David Levine
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Vikings training camp recap, Day 7: Kyler wows with deep balls, may be separating in QB race
https://bringmethesports.com/vikings-training-camp-recap-day-7-kyler-wows-with-deep-balls-may-be-separating-in-qb-race
Wednesday felt a bit like a turning point in the Vikings’ quarterback competition. In Minnesota’s second padded practice and their longest overall session of this camp so far, Kyler Murray looked every bit like the player Kevin O’Connell and his staff were thrilled to be able to acquire for very little cost in free agency.
J.J. McCarthy wasn’t bad, by any means. He also had some nice throws. But McCarthy just doesn’t appear to be on the same level as Murray when it comes to generating explosive plays, which are huge in any NFL offense. He also appears to be a step behind the eighth-year veteran in terms of processing and decisiveness, despite his experience advantage within O’Connell’s offense.
I don’t necessarily think O’Connell is going to end the QB competition just yet. But after six full-speed practices, which have included two clear wins for Murray and a few very slight wins for McCarthy, I don’t see how the former Michigan star is going to make up enough ground to win this battle. I’d be pretty stunned if Murray isn’t the Vikings’ quarterback on September 13 against the Green Bay Packers.
Kyler wows with the deep ball
It started in a 1-on-1 drill, when Murray lofted a picture-perfect go ball to Justin Jefferson down the right sideline, putting it where only his receiver could go and get it despite Byron Murphy Jr. being in good position. That drew plenty of cheers from a big crowd on hand at TCO Performance Center. Murray followed that up with another accurate ball to Jeshaun Jones, with Isaiah Rodgers covering.
Murray started a bit slow in 7-on-7 with incompletions on his first two reps (one was a good play by Theo Jackson to close on a ball for Tai Felton over the middle). And then he dazzled again. He dropped back, surveyed his options, and lofted a deep post to Jauan Jennings beyond the defense, hitting his target in stride for a touchdown. That was followed by a strike to Jones over the middle.
In 11-on-11, we started to see Murray’s elite quickness become a factor on a designed run and a few scrambles. But first, it was back to the deep ball. Working with the second-team offense against the first-team defense (the Vikings are constantly rotating), Murray launched one up the seam to Felton for yet another long completion and touchdown.
Kyler’s strong day continued in a red zone 11-on-11 period. He hit Jones for a touchdown on a good route combination that seemed to create some confusion among the defense. Later, he fired a bullet into Jennings for a touchdown.
And to cap off the day, the Vikings did a situational period. The offense trailed 21-20 with 1:10 on the clock and one timeout left, needing just a field goal. Murray picked up quick completions to the sideline to T.J. Hockenson and Jefferson. On third down, he scrambled to move the chains. And one play later, he threw into double coverage, then watched as Jefferson made a spectacular play to rise up over both defenders, catch the ball, stay on his feet as they fell, and jog towards the end zone. It was ruled as a touchdown.
McCarthy’s day
Again, it wasn’t a bad day for McCarthy. There was just more inconsistency from a young player who still seems to be in the development phase of his career after missing so much time due to injury in his first two seasons.
McCarthy had a good deep ball of his own to Felton in the 1-on-1 period. In 7-on-7, he threw a strike to Myles Price over the middle and then had a sideline hole shot to Jones in between a couple defenders for a chunk gain. He also threw a bit late for Hockenson, allowing Rodgers to dive and break up the pass. He fired one over Jefferson’s head with Murphy in coverage. And he slightly under-threw Bryson Nesbit on a seam ball, which allowed Jay Ward to get there for the breakup.
In the first 11-on-11 period, it was a lot of run plays and screens during McCarthy’s segment of reps. His one pass downfield, intended for Jefferson, was deflected at the line of scrimmage. In the next period, he threw a ball slightly behind Gavin Bartholomew, then held onto the ball long enough to be inadvertently strip-sacked by Jahvaree Ritzie.
In the red zone period, McCarthy had some good throws but had more reps where it felt like the ball needed to come out quicker. He hit Jennings over the middle. He had a pass broken up by Jackson after a lengthy hold. He was “sacked” by Dallas Turner, who may have been unblocked, then did make a nice throw to Bartholomew for a touchdown.
McCarthy was successful in the situational period. There was a defensive penalty and a quick run play, a short completion to Zavier Scott, an incompletion, and another quick pass to Dontae Fleming that moved the Vikings into field goal range. Practice ended at that point, without an actual kick.
McCarthy has had some solid days in camp and some shakier ones. He hasn’t yet had a day where he has really shined and clearly out-dueled Murray, which is why I think the veteran is starting to separate in this competition.
https://www.dailynorseman.com/minnesota-vikings-discussion-chat-message-board/97977/minnesota-vikings-news-and-links-how-can-we-judge-the-qb-competition
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