talent he coaches and the ability he brings to the sidelines.
J.J. McCarthy hasn’t been given any of that love either. Since it became clear that the Vikings were going to roll with their first-round pick (because, of course, they were), it should have represented excitement for the situation. Instead, it’s been a constant stream of questions.
What could a guy who has won at every single level since high school do at the next level with an amazing coach and supporting cast? Just win, baby.
It’s not going to happen by the end of training camp, and it’s not going to happen by the end of the season. Perhaps it occurs at some point during the regular season, or maybe it takes longer. At some point, though, J.J. McCarthy can turn the storyline from “what could he be” to “look at what he’s doing.”
Just like Darnold last season, McCarthy doesn’t need to feel the weight of the world while under center. He has O’Connell for that. He has Justin Jefferson and Aaron Jones. He has Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson. He has a revamped offensive line. Really, he has it all.
Very few quarterbacks come into the NFL and find success while being told to do everything on their own. It’s why the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears consistently find themselves in a turnstile situation. Even those like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen are given assets that will help them flourish.
The Michigan product has heard all of the talking, and he could only listen. No matter how much he shut out, the reality was that he was stuck on the sidelines. That reality is no more, and he doesn’t need to talk back. He can if he chooses, but there’s a pretty good chance that his play will speak loud enough.
If and when it does, the storyline will change.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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