Vikings’ QB1 Acknowledges Specific Shortcoming as a Passer
J.J. McCarthy, like every player in the NFL, isn’t perfect.
The Vikings’ QB1 will even admit as much, acknowledging where he’s looking to improve as a passer. There have been critiques of his arm strength — or, rather, lack thereof — but that’s not what’s hindering him. Instead, it’s diversifying the ways that he can throw the ball, something he openly discussed recently.
The Vikings’ QB1 on Improving His Arm
No doubt, Mr. McCarthy has been subject to some odd criticism.
To a certain extent, that’s part of being in the spotlight as a highly-drafted NFL passer. The hope, however, is that some of the silly talking points will fall by the wayside once he begins to take real reps.
Until then, the conversation can focus on something the man himself will willingly acknowledge: the need to improve the touch on his throws.
Consider, to begin, the self-assessment from Mr. McCarthy. He responded to a question earlier in the offseason about critiques of his arm strength before then acknowledging his understanding of where he still needs to grow.
“I would say so for me personally, yes. Yeah, that’s a great evaluation,” when responding to a thought about improving his touch. The quarterback then pivots into a golf comparison to explain how he’s approaching the challenge: “It just comes with the reps-on-reps and the feel. Just like you’re working on your chips in a golf game.” The Vikings’ QB1 talks about “finding that feel over and over again” since he’s back to full health. After all, he missed a lot of practice reps while recovering.
As further evidence on the issue, consider what was said by Josh McCown. Minnesota’s quarterbacks coach is among the most qualified — maybe the most qualified — to comment on where the sophomore needs to grow ahead of the 2025 season.
For the QB coach, the metaphor shifts from chipping in golf to a baseball pitcher: “I think that’s the separator, right? I believe in Major League Baseball the guys that are starters and elite pitchers are guys that can throw more than one pitch. You have to develop a second or third pitch. And for us it’s kind of the same thing.”
“He’s got a lot of arm,” McCown goes on to say of McCarthy, “he can get on the ball and really rip it when he wants to.” The issue rests in developing the other throws: “It’s just developing the other throws that are needed in NFL football. Whether it’s layering a ball here or there, touching up a go ball, different things like that.”
“He’s working his tail off to make up time,” McCown clarifies when reflecting on how his pupil is responding to missing last year’s practice reps, “and we’re coaching him hard on it, so we’ll get him there.”
McCarthy possesses ample promise as someone with great athleticism and work habits. He appears to be committed to his craft and seems to do well implementing constructive criticism. In short, look for him to attack a real weakness in his game, doing so in a manner that may eventually turn it into a strength.
J.J. McCarthy is 22.
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