Kevin O’Connell did not mince words after reviewing the tape from Sunday’s 19-17 loss to the Bears. The Vikings head coach said J.J. McCarthy’s mechanics and pocket habits derailed too many plays, turning a winnable division game into another afternoon where Minnesota’s offense labored snap after snap.
Vikings Head Coach Calls Out the Fundamental Mistakes Holding J.J. McCarthy Back
O’Connell was candid about his second-year quarterback’s struggles.
“He’s making it hard on himself,” O’Connell said. That’s probably the most frustrating part for him.. It’s just the variance. It’s causing his job to be more difficult than it needs to be.”
From footwork to posture to balance at the top of drops, O’Connell said McCarthy’s inconsistencies kept the Vikings from taking advantage of a Chicago defense.
McCarthy finished 16 of 32 for 150 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He went nearly two quarters without a completion in the second half. And his most glaring misses came on routine throws. On the second drive, he overshot Justin Jefferson on a third-and-7 slant that “has to be there,” according to O’Connell. Later, on a designed shot, he missed Jordan Addison despite making the same throw repeatedly in practice.
“When his feet and eyes are right, he throws the ball really well,” O’Connell said. “He’s widely capable of making the throws that present themselves.”
Both interceptions stemmed from that variance. The first came when he climbed too aggressively into pressure, leaving the ball floating for safety Kevin Byard III. The second occurred before halftime when his base collapsed on an end-zone attempt, resulting in an underthrown ball.
“There were opportunities we hunted throughout the week,” O’Connell said, “and we just didn’t connect.”
Still, McCarthy flashed the resilience O’Connell continues to praise. Down 16-10 with 3:14 left, he went 5-for-5 on an 85-yard touchdown drive that briefly gave Minnesota a late lead. “After all of that, his ability to respond shows he’s made of the right stuff,” O’Connell said.
But the momentum evaporated instantly. A 56-yard kickoff return set up Chicago’s walk-off field goal just 50 seconds later, dropping the Vikings to 4-6 and intensifying the scrutiny on McCarthy’s development.
READ MORE: 3 Midseason Truths Reveal Why the Vikings Offense Is Stalling as J.J. McCarthy Struggles
O’Connell said the fix isn’t talent. It’s discipline. Entering Sunday, McCarthy ranked 35th in PFSN’s QBi. The offense ranked 25th. Both those numbers are expected to remain near the league’s bottom after another inconsistent outing.
“Every snap, his detail and his job are of the utmost importance,” he said. “We’re going to keep attacking it. The accuracy will come when the consistency comes.”
