ESPN REPORT: Top Recruit Lost by Minnesota Vikings to…..
EAGAN, MN — The highest-drafted quarterback in Minnesota Vikings history strolls out of the locker room and up to the podium. “Sorry for making you guys wait,” J.J. McCarthy says to the assembled group of reporters. He’s in the middle of another busy day at his first NFL training camp, one that includes meetings and workouts and much more. Earlier, he and the Vikings had a walkthrough. In a little bit, he’ll take the field for practice. For now, he’s got media duties.
“I’ve been having the time of my life being out here playing football every single day,” he says to open his press conference. “Being surrounded by such great people: coaches, players, staff, everybody in the building has just been amazing. I can constantly see the growth in all of us and myself.”
That growth will be put to the test on Saturday, when McCarthy and the Vikings head to U.S. Bank Stadium for their preseason opener. The rookie QB is very much looking forward to that opportunity, because he’ll be facing a vanilla defense from the Las Vegas Raiders instead of the ultra-complex Brian Flores scheme he sees every day in practice.
“Going against (a defense) that’s always moving around, running a bunch of different coverage variations and blitz variations, it’s nice to get the 400 level training before you go down to the 200 and 100 level,” McCarthy says. “It’s going to be a lot easier.” But before he can get there, he’s got a couple more days against Flores.
I watched and tracked every single one of McCarthy’s throws at Wednesday’s practice. In a series of up-and-down days for the 21-year-old who is learning on the fly, this was definitely a down day. And that’s OK. Because within that, there will be moments of growth and improvement.
McCarthy’s practice begins, as it always does, with warmups. After walking out of the locker room and giving some high fives to kids, it’s time to stretch and get ready to play football. Then comes position drills with the other quarterbacks and throws to receivers against air. That’s when the defense trots over from the other field and the competitive portion of practice gets underway.
First up are 1-on-1 drills. Sam Darnold, the Vikings’ veteran QB1 who was signed to be the bridge to a rookie, goes first, hitting Jordan Addison on a deep ball after a couple incompletions. McCarthy’s up next — and his first throw of the drill is a beauty. He uncorks a perfect deep pass up the left sideline to Jalen Nailor, who has been one of the stars of training camp. It’s the type of throw that makes it obvious why the former Michigan star was a top-ten pick.
