David Levine
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Joined: 7/14/2007
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• Offensive coordinator Wes Phillips complimented rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s absorption of the system. McCarthy, Phillips said, arrives at the TCO Performance Center each morning having studied the previous day’s installation and more. He also highlighted McCarthy’s arm talent.
“You see the juice that got when he lets go of the football,” Phillips said.
McCarthy lasered passes throughout Tuesday’s session. He drilled receiver Lucky Jackson on a dig route over the middle. He hummed a corner route to Jalen Nailor near the sideline. Once, he held his eyes downfield, couldn’t identify an open receiver, rolled to his right like he was in a scramble drill and hurled a ball downfield toward receiver Trent Sherfield.
Pitching coaches often use the term: “The ball explodes out of his hand.” The same cliche applies to McCarthy, whose ball spirals so tightly through the air you almost expect flames to flow from behind. He generates his velocity with efficient mechanics and a fluid motion. If anything, the Vikings will have to monitor the torque on his arm.
• Sam Darnold participated in workouts Tuesday for the first time since he signed with the Vikings. He played with the first-team offense, throwing most of the reps in seven-on-seven periods. His ball did not zip through the air the way McCarthy’s did, but Darnold placed the ball accurately. He layered one pass over a flat defender to Nailor, who leaped, spun in the air, snagged the ball and toe-tapped before falling out of bounds.
• About a half-hour before the NFL Draft’s first round, O’Connell informed Darnold of the team’s plans. It was all but obvious the Vikings were going to select a quarterback, but Minnesota wanted to keep Darnold in the loop. He accepted the news positively, even feeling like he could help mentor the potential draftee considering his own background.
Darnold first met McCarthy at Target Center for Game 4 of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ NBA playoff series against the Denver Nuggets.
“We got to chat a little bit there,” Darnold said, “and I was, like, ‘First of all, dude, congratulations on getting drafted. It’s a great experience, and I know it flies by.’ But he’s been great. And he continues to learn.”
McCarthy has asked him countless questions inside the quarterback room in recent days, and Darnold has responded willingly and openly. The more he can share, he feels, the better.
Darnold was asked if there are any elements to a quarterback’s introduction to the NFL that go under the radar in terms of importance. Darnold responded by mentioning a quarterback’s environment: the coaches, the skill players, the system and the vibes within the quarterback room.
“It totally depends on the situation, the organization and the guys in the locker room,” Darnold said. “It’s about what is surrounding that quarterback, especially as a high draft pick.”
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5510967/2024/05/22/vikings-otas-jj-mccarthy-sam-darnold/
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