Join host Tyler Forness on The Real Forno Show for an in-depth analysis of the Minnesota Vikings. This episode focuses on the role of new quarterback J.J. McCarthy, potential star Dallas Turner, and the latest team news. A must-listen for every Vikings fan! SKOL!
In this episode of The Real Forno Show, host Tyler Forness and producer Dave took on one of the most debated topics among Minnesota Vikings fans – the starting timeline of JJ McCarthy.
Tyler asks whether JJ McCarthy is a winner and what that means for an earlier starting timeline, and even overall. Then throw in a mock schedule to help figure it all out. The episode provided a comprehensive analysis of the factors that could influence this decision, along with insights and predictions.
Starting Early: A Risk or an Opportunity?
Forness kicked off the discussion by posing a thought-provoking question, “When will JJ McCarthy get the starting job for the Minnesota Vikings?” He noted that the decision could be influenced by a myriad of factors, including McCarthy’s mental makeup and his ability to learn from failures.
Forness acknowledged the challenges that McCarthy would likely face as a young quarterback if he started immediately. He said, “Because as a young quarterback, he’s likely going to fail quite a bit. And that’s okay because it’s part of the development process.” However, Forness also raised the possibility of McCarthy sitting out early games or a year to develop his skills further and gain a better understanding of the game dynamics.
The Learning Curve: From Practice To Game
Forness emphasized the importance of McCarthy’s development and learning process, which he suggested would be crucial in determining his readiness to start. He painted a picture of the vast amount of unknowns surrounding McCarthy’s development, stating, “We really just don’t know so many details, so many vital things about J. J. McCarthy and his development.”
Forness stressed the importance of practice and understanding the dynamics of the game. He noted that McCarthy would need to know the intricacies of his teammates’ movements and be able to anticipate and adapt accordingly. He said, “McCarthy should know exactly where to put the ball on every single throw that he makes to Justin Jefferson. He should know that with Jordan Addison. He should know that with T. J. Hockenson. He should know that with Josh Oliver, Jalen Naylor, Brandon Powell, and everybody. Because that’s what’s expected of a quarterback.”
The Right Time for McCarthy to Start
When asked about his intuition on when McCarthy should start, producer Dave suggested that it would depend on McCarthy’s progress. “When he accomplishes all the blocks that KOC wants him to. Now, how quickly he learns that is up to him,” Dave said. He also mentioned that while data suggests that sitting and learning works better in the long run, it is also common for the top ten drafted quarterbacks to start early.
The Final Verdict: A Balance of Time and Learning
In the end, both Forness and Dave agreed that the decision should depend on McCarthy’s progress, learning, and readiness. “The more time you have to learn that, generally, the better it goes,” Dave said. Forness echoed these thoughts, stating, “My preferred is to take time and let him learn. But if he learns ahead of time, if he’s an overachiever, let him start.”
The Debate: Is McCarthy a Winner?
“Is JJ McCarthy a winner?” Tyler posed the question to the viewers and listeners. “One of the big things with McCarthy here is the fact that he’s a quote-unquote winner.” The debate around quantifying a quarterback’s success through ‘wins’ is a long-standing one, and Tyler acknowledges this. However, he emphasizes that it is indeed a stat, whether people agree with its merits or not. He retorts, “It’s a stat. You just think the stat sucks,” indicating that dismissing ‘wins’ as a stat is more about personal bias than any concrete reasoning.
McCarthy’s Record: A Closer Look
Tyler doesn’t just stop at defending the ‘wins’ as a stat, he goes ahead to apply it to McCarthy’s performance. He points out, “JJ McCarthy’s 0-3, he’s a bust. No. You want to look at it from like, okay, he’s got a hundred starts. Where are we at? Well, [down the road,] JJ McCarthy is 70 and 30, so he wins 7 out of every 10 games he starts. Okay, that’s pretty good. We take that.” Tyler argues that McCarthy’s past performance should not be dismissed just because of a few losses. He further bolsters his argument by praising McCarthy’s dominant record at the high school and college level, “he also dominated the competition wherever he was at 63 and 3 across his time starting in high school and college at Michigan.”
McCarthy’s Future: NFL Success?
The discussion takes a turn towards the future as Tyler raises the question of McCarthy’s potential in the NFL. He asks, “Has he done enough to show that he can carry a team consistently?” After considering it, Tyler shares his belief, “No, I don’t think he has. And I also don’t think that that is that big of a deal, but it is a variable to add to the equation whether you believe he’s going to be successful in the NFL or not.” While there is a degree of uncertainty, Tyler expresses confidence in the infrastructure of the Vikings’ team, which could provide a solid foundation for McCarthy to achieve a baseline in the NFL.
The Darnold Factor
Tyler introduces a new angle to the discussion by bringing up Sam Darnold. He points out that Darnold, with his experience, could be an invaluable mentor to McCarthy. He argues, “Darnold can use his failure to help McCarthy. And that’s not to say that Darnold’s the exact same quarterback or anything like that. It’s important to have a conversation where, hey, I saw this. I dealt with this. Hey, you remember when people made fun of me because I said I saw ghosts? Yeah, I did. Here’s what happened, why I got to that point, and how I fixed it. Sam Darnold is arguably the perfect mentor for JJ McCarthy. And I don’t think that’s being discussed enough here.”
A Glimpse at a Mock Schedule
Tyler kicked off the show with a reveal of his mock schedule for the season, which he described as a “Judd Zulgad-style” exercise. According to his proposed schedule, the Vikings might face off against the Colts in an exciting match in London. “I did look at it briefly. You have us playing the Colts in London,” Dave confirmed.
The mock schedule also predicted a game against the Cardinals on October 6th. However, Tyler emphasized the speculative nature of this exercise, saying, “It’s all in fun. It’s a guessing game.”
Reflections on Past Performance and Expectations for the Future
The conversation then shifted to a critique of the Vikings’ performance in the 2022 season. Tyler noted that the team was harshly critiqued for their performance because it wasn’t up to par. All the wins were fake in 2022 and 2023 was returning to reality. The term “fraudulent” was frequently used to describe the team’s performance.
They also discussed the number of prime-time games the team might have this season. “They had five [in 2023]. I have them with four,” Tyler said, adding that he expects the Atlanta Falcons to be among the most likely opponents for these prime-time games.
The Big Question As Applied to the Schedule: When will JJ McCarthy Start?
A significant portion of the discussion was dedicated to the question of when the Vikings’ quarterback, JJ McCarthy, would start. Tyler suggested that the NFL might want to see a matchup between JJ McCarthy and Kirk Cousins and that scheduling the game later in the season would increase the chances of this matchup. However, the exact timing of this change remains uncertain.
Wide Receiver Three: Who’s Best Suited?
The hosts also delved into the wide receiver three position. Tyler suggested that Brandon Powell might fit the bill, expressing his lack of trust in Jalen Nailor’s ability to stay healthy. “I think it’s going to be Brandon Powell because I don’t trust Jalen Nailor,” he said. He further explained that he expects the Vikings to bring in more competition at the position.
Dalton Risner: Not Fit to be a Viking?
The episode concluded with a discussion about why Dalton Risner is not a Minnesota Viking. Tyler argued that Risner was not worth the $9 million a year contract he was asking for and that he does not fit well with what the Vikings want to do in the running game. “I just don’t think Risner is good enough and nor does he fit well enough with what the Minnesota Vikings want to do in the running game,” Tyler concluded.
The Verdict: To Start or Not to Start
The central question that Tyler grapples with is whether McCarthy is ready to start right away in the NFL. He brings the discussion full circle by returning to the idea of McCarthy’s determination to win. He concludes, “And especially if you want to go read about who JJ McCarthy is… But one of the big things is he’s so determined to win. He’s so determined and headstrong in that way where he does not accept failure.”
Tyler leaves the listeners with an open-ended conclusion, stating confidently, “I think that’s really, really fun… And I think that’s the biggest thing here is we, we don’t know everything here and McCarthy’s going to give us those answers over the course of the next few months.” The Real Forno Show signs off, leaving its audience eager for the next installment in the unfolding saga of JJ McCarthy’s journey.
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The episode left fans with much to ponder as they await the team’s decision. As Forness and Dave concluded, it’s a complicated yet exciting situation that hinges on McCarthy’s development, making the upcoming season an eagerly anticipated one for Minnesota Vikings fans.
The hosts wrapped up the show by thanking their growing community of subscribers and encouraging them to stay tuned for more in-depth discussions and predictions about the Minnesota Vikings in future episodes.
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Tyler Forness @TheRealForno of Vikings 1st & SKOL @Vikings1stSKOL and The Sporting News @sportingnews and Dave Stefano @Luft_Krigare producing this Vikings 1st & SKOL production, on the @RealFornoShow. Podcasts partnered with Fans First Sports Network @FansFirstSN and Fans First Sports Network’s NFL feed @FFSN_NFL.
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