the 2024 NFL Draft, and this week was no different.
On The Pat McAfee Show Wednesday, Orlovsky re-upped his utmost belief in McCarthy.
Why the Praise Matters
Dan Orlovsky Continues Praise Tour of J.J. McCarthy
Orlovsky knows a little something about quarterbacking — he lasted in the NFL from 2005 to 2017, mostly as a backup. So, when he speaks about signal-callers, folks listen.
He said about McCarthy this week, “I think he’s gonna be awesome this year. Honestly, I totally believe, production-wise, he’ll play very similar to what Sam did last year. One, there’s just a scheme and a roster talent — Minnesota’s the easiest place in the NFL to play quarterback this year. It’s as good an offensive roster as we have in the NFL.”
“And then you combine it with scheme and play caller in Kevin O’Connell, a lot of guys would go to Minnesota and play good football.”
 drops back to pass during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports.</p>
<p>” data-medium-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/USATSI_8023715.jpg” data-large-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=785,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/USATSI_8023715.jpg” src=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/USATSI_8023715.jpg” alt ><figcaption>Aug 9, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky (8) throws a pass during the second quarter versus the Browns at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports.<span></span></figcaption></figure>
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<p>Minnesota is counting on McCarthy’s rapid maturation this season after letting <a href=)
Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones venture to new teams in free agency.
“I think J.J., the skills that he has and the foundation that he has, he’s a play on rhythm, listen to his feet when it comes to where and when to throw the football, the timing of the way he plays the position, the way that he was taught to play the position at Michigan, is perfect for what is the necessary stuff playing that position in Minnesota,” Orlovsky added.
Mixed Reviews from Naysayers
The Orlovsky compliments arrived after a wild week of McCarthy-theme takes, courtesy of Fox Sports‘ Colin Cowherd.
Cowherd went on a strange tangent last week, questioning McCarthy’s gumption. He remarked, “Why does Minnesota keep flirting with other quarterbacks? And there’s too many conflicting reports on J.J. McCarthy. So I just find the whole thing .. Here’s a lot of stuff I just don’t know. I feel sometimes there’s a little bit of a spin job here.”
“I will say this. To be a great franchise quarterback… there’s got to be a trait. There has to be a ‘wow’ trait. So let’s just go through them. Mahomes – arm talent. Allen — sheer force of size. Lamar — athletic ability. Stafford — has one of the great arms in the last 30 years in the league; he’s got a magical arm.”
in 82 days, making McCarthy’s maiden voyage game quite the spectacle.
While Minnesota has defeated Chicago in every game at Soldier Field since 2020, the venue is usually a house of horrors for the Vikings, or at least involves sloppiness and tomfoolery.
In that vein, McCarthy will get an unfiltered view of Vikings football.
A Brave New World for the Vikings
The Vikings auditioned Teddy Bridgewater for the QB1 spot 11 years ago, an experiment ruined by a devastating knee injury. After the Bridgewater era, Minnesota embarked on back-to-back veterans, Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily … More about Dustin Baker
