Sam Darnold was undoubtedly the Minnesota Vikings’ top quarterback going into training camp, with J.J. McCarthy, a first-round selection, seeing some playing time.
The former quarterback for Michigan is entirely at ease with the system that head coach Kevin O’Connell has set up. McCarthy declared on Friday that he is unconcerned with potential opponents or his potential debut date. The rookie is instead embracing the team’s motto, “the process is the progress.”
According to ESPN, he remarked, “I feel like I’m not focused on the outcomes of each day.” “My only goals are to improve my weaknesses in my game, learn about my teammates’ strengths, and attempt to capitalize on them whenever I can. So far, we’re off to a wonderful start.
My ultimate objective is to maximize each and every day. It’s time [to begin] when it’s time. I simply train every day to ensure that I’ll be prepared when the time comes.”
The belief going into training camp was that McCarthy against McCarthy would be the real quarterback duel in Minnesota. The rookie quarterback’s time in the lineup will depend in part on how much ground he has to make up in his growth.
The rookie acknowledged that streamlining the play-calls in the huddle was his main objective from spring training to training camp.
“In OTAs it was very hard for me to get out a play call,” he stated. “Try getting out of the huddle; everyone believes they can play quarterback. Being able to hear it once, perform it, and confidently repeat it to the boys was my main objective heading into this training camp, and I’ve been successful in doing so thus far. They’re doing really well so far, but we’ll see when we get to the red zone on third down, when they go extremely lengthy.
Rookie quarterbacks experience these kinds of unanticipated developments throughout their first offseason. Coaches will feel more confident when McCarthy takes the helm when there are small, everyday gains.