Mike Tomlin Throws Shade at Vikings Quarterback
An old friend, Pittsburgh Steelers skipper Mike Tomlin, will coach against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, and during the lead-up to Week 4, the former purple defensive coordinator seemed to take a shot at quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
The Minnesota Vikings meet the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, and Mike Tomlin appeared to critique the purple team’s quarterback.
With an analogy, he implied that it will be trickier for his team to face Carson Wentz in Ireland than McCarthy, who is temporarily on the shelf with a high ankle sprain.
J.J. McCarthy Evidently Doesn’t Scare Mike Tomlin One Bit
Wentz will take control of Minnesota’s offense again in Dublin on Sunday.
Mike Tomlin’s Backdoor Shot at J.J. McCarthy
With McCarthy sidelined for a few weeks, Wentz will be under center for a second consecutive game. And per Tomlin, he might rather take on McCarthy, the 22-year-old.
Using an analogy of Anthony Richardson and Joe Flacco in Indianapolis, Tomlin told reporters this week: “I don’t necessarily view it as a negative thing for the Minnesota Vikings, at least in the short-term, that Carson is playing for them.”
“We were in a similar situation a year ago, we were playing in Indianapolis, and I commented to the guys, keep Richardson upright, don’t put Flacco in the game. And Flacco ended up in the game.”
Minnesota encountered a similar situation last year with Richardson and Flacco, ending with a win over the Flacco-led Colts.
Tomlin added about Wentz, “He’s a grizzly veteran. Often times, particularly when you have a young, inexperienced quarterback, there’s some big-time benefits of playing with a vet backup.
“The veteran guy oftentimes does the intangible components of the job very well. They oftentimes are able to carry more schematic responsibility and so forth at the line of scrimmage.”
The Fallout of a Poor Week 2 Game
In Week 1, McCarthy captivated a national audience, along with Vikings fans. He authored a 4th Quarter comeback in his first-ever start at Soldier Field over the rival Chicago Bears, earning goodwill from the masses.
That lasted six days.
McCarthy struggled profusely the following week against the Atlanta Falcons, looking woefully unprepared as his team lost 22-6. That shoddy play totally erased the memories of his 4th Quarter gem in Week 1, and a day later, McCarthy was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain.
Accordingly, the NFL world, Tomlin included, is low on McCarthy at the moment — so much so that Tomlin seemed disappointed that his defense will face Wentz instead.
Carson Wentz, It Is
On the other hand, Wentz took over the offense last weekend and forged a patented “game manager” role. He didn’t make flagrant mistakes. He didn’t make any notable big-time throws. Wentz put the enterprise on autopilot, and his head coach even called him a “point guard.”
That showing prompted Tomlin to take notice, and the Steelers would apparently rather see an inexperienced McCarthy than the “grizzly veteran,” mentioned by Tomlin.
A Big Decision at QB Looms for Vikings
What about life after Week 4? Well, Minnesota must decide to ride a possibly hot hand with Wentz or return to McCarthy, who should be ready near the club’s Week 6 bye or shortly after.
Some fans have already declared Wentz as the wisest option — the best path to capitalize on a Super Bowl-ready roster. Others want McCarthy to continue his development, even if that means some rocky performances in October, November, December, and January.
It’s worth noting that the Vikings have preached patience with McCarthy’s maturation since anointing him the starter months ago. We shall see if they put their money where their mouth his.
More Context on “McCarthy or Wentz”
Sportsnaut‘s Jason Burgos opined on the Vikings’ budding quarterback decision on Thursday: “After a rock-solid performance as the Minnesota Vikings’ starting quarterback in Week 3, there seems to be building momentum toward him holding on to the job for the rest of the season.”
“On Sunday, journeyman QB Carson Wentz got the start against the Bengals after JJ McCarthy suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 2. Expectations were not high, but there was certainly hope. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has shown magic with veteran QBs in the past, and some thought the second overall pick in the 2016 draft might fare better than expected.”
Minnesota has a rich, rich history of empowering backup quarterbacks, usually resulting in a sweet regular season showing, followed by an eventual faceplant before the Super Bowl.
“Well, that was exactly the case over the weekend. Was Wentz the main reason Minnesota scored 48 points in their victory? No. Isaiah Rodgers played a massive role. However, he did do something McCarthy could not in two starts. He got them off to a fast start with touchdowns on their first two drives,” Burgos continued.
“He was also far more efficient, had no turnovers, and spread the ball around. His performance has led to some surprising speculation that maybe he holds on to the starting job even when McCarthy is healthy.”
But one item is certain: Tomlin would rather see McCarthy if it were up to him this weekend.
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