Minnesota Head Coach explains why JJ was their guy with play breakdown
Minnesocold's coach runs through a few of JJ's plays to explain why JJ has what no other QB in the draft had (hint: he was pretty much the only one that ran an NFL style D and could turn his back to the D). We all know this. Why is it the so called draft experts didn't? Do they not know football? Obviously not.
Link to video as Vikings don't want you to watch it on here:
https://youtu.be/73RiZnqJe0Y?si=4a1J1uuyThvxwMfi
oh shoot, error correction missed. make that."..run a NFL style O...."
Man, if JJ was moonlighting as our DC in addition to being a QB, he's even better than I thought!
He'd be Michael Barrett .
+1
I'm a sucker for a Mike B jack-of-all-trades post. What can I say? I'm not sorry about it.
All the talking heads quoting other talking heads. The only logical explanation is that the Viking Staff doesn't know anything about football. As proof, I'll offer up the fact that JJ did lose 1 game.
Maye was their guy, but NE wouldn't budge.
The Vikings stumbled ass backwards into the best QB in the draft.
Any insight into why Maye would have been their guy?
I'm not exactly sure what the knocks on JJ are other than the readily contestable claim that he doesn't have enough experience/hasn't truly proven himself. The biggest legitimate concern is clearly size/susceptibility to injury, which is obviously why he bulked up. Another could be accuracy/consistency, especially on deep throws, but he's thrown - very accurately - into some incredibly tight windows. And from the limited tape I've seen, this is a much bigger issue for Maye than it is for JJ. The only other area I can think of where some quarterbacks might have a clear edge on JJ is speed/elusiveness - and those are strengths for JJ.
Josh McCown is the Vikings' QB coach, and he's known and advised Maye since high school. They offered 11, 23, and a '25 first and the Pats still said no. JJ was a consolation prize, albeit a pretty talented one. Now, as a long time Minnesota resident, switching out Cousins for McCarthy has made the purple gang infinitely more watchable, so I'm not complaining!
There are lots of JJ issues. A) minimal reps B) slight frame C) poor downfield accuracy D) struggles throwing outside numbers to left E) never had to routinely day in day out be the focal point of offense. Lots of good stuff as well, bit he's pretty much exactly a 10-20 range drafted QB.
These people are not finished human projects. And a certain kind of stats-addled fan forgets that. Which is why you constantly have these happy surprises like the Knicks' Jalen Brunson blowing minds. Yes, there are some questions about JJ; I would personally list his frame as foremost. He settled some of them at the combine, is the word, relating to both arm strength and speed. If we looked, I think we would find that not many of the greatest QBs took a ton of hits, so whether he gets good protection will matter, a lot. I want him to succeed.
I'm one of those people who watch a lot of NFL football along with way too much college foot ball. Let's dispense with JJ's frame issue. At about 220, he's not so slight.
Over the last two years he has made many throws that you don't typically see in college. He has a gift. He's also very young and yet seems much more NFL ready than some of the people taken higher. Even with his talent he is a team guy and a leader. I'm not sure you can teach that.
Time will tell, but if he stays healthy I wouldn't be surprised if he were to have the best career of all the QB's taken in the recent draft, and I'm not saying that because I see the world through maize and blue glasses.
Not to be a downer, but is he really gonna play at 220? That weight struck me as what he had going when bulking up for the combine. I’m skeptical that he’ll weigh that much coming out of training camp…
Still, I’m drinking the kool-aid, just like every other Michigan fan. It’s all feelingsball and eye-test analysis from me, but I figure JJ has a clutch factor that is rare. Even in games when he was “off,” he still made plays. His competitive intensity is phenomenal. The guy comes up big in big moments.
Well, we want him to succeed. I want him to succeed. But to say that there aren't questions just isn't accurate. We can split the difference and says he's on the sturdy side of slight, but especially after playing the last part of last season hurt, people will wonder how sturdy he is. And this also goes to the kind of protection he gets, and his luck as he begins to play. Lotta fantastic players never quite got their chance.
To my mind, these guys have succeeded by making it, by doing great things in college. An architect doesn't tell himself he sucks because he's not working on the very biggest or most prestigious projects. I already admire him. But some of these things will go to whether he becomes a bona fide star or backup, etc. I agree that he has the mindset, lots of tenacity.
Biggest knock is his accuracy to the left. But that can be fixed with footwork. I think the sky is the limit as he’s a winner and leader.
Another could be accuracy/consistency, especially on deep throws, but he's thrown - very accurately - into some incredibly tight windows. And from the limited tape I've seen, this is a much bigger issue for Maye than it is for JJ.
Yeah, I've never understood the Maye hype, especially with regards to accuracy (he's never seemed to me to be a particularly accurate QB)...
Minnesocold?
Sick burn!
I have family there so I know first hand
Minnesnowta is the preferred nomenclature
I prefer Mini-scrotum.
Best comparison is Brady. Study hard and show iron will. Both throw lasers and lack Montana level soft touch throws. McCarthy throws better long (but needs to get more accurate). Brady’s laser accuracy 5-20 yards out is unequaled of any QB I have seen. McCarthy has a strong arm but does not equal Brady level accuracy.
I realize this is a fan blog so extreme homerism expected, but literally nothing at all about their games is similar. Particularly since I assume you're comparing to mid/late career Brady and not the rookie version.
Interesting to watch these highlights through a lense of Brady vs McCarthy comparison - Brady was a goal line fade master!:
I don’t know about that. It seems you are comparing peak Brady to 21-year-old McCarthy. A look at their college stats shows JJ with better completion percentage and yards than Brady with very similar numbers of attempts. Brady also played his senior season at 22.
JJ put up similar numbers against all levels of competition. He did not feast on cupcakes or struggle against anyone. That capability and consistency in the NFL, where parity exists, is the foundation for a great career.
Assuming he doesn’t get stuck with an inept franchise, JJ will have more wins than Williams and Maye. Williams and Maye will need to adapt to playing in a more structured offense against better competition. The likelihood is one of those two flames out.
Daniels is interesting. He feasted on cupcakes, but he also had very good numbers against “good teams”. The SEC may have been very over valued this year. It won’t take long to find out.
Penix should have a good career, but it probably won’t last as long due to age and the number of miles he already has on his body.
If winning is your goal, the Vikings got the best QB in the draft.
Penix career also won’t last as long because it won’t start for at least three more years.
But the Falcons should call a doctor if Penix is stuck that way for at least four more years.
It’s interesting to me that KOC liked the fact JJ threw it on a line to Johnson in the highlight from the Minnesota game they grabbed. I remember that play and thinking if JJ had put air under it it could have been a touchdown. As I’m not an NFL head coach, perhaps throwing on a line was the right move then?
Also not an NFL coach, but I think he's just more impressed with JJs ability to throw the ball 55 yards on a line not necessarily that it was the correct through. But watching it again the trail coverage wasn't fair behind and putting too much air on it could allow the defender to catch up and get a PBU.
Some of the memorable JJ plays not included on the video were where he had to go off script and scramble and then made a big time throw.
- First drive at MSU when they actually had a good showing of fans and seemed loud and hyped up. 3rd and 14, JJ flushed from the pocket, rolls right and hit Barner in the seam. Crowd noise drops off.
- 2nd drive vs. Sparty. JJ flushed to his right again. Easily flick to Wilson for a TD.
- IU game. Same thing. JJ flushed to his right. Waves to Loveland downfield as defender comes up for a tackle on JJ. Nice toss to Loveland who eludes defenders for a TD.
- Did the same thing at Nebraska but rolling to left to hit Wilson for a TD right before half.
I remember after Mike Shanahan decided to ditch Brian Griese (post Elway) and trade for Jake Plummer. He did compliment Brian for mental side of the game but said what Griese was missing was the ability to improvise and make a play. JJ has the innate ability while also being comfortable in the pocket.
To be fair most pundits rarely stray from the herd. Hence, their view is rarely pleasant but they don't stand out.
Great film. He's going to be EXCELLENT.
I would have loved to have seen the IU TD to Loveland where he points him down the field as well.
These analysts amuse me. They’ll look at unique scenarios / issues to denigrate JJ and Michigan football.
The often heard example is - number of pass attempts. JJ only played in - and mostly started - 28 games over his past two seasons. How many pass attempts does it take to evaluate his arm “in game”? It would seem there were enough attempts / completions for a fair evaluation.
The other that really irks me is the TD pass to Roman Wilson in the second quarter of the OSU game this past season. The “knock” by analysts was - an NFL DB would have intercepted that throw. In the post game interview with JJ, he referenced two things - first - that he’s not reluctant to take risks. And second, which I feel is the key point is, JJ studied a lot of film that week - his assessment was - when OSU #25 - the DB on the play - turns his back - he follows the receiver and doesn’t turn to play the ball. So, when #25 turned - JJ’s prep / knowledge said - I’ve got a window - he took it advantage of it - and delivered. I don’t understand how an analyst could have an issue with this approach and play. It reminds me of Walsh, Rice, and the 49ers. Walsh was so detail oriented - and - he was talking about an upcoming opponent with Rice. The point Walsh was making was “route and tendencies” - at which point Walsh told Rice - “When you do this (move) - he’ll react like this - and then you’ll do this - which will create separation and you’ll be open.
I wonder how “open” receiver targets were for the top six drafted QBs during their college careers. Specifically, what’s a tougher throw - a deep route where the WR has four or more yards of separation - or - an 8 yard pass to a TE who’s covered?
So, is the ability to be “creative and improvise” good? For sure, it is. Is it good to study your opponent and recognize tendencies that you can identify and capitalize on? Absolutely. IMO, JJ can do both.
I can’t predict the future - but, I do believe JJ will surprise the naysayers over the course of his career.
You said it perfectly. If he avoids injuries, in 5 years I'm confident the consensus will be that he was the best pick.
Kurt Warner’s take is below.
I don’t care how biased I am. This kid is a freakin stud. Sometimes the things you don’t do—soul crushing turnovers—are just as if not more important than all the highlight reel plays. Consistency is so critical , and a good coach can take a consistent player and highlight their strengths while minimizing their weaknesses and should be able to win in a league that is highly competitive any given Sunday. JJ has definitely shown the ability to learn from his mistakes, be coached up, and study the game intensely. Supposedly was outstanding “at the board” as they say. Has a fastball, hockey toughness, and is obsessed with winning. He’s a pro’s pro.
Kurt looks like a hostage in that vid