Daily Norseman
(Other Than the Obvious)
We’re finally here: training camp. I’m pumped for the 2025 season and expecting great things. Of course, we’ve all been there before, only to have our hearts ripped out and handed to us in a flimsy takeout bag. But, as I’ve noted, this feels different (well, to me anyway). It’s more than just taking the next step and building on a successful season from the previous year. It comes with the added anticipation of possibly(?)…likely (??!!) …certainly (!!!) realizing the dream of finding our franchise (and championship-winning) QB in J.J. McCarthy. If any NFL team were the football version of Charlie Bucket in need of finding that elusive Golden Ticket, it’s the Minnesota Vikings. Instead of chocolate, this factory will be churning out something even sweeter: Super Bowl-winning memorabilia at a frenetic pace.
Of course, the obvious focus will be on McCarthy. You want to see calm, poise, and good decision making – all mixed with some off-script, viral moments that foreshadow magic when the reps count on Sundays. There will also be hiccups; I harbor no illusions otherwise. Why? Because I’d be shocked if KOC doesn’t encourage Brian Flores to throw everything but the kitchen sink at him. And whatever you see during the open portions of practice, you can bet it will be nothing compared to what happens during closed sessions. Mr. Miyagi said that a man who catches a fly with chopsticks can accomplish anything. He never saw any of Flores’s blitz and coverage packages. Any young QB who can navigate that chaos is ready for whatever any opposing D-coordinator can throw his way. Trial by fire now, reap incredible benefits later.
Yeah, I believe J.J. McCarthy will not only be fine but thrive. I provided further details about it here and here. Feel free to check it out.
Similarly, I made my prediction back in May (12-5), so, yeah, I’m all-in. That doesn’t mean there won’t be competitions and/or concerns to monitor. Let’s dive into some of these, shall we?
Justin Skule Don’t Fail Us Now. I must admit, I was in denial regarding the prospects of Christian Darrisaw being ready for Week 1. Despite saying all the encouraging things, KAM and KOC being extra cautious is logical. This follows reporting by Alex Lewis of The Athletic, saying that it was indeed a “rosy scenario” for Darrisaw to suit up against the Bears on September 8th. Enter Justin Skule. Protecting McCarthy’s blind side in his first NFL start(s) will be paramount, so I’ll be eager to see how he fares against our talented group of pass rushers in practice. He played admirably last year in Tampa Bay, with a 69.2 Pro Football Focus (PFF) overall grade (66.4 pass-blocking/68.9 run-blocking), giving up 12 pressures and 4 sacks in 361 snaps. If he does struggle in practice and subsequent preseason reps, then, well, we may have a problem on our hands. Either way, get well, CD.
WR3 Competition. The odds favor Jalen...
