Coveted for the chaos and havoc he creates for opposing quarterbacks, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has not held back on J.J. McCarthy.
With the pads on for the first day on July 28, Flores sent aggressive blitzes that puzzled the offensive line and left McCarthy scrambling to salvage a play that was busted from the snap of the ball.
But what if all the chaos was by design?
McCarthy has been candid and inviting to the complexity Flores is throwing at him in training camp — an initiation from the Vikings defensive coordinator that left veterans Sam Darnold and Kirk Cousins flummoxed the past two summers.
However, the offense has to get good looks in practice, too.
Asked about the progression plan for McCarthy, who is embarking on his first season as the youngest starter in the league, Flores commended the young quarterback for his willingness to face the fire of Flores’ defense.
“Look, I think J.J. can handle a lot, too. So, we’ve had that conversation,” Flores said. “But give him enough looks that he’s prepared. There’s a lot of really good dialogue and compromise on both sides in the spirit of, nobody wants us to score more points than me; conversely, we want to limit points too. It’s a really good working dynamic.
“That’s been a big part of the conversation. That hopefully, seeing a lot of different looks he’s ready if he sees that in the game, and then if it’s dialed back a little, he’s ready for that too. And I think J.J.’s done a great, I really do,” Flores added. “I think he’s got a real good command of the offense. I think he’s throwing the ball really well. I’ve liked watching him improve.”
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J.J. McCarthy Earns Praise From Vikings Defensive Leaders
While practice hasn’t always been pretty with the pressure Flores is sending at McCarthy, the young quarterback is earning respect in the locker room for his poise.
“A big thing about J.J. is a mindset of, it doesn’t have to be perfect every day, but you have to get better every day,” team captain Josh Metellus told CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin.
“I don’t think we’ve had a time where the offense can’t line up, or a snap-count issue. Everybody’s been pretty much dialed in, and that’s a testament to the quarterback.”
Vikings Cannot Afford Slow Start With J.J. McCarthy
All the messaging coming out of training camp has offered glowing praise that has glamorized the learning process for McCarthy.
All good things to say in the summer, but come fall, the flowery patience and good vibes go out the window.
The Vikings have one of the toughest schedules through the first two months of the season and cannot afford to stumble out of the gate. Minnesota goes on the road for a back-to-back overseas in Dublin, Ireland, and London, England, in the first five weeks of the season.
“We’ve never seen an NFL schedule quite like the Vikings’, particularly because of that historic two-week trip overseas. If they weren’t staying in Dublin to offset some of that travel fatigue, they’d feature one of the five toughest loads of any team this season,” Sportsbook Review’s C Jackson Cowert told Heavy exclusively.
“Minnesota has the double-whammy of ranking in the top 10 in fatigue and in opponent strength, which could make for an unwelcome start to J.J. McCarthy’s career. While the Europe trip is a doozy, the Vikings play four games with a rest disadvantage – fourth-most in the league – and they’re one of just four teams to play an entire month without a home game at any point.”
