David Levine
Posts: 77938
Joined: 7/14/2007
From: Las Vegas
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From DN:
Krauser:
Highly recommend Matt Fries’ long and detailed scouting report on JJ McCarthy, including all-22 clips from every game he played last year: https://zonecoverage.com/2024/minnesota-vikings-news/breaking-down-all-15-games-of-j-j-mccarthys-2023-season/
I’ll quote his conclusion, which is basically the same as my thoughts on JJ:
quote:
As a passer, J.J. McCarthy showcases good dropback footwork and play in rhythm. He can make subtle adjustments in the pocket to mitigate pressure and also make larger moves to step up and avoid pressure with an appropriate response. He’s poised under pressure or when things go a little sideways and never appears rushed or frantic. He makes proficient pre-snap reads and can identify blitzes pre-snap while correctly understanding defender leverage and executing post-snap reads. However, Michigan didn’t ask him to audible at the line of scrimmage, so that part of his game is unknown. McCarthy makes sound decisions and regularly finds the first-available open player, targeting him with an accurate pass. McCarthy has some lapses where he misses open players. More often, he can throw with anticipation to create windows for players to be open, and he rarely puts the ball in harm’s way.
McCarthy shows the ability to lead his receiver away from defenders and put the ball where only his guy can get it. He has some mechanical lapses that lead to accuracy issues, and those could develop into a major concern if he doesn’t fix them, but he has examples of accurate throws to every level of the field in every direction. He’s particularly proficient throwing over the middle with zip to beat linebackers and get big chunks on tight-window, NFL-level throws. McCarthy can change his arm slot for accurate throws and generates significant velocity even without setting his feet on throws on the move.
McCarthy looks to throw when scrambling but will use his legs when he sees a clear opportunity. He has the athleticism to do significant damage, accelerating past LBs and working around tacklers with his quickness. He’s also used on designed runs, where his quickness and ability to set up his blockers show up. McCarthy may not be an elite athlete, but he is very proficient as a runner and will provide a threat with his legs at the next level. He generally takes care of the football, fumbling only three times across Michigan’s 15-game season.
HOW READY IS HE TO PLAY?
Now on to the question everyone wants to know — is J.J. McCarthy ready to start Week 1? I think it’s highly unlikely, given that the Vikings brought in Sam Darnold and appear to have a well-defined development track for McCarthy. However, I think that McCarthy would succeed if asked to start right away. One thing that’s hard to translate over a scouting report or with words is the consistent poise that McCarthy demonstrates. The situation was never too big or too daunting for him, even given his age. He took pressure, bad snaps, and poor routes by receivers in stride and consistently made positive plays. That gives me faith that he can make it work at the NFL level, and soon.
Still, there are a couple of markers that I would like McCarthy to hit before he takes the field in a real game. The first is with footwork, particularly on the throws I highlighted going to the left. To succeed in the NFL, he needs to get synced up with his receivers and be more accurate on those plays. That should be very possible. Kevin O’Connell made it clear before the draft that he firmly believes footwork issues are fixable. The second is something we don’t have great insight into, and that’s the ability to manage the game at the line of scrimmage, reading the defense and calling audibles. Like most QBs, McCarthy didn’t have to do that in college. However, his poise and consistently correct reading of the defense lead me to believe he has the capacity to learn that skill quickly.
Time will tell if the Vikings made the right choice in taking McCarthy, but the signs from his college tape are positive for me. I believe McCarthy has the skills to develop into an upper-tier NFL QB, and his college tape was extremely positive. He will certainly face more adversity at the NFL level than he did in college, but he performed well at Michigan in the rare situations where the game was put on his shoulders, and he appears to have the mindset to work through the adversity he will face. To me, McCarthy is a great pick.
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