J.J. McCarthy Impresses, but Vikings Defense Steals the Show
Defenses are usually ahead of offenses in the early days of any team’s training camp. The first week of Vikings camp has followed along in this general pattern.
Rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy flashed strong arm talent and mobility during the first week of Vikings training camp, but it was the defense that truly stood out — dominating team drills and setting the tone early.
As I watched the team practice this week — including the first two fully padded practices on Monday and Wednesday — my overriding thoughts are that I came away impressed with QB J.J. McCarthy’s play, even as the defense dominated in most of the team drills, especially the two-minute session on Monday.
Jeff Diamond’s Initial Reactions from Vikings Training Camp
Here are several other observations from my camp visits:
1. Everything starts with McCarthy, of course. He has shown great arm strength in firing the ball into tight windows. Coach Kevin O’Connell and QB Coach Josh McCown are also working with him on his touch on throws that demand more finesse, such as passes over a linebacker and in front of a defensive back.
I see excellent mobility by McCarthy on rollouts and bootlegs, which will clearly be a big part of the offense. He throws well on the run and showed it on several deep shots to Jordan Addison in particular.
2. With Justin Jefferson sidelined (minor hamstring strain that looks better each day), Addison, Jalen Nailor, and T.J. Hockenson are being heavily targeted, which is no surprise.
Addison has made a lot of tough catches. It will be unfortunate if he has to miss several games due to a suspension. O’Connell mentioned Nailor as having a great start to camp, and he beat Isaiah Rodgers in a drill with McCarthy making a great throw on the play.
The depth of the Vikings’ wide receiver group is a team strength as Rondale Moore, Lucky Jackson, and Thayer Thomas are among those doing well in individual drills. I haven’t seen third-round pick Tai Felton do much yet, but there’s plenty of time for him to emerge. Dontae Fleming is an undrafted receiver who is a big target and has good hands.
3. The top three running backs all look great — Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, and Ty Chandler. I think Mason will make a big impact as he alternates with Jones as the prime running back. All three backs catch the ball well, and the backs will be a big part of the passing game in the screen game, and for a young QB in McCarthy to be able to check it down when necessary.
4. The offensive line has struggled against the Vikings’ stout front seven on defense. But it’s too early to judge the O-line with star LT Christian Darrisaw just starting to participate in full team drills as he’s being eased back in after his ACL injury and big free agent signees Will Fries at RG and center Ryan Kelly transitioning to a new offense. First-round pick Donovan Jackson looks big, strong, and quick enough once he gets more comfortable as the starting LG, where he’s getting all the first-team reps.
5. One area of expected improvement is showing up early, as new defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave were a big part of the defense dominating in a two-minute drill. This duo has been strong in the pass rush and against the run in camp drills.
Allen and Hargrave are former Pro Bowlers who will start along with solid Harrison Phillips on the D-line, and the team is high on young D-linemen Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez, and fifth-rounder Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins as rotation players. Allen and Hargrave are a big step up from Jonathan Bullard and Jerry Tillery, who started on the D-line last year with Phillips.
6. As expected, inside linebackers Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr., and the outside LB/edge trio of Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner have been active and impactful in helping the defense be effective in camp.
7. I think the team’s most concerning position is cornerback. Pro Bowler Byron Murphy is excellent and had a pick and a nice breakup on a throw to Addison on Wednesday. The other starter is new signee Isaiah Rodgers, who has never been a full-time starter and is back after missing some time. Former Lions first-rounder Jeff Okudah is the third corner early on and looks good — he also had a nice breakup at the goal line while covering Addison this week — but he has been injury-prone.
Mekhi Blackmon returns from an ACL injury … the former third-rounder is in the mix along with second-year man Dwight McGlothern, who is off to a good start in camp.
If the coaches aren’t confident in the corners, look for another vet to be signed — maybe Stephon Gilmore will return.
It appears the corners will be helped dramatically by a fierce pass rush that has impressed in padded practices this week and was top five last year, led by Pro Bowlers Greenard and Van Ginkel. It looks even better with the additions of Allen and Hargrave on the D-line and Turner coming on in Year 2.
8. The starting safety trio of Harrison Smith, Josh Metellus (with his new $12 million per year contract extension), and Theo Jackson should do fine, and third-year safety Jay Ward made a nice interception of an underthrown ball to Addison by McCarthy on Wednesday (one of the few miscues I saw from McCarthy).
On tap after an off day Thursday are practices on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before the night practice at TCO Stadium on Monday. The preseason opener is at home against the Texans on Saturday afternoon, August 9.
Around the NFL Observations
1. It’s Hall of Fame weekend, a time I enjoyed greatly on many trips to Canton to see the enshrinement of several players I worked with and Bud Grant’s enshrinement. Jared Allen, who was a star DE for the Vikings from 2008-2013, will be enshrined this weekend along with Eric Allen, Antonio Gates, and Sterling Sharpe. The Lions and Chargers meet in the Hall of Fame game on Thursday night.
2. It was so sad to hear of the shootings at the office in New York that included NFL headquarters, with four people dead. I spent a lot of time in that building at meetings, and my son worked there for many years. It’s another case of an unstable person having access to a gun, and security is sure to be even tighter at league headquarters and all team facilities.
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