Daily Norseman
The team will get a nice rest before training camp!
Minicamp is in the books and the next scheduled OTAs have been cancelled. Apparently, it is normal and while it would be nice to give JJ more reps, if the head coach says it is OK then it is OK.
Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell gives team much-deserved reward after good work during offseason practices
Below is a link that shows the Vikings have given Wes Phillips an extension. Congratulations! I am hoping that Brian Flores will agree to an extension as well but the fear of him leaving still looms fairly large. I mean, a lot of the defensive personnel has been acquired with his input presumably to fit the things he wants to do. It is always a worry when a team drafts players for a specific system with a specific coach and then that coach leaves. What can you do though?
I hope there is an in-house candidate to possibly take over the duties but that is a long ways off. Not really a worry but something to talk about.
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
Stock even: J.J. McCarthy
There’s perhaps no tougher minicamp assessment than the new guy under center. On one hand, coaches and teammates have repeatedly touted the second-year quarterback’s poise. On the final day of minicamp, veteran defender Javon Hargrave even compared McCarthy’s composure to that of former San Francisco 49ers teammate Brock Purdy, telling CBS Sports “there’s a lot of confidence in him.”
The eye test produced a more complicated picture. Quarterbacks coach Josh McCown was seen Thursday harping specifics with the 2024 first-round pick, seemingly urging a more sped-up dropback and delivery, while McCarthy’s passing reps saw the youngster rely heavily on short-area throws and dump-offs, while holding the ball for an extended time in the pocket. He rarely misfired, but only because there was no real pass rush to threaten a prolonged and conservative strategy through the air.
Now, let’s be clear: A lot of McCarthy’s progressions and decisions likely stemmed from O’Connell’s script; the point in Minnesota right now isn’t to lean heavily upon the signal-caller so much as ease him into his new gig. It was frankly just a bit jarring to see how much McCarthy differed from, say, the Darnold of last spring and summer who showcased his zippy arm with tightrope and downfield shots. Even McCarthy’s current backup (more on him below) brought more fearlessness. But again, patience is a virtue here, given O’Connell’s track record for developing and maximizing his quarterbacks.
Stock up: Sam Howell
*If McCarthy kept things tight and steady to close Vikings minicamp, then Howell let it rip, giving the wide receivers something to sprint for. His best shot Thursday was a perfectly placed deep floater to rookie third-rounder Tai Felton, who squirmed past double coverage for a near-touchdown. The bomb had McCown pumping his fist, and...
