Impact of JJ McCarthy's Injury on Vikings' 2024 Season
Transcript
00:00Right back out of here on the early line.
00:06Donnie right side here, solo mission.
00:08We will get Ben Stevens back in this studio as soon as possible.
00:11The hot topics certainly continue just to keep running.
00:15And maybe the hottest topic yesterday was JJ McCarthy of the Minnesota
00:18Vikings turning out that we were waiting to see and we were looking
00:21at several tweets how extensive this injury was actually going to be
00:25and how this could impact the Minnesota Vikings 2024 season.
00:29Now going back to the offseason.
00:31We love the fact or should I say most football fans?
00:33Did you know what that makes some sense?
00:35In order to have a really good franchise.
00:37What do you guys have to have a franchise quarterback?
00:39JJ McCarthy was the ultimate winner in high school.
00:42The ultimate winner in college still a young player.
00:45It's not just coming to the league.
00:46Like is Chris Wanky at 26 or 27 very early.
00:49I believe 20 maybe 21 years old.
00:51We'd have a long long list of what he could certainly accomplish in the
00:55NFL.
00:56If he became a starting quarterback, which were the expectations of a
00:59first-round pick the only shocking thing when we were starting to see
01:02like some of the depth charts coming out was would JJ McCarthy be the
01:06starting quarterback right away for the Minnesota Vikings.
01:08But one thing I do know is if we were talking to Jim Harbaugh his
01:11previous head coach at the University of Michigan, who's now the head
01:14coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.
01:16What was he saying?
01:17Maybe the best winner he's ever been around at the quarterback position
01:21and I started joking.
01:22Okay, you know what maybe they'll trade Justin Herbert because they
01:24want JJ McCarthy.
01:25Obviously, we knew that wasn't going to be feasible for the Chargers.
01:28So he does wind up with the Minnesota Vikings, which was intriguing
01:32other teams may be looking around to get him like the New York Giants
01:35just to say, you know what we need a winner here commanding the pocket
01:38commanding the huddle being a leader of men and you saw him in that
01:42first preseason game the ability to throw the deep ball the ability to
01:45run an offense the ability to handle the football team without starters
01:49and still look competent.
01:50That's a big deal for a rookie quarterback, but also keep in mind you
01:53were operating here from a quarterback that opened up his preseason with
01:58an interception and it didn't shake him one bit.
02:00You love to see that you want to see the adversity here.
02:03You want to see the kid want to succeed and have a terrible start to
02:06your preseason in your first NFL action and then rebound with that type
02:10of performance.
02:11If you watch the game live, you just watch the highlights.
02:14Justin Jefferson didn't play.
02:15He was in Streetcoats on the sideline running up and down the sideline
02:18miked up knowing that JJ McCarthy was ripping off deep ball after deep
02:22ball and probably saying you know what I think we found ourselves a
02:25franchise guy didn't have any worse for the wear after the game, but the
02:29next day shows up back to training camp.
02:31Hey coach something is wrong with my knee.
02:34They check him out here goes under the knife and there could have been
02:37instances where he would be out.
02:38Let you say four to six week four to seven weeks four to eight weeks
02:41something in that range.
02:42Now it turns out they open it up and figure it was best to do a full
02:45reconstruction of that meniscus and JJ McCarthy now is going to be out
02:49for the season.
02:50Now me as a handicapper was I high on the Minnesota Vikings in 2024 season
02:55coming into it not necessarily but we told you repeatedly when you're
02:58drafting that high and getting a quarterback in the first round your
03:01record really doesn't matter during that season unless it's like the
03:04Green Bay Packers and what they had luckily over the past 20 to 25 years
03:08with Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre and Jordan Love where it's like, you
03:11know, what we expect to be good.
03:12We're just drafting a quarterback for down the line the Minnesota Vikings
03:15weren't drafting a quarterback for down the line.
03:17They were drafting JJ McCarthy because they believe he could be the
03:20starting quarterback from day.
03:22Number one and quite frankly, it looked like he might even be on that
03:25trajectory now granted when you take a look at the schedule the perfect
03:28landing spot for JJ McCarthy.
03:30Honestly, maybe would have been game number one at the New York Giants on
03:34that schedule, but then San Francisco 49ers the Houston Texans the Green
03:39Bay Packers a neutral site game against the New York Jets in London before
03:44you hit that by week and then take on the Detroit Lions who have playoff and
03:48Super Bowl aspirations here.
03:50So when was going to be that perfect time of San Darno did start at
03:52quarterback would it have been after the by and also with the injury itself
03:56to JJ McCarthy.
03:57Maybe you were saying that okay, the pressures off the organization the
04:02pressures off the coach and also your young quarterback in JJ McCarthy where
04:06he could find a landing spot after injury somewhere around weeks 9 10 11 or
04:1112 if you were not technically in the playoff hunt.
04:14It would have been a great spot because he still would have been around the
04:16football team still able to get back on the practice field.
04:19But now when you enter into the IR you're done for the season.
04:22You're basically off of the practice field and that whole rookie season is a
04:26scrap.
04:26We talked about this a lot with the Indianapolis Colts when you say to
04:30yourself.
04:30Okay, Anthony Richardson last year.
04:31He's technically entering into his second season.
04:34At least he got a little bit of gameplay last year early on before being knocked
04:38out for the year.
04:38There's still question marks.
04:39Can Anthony Richardson be the franchise guy?
04:41He didn't get a long look at him during his rookie season.
04:44He didn't get that offseason was like, okay, I took a few hundred snaps this
04:48season in the National Football League.
04:50Now, I'm ready to be the true starting quarterback of the Colts here.
04:53We'll find out with him a little bit later if that injury really messed up
04:56going into a sophomore season, but for JJ McCarthy, you know, you can get those
05:00mental reps all you want but nothing is going to replace being in the game and
05:04also the question marks come up with Sam Darnold.
05:06I do think Sam Darnold could be a capable quarterback here.
05:09I do think he can run that offense the offensive coordinator head coach there
05:12in Minnesota.
05:13Very good with Kevin O'Connor.
05:14I do think that's a problem offense.
05:17If you have a quarterback that can deliver.
05:19You also take a look at Addison out there at wide receiver.
05:22We thought he might have been done for the year with getting carded off the
05:24field.
05:25He should be fine.
05:26Hopefully for opening day and then you have JJ on the other side here that is
05:30going to be an absolute phenomenal Jay Jettis as I should say, Justin Jefferson
05:34on the opposite side that should be dominant.
05:36Now the thing to look forward to here for the Minnesota Vikings is values in the
05:40eye of the beholder.
05:41What are we taking a look at because if we look at their win total, it's five
05:44and a half games at a plus 184 juice here.
05:47Now, if you look for them to get six wins, it might not even be a bad thing at
05:51this point.
05:52It really actually seven and a half.
05:53Excuse me as the change up there like let's just say seven wins to eight wins
05:58here.
05:58What were the expectations of JJ McCarthy held the reins the entire season?
06:02Is that a slight knock because rookies are going to take their bums maybe one of
06:05the best quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL.
06:07Who was that?
06:08That was Peyton Manning on but almost 30 interceptions as a rookie.
06:12So maybe you have a veteran presence in Sam Darnard and I'm not saying we're
06:15going to rewrite the record books with the guy but he could be a competent
06:18starter.
06:19You have a solid running back a solid tight end an average offensive line.
06:22We'll see if they can step up this season, but the wide receiver position as
06:25long as you have Addison back and Jefferson healthy, they should be able to
06:29move the football.
06:29Why not like you took a look at the Detroit Lions defense.
06:33It's not great.
06:33You take a look at the Bears defense.
06:35We'll see if they step up to the plate.
06:36The Packers do have a solid defense here, but there's no reason to believe
06:39that that offense can't move the football.
06:41So for me in game number one forget about the season itself.
06:44I do like the Vikings.
06:45They're slight favorite of the New York Giants.
06:47Now, you have a quarterback that you're placing and saying, okay, JJ McCarthy.
06:51I don't have to look over my shoulder, right?
06:53It's just going to be me this season.
06:56I'm going to get the playbook here.
06:57It's going to be specifically tailored directly to me as Sam Darnold.
07:02That's not a bad option.
07:03I do like the Vikings in week number one on the season.
07:06Once again, I didn't think that the Vikings were going to have a sensational
07:09year either way, depending on which quarterback started.
07:12But now I'm starting to see a veteran quarterback that maybe you can get to
07:15that eight win total here for the Vikings.
07:18Not all is lost.
07:19I understand as a fan base.
07:20It's a tough scene.
07:21It's just what happens in the NFL injuries happen.
07:23This is the early line on a Thursday morning.
07:26And we'll be right back after these words our number one in full effect right
07:29here for the early line on a Thursday morning.
07:31Get your boy Donnie right side here 815 2024.
07:35We're halfway through the month of August.
07:37Are you excited about the NFL?
07:38And how about this weekend get your time in get your rest get your relaxation
07:43because next week it's college football season college football today pro
07:48football today after that way we go into an exciting regular season in both
07:52college football and professional ranks, but still we are starting to iron out
07:57some of these issues with certain football teams.
07:59You say Donnie.
08:00What are you talking about here?
08:01Still players are upset.
08:02Some players want contracts and some players now officially on the move.
08:07Ian Rappaport tweeted yesterday sources.
08:09The Patriots are trading pass rusher.
08:12Matthew Judon to the Falcons landing the Atlanta landing Atlanta a standout on
08:16defense.
08:16It's a third rounder going back.
08:18So it says breaking news and that was breaking news.
08:21The one thing that we do know is Matthew Judon was very upset with his contract
08:26situation in New England, but I can't fault New England for this.
08:29Sometimes you take a look at and equate to it.
08:31Let's just say CD land.
08:32We know how much he means to that Dallas Cowboys offense and to that football
08:36team led the league last year in absolute receptions phenomenal phenomenal talent
08:42available for a contract wanted to get his contract done.
08:46It's not there but from a Cowboys perspective, they really need him like
08:50for them to have a winning season CD lamb has to be there and happy.
08:54So let's go back to Matthew Judon great football player four-time pro bowler a
08:58solid solid addition to your defense for anybody in the NFL.
09:02So you say to yourselves on one of the least talented teams in the NFL with a
09:05new head coach.
09:06That's a defensive minded head coach.
09:08I really need as many good pass rushers as I can possibly get Matthew Judon now
09:13on the move to the Atlanta Falcons who for me I think is the best team in the
09:17NFC South that just got better that move for the Atlanta Falcons.
09:20That makes a lot of sense.
09:22If your goal is to win the division forget about the Super Bowl.
09:26Oh Donnie, why would Atlanta make that move?
09:27They can't win the Super Bowl.
09:28Stop it.
09:29The goal for the team is to win the division get a home playoff game and see
09:31if you can do some damage in the playoffs Matthew Judon for a third-round
09:35pick to Atlanta at 32 years old made absolute sense.
09:38Their window is right now with Kirk Cousins.
09:40They think they can win 10 plus games and that division and get to the playoffs
09:44and you can't win the Super Bowl unless you get to the playoffs, but from a
09:47New England perspective, why don't we get this done a little bit earlier?
09:51Why did we do this before the draft?
09:53Why do we trade Matthew Judon at the draft for maybe even a higher pick a
09:56second or third rounder?
09:57Now the reason why he went with third rounder Dottie.
09:59Why would such a good player only go for a third rounder to the New England
10:02Patriots know something?
10:03We don't.
10:03Yes.
10:04He's 32 years old and the team is going to stink.
10:07So obviously you're looking to move on because what were you going to win
10:10four and a half games with Matthew Judon?
10:12What about without him?
10:13Yeah, four and a half games.
10:15It's not that big of a deal.
10:16They had to move on.
10:17They weren't going to pay that big salary.
10:18They found a team that would take him and certainly is going to be better
10:22for it.
10:22But also you get the third round compensation pick back maybe a tank in
10:26this year.
10:26Maybe get those high draft picks and away you move on the Matthew Judon
10:30situation made absolute sense for the Patriots, even though it looks like
10:33they got back.
10:34Nothing whether or not they had Matthew Judon this year wasn't going to
10:37happen or wasn't going to be fruitful for them.
10:39And in two to three years, if you still signed you down to a big contract
10:42by the time you get good, what is he 35 years old?
10:45Stop it here.
10:46They had to move on other big news in the NFL.
10:48We were talking about yesterday certainly was a deal.
10:51It's early in the preseason.
10:53We still have two and a half weeks left to go.
10:55The teams have not played their second games outside of two teams in the
10:58NFL in the preseason.
10:59The Hall of Fame game.
11:00How about Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford experiencing hamstring
11:03tightness and didn't finish the practice.
11:05Now granted you like to see that where if you feel something the hamstring
11:09shut it down.
11:09Don't fight through it.
11:10I've had a history of hamstring injuries myself and one of the more quirky
11:14industry and hamstring industries in sports is the wide receiver or the
11:18running back because they're built on quick twitch muscles.
11:20How many times you have to game out?
11:21It's nothing just felt my hamstring grab a little bit.
11:24I'll be back next week only to see that player to be out four or five six
11:27seven weeks here, but Matthew Stafford is a competent veteran quarterback
11:31that operates from the pocket, but you still have to be able to dodge some
11:35of those elite talented pass rushers in the NFL.
11:38If you cannot protect yourself, you're going to end up getting injured worse.
11:42Now.
11:42He still has a few weeks to recover for this and maybe just as a mild one.
11:45We says, you know what?
11:46I'm not going to sprint out left or right.
11:48I can have any naked bootlegs in the pocket where I'm gonna have to run
11:5130 yards.
11:52I just need to slide left and right operate out of the shotgun.
11:56I should be okay.
11:57It's never a good thing because hamstring injuries if they're not treated
12:00appropriately meaning getting that rest time and you force your way back can
12:04turn into even longer-term injuries.
12:06So from looking from a Rams perspective here, they're going to need a healthy
12:10Matthew Stafford right out of the gate.
12:12Now the evaluations will come and Sean McVeigh is going to tell us.
12:15It's no big deal.
12:16But then again, when's the next time we're going to see Matthew Stafford on
12:19the field and also doing these installation practices, which so many
12:23times guys you have in training camp just to getting to know your younger
12:26wide receivers and your offensive line and making those calls.
12:29Once again, you can get all the mental reps you want but being out there with
12:34your teammates in that huddle a completely different scenario.
12:36You want to be playing your best football at the end of training camp.
12:39Not just coming back to the huddle at the end of training camp.
12:42We'll see if that happens for the Rams and Matthew Stafford.