Latest news with #Kwesi
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Minnesota Vikings No Longer Babying JJ McCarthy
In a few weeks, JJ McCarthy and his Minnesota Vikings teammates will gather at TCO Performance Center in Eagan for the start of 2025 Training Camp. It will be the former No. 10 overall draft pick's second Vikings training camp. With that being said this time around will be much different. Last summer, head coach Kevin O'Connell made his development plan for McCarthy public knowledge. He was going to start the rookie in QB preschool, where Vikings coaches would wrap him in mental bubble wrap and hit him with the football equivalent of kid gloves. Advertisement Kwesi: JJ McCarthy was never going to reach QB1 last season The focus back then was on footwork, timing and learning KOC's offense. The Vikings didn't even want to think about McCarthy taking over under center, let alone answer questions on it. In fact, Kwesi reiterated in a recent interview that short of a Sam Darnold injury, there was almost no path to McCarthy starting in 2024. That's just not how KOC's quarterback school works. Well, not for the highest QB draft pick in Minnesota Vikings history. Instead, the plan O'Connell developed for McCarthy last offseason was a tiered program focused most heavily on gaining confidence, without the pressure of performing on Sundays. Advertisement Expecting a rookie to blow through all of the steps O'Connell put in place for him McCarthy by week one last season was never realistic. That's why fans were so shocked/excited when McCarthy went off for 188 yards and two touchdowns on 11 of 17 passing in his first and only 2024 preseason game (vs Raiders). Minnesota Vikings have taken bubble wrap off McCarthy Fast forward one year. Not only are the Minnesota Vikings no longer hiding JJ McCarthy on back fields during offseason workouts, but they decided against bringing in ANY real camp competition for their redshirt rookie. They may not have said it publicly yet, but the Vikings have coronated McCarthy as the starter. And according to The Athletic's Alec Lewis, last year's bubble wrap has been popped and the coaches have taken their kid gloves off. They've loaded up his playbook and put him in charge at the line of scrimmage. In other words, it's sink or swim time for the University of Michigan alum, repaired meniscus be damned. The Vikings weren't babying J.J. McCarthy this spring. He may have been coming off of a torn meniscus, and he may only be in his second season, but Minnesota's staff made the tests difficult. McCarthy received lengthy call sheets before practices. He was responsible for calls at the line of scrimmage. He was not at all chastised for mistakes, but the seriousness of each rep seemed evident. Alec Lewis – The Athletic Related: Vikings Calculating Ripple Effects of Possible Brian Flores Departure? So, how has JJ McCarthy responded to his new responsibilities and change in coaching style? From what Lewis witnessed this spring and what he's hearing behind the scenes from his many Minnesota Vikings sources, McCarthy has continued to impress. Advertisement MN Vikings hope challenging JJ McCarthy now will pay dividends later The real ones know by now that any questions surrounding McCarthy's arm strength is unfounded. The focus, instead, has been taking heat off his fastball when necessary, especially down the field when layering passes between levels of the opposing defense. When bodies start really flying in a couple months, the MN Vikings hope that this harder coaching style will make his transition from protected rookie to team leader a little easier. McCarthy didn't float perfectly through the weeks, but a steady stream of growth imprinted on the staffers monitoring him every day. He threw the ball with accuracy. His arm strength stood out. His ability to layer different throws continues to be the priority physically. However, the mental challenges of the spring became the most important. The team's hope is that making it as hard as it's been over the past few months will supercharge growth come training camp and the season. Alec Lewis – The Athletic Related: Recently Cleared JJ McCarthy Claps Back at Arm Strength Criticism As a wise man once said, believe what people do, not what they say. And as I wrote earlier in this article, the Vikings' seeming disinterest in adding a veteran QB more proven than Sam Howell showed us exactly how much they trust in JJ McCarthy. Advertisement But at the end of the day, we won't what we have in our new franchise QB until he takes the field. But hey, that moment is coming very, very soon. Related Headlines
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Minnesota Vikings Extend Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
The Minnesota Vikings have had a very busy offseason, led by general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who has spent more money on player contracts this offseason than any other team in the league. Kwesi & Co. used free agency and the draft to filled gaping holes on the interior of the offensive and defensive lines, while adding depth to other positions, like running back and linebacker. They also swapped quarterbacks (again), and talked Harrison Smith into one more year. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, other Minnesota Vikings executives receive contract extensions Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports And now that most of the 2025 offseason moving and grooving is over, the Minnesota Vikings are turning their focus to player development and getting their new team ready for next season, which is the perfect time for the Wilf family to reward Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and his front office staff for their hard work, with fresh contract extensions. Advertisement It's not just Kwesi getting a new deal, though. His right-hand men, Ryan Grigson and Demitrius Washington, are getting raises and new job titles (Assistant General Managers), as well. News broke of the Vikings' front office contract extensions Friday morning. Hired during the 2022 offseason, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has taken a lot of heat for the unproductive drafts the Minnesota Vikings have had, since he took over, especially his infamous first class, of 2022, when he drafted Lewis Cine late in the first round, after a lengthy trade-back. Vikings push chips all-in on Kwesi There were whispers behind the scenes earlier this offseason that had insiders around the league wondering who exactly is making the decisions for the Vikings. There were even questions surrounding whether it was Kwesi pulling levers, or new assistant GM, Ryan Grigson. Advertisement Related: MN Vikings Insider Unable to Dig Up Any Dirt on JJ McCarthy Then, Kwesi went home sick during the NFL Draft Combine, leaving head coach Kevin O'Connell to do multiple jobs in Indianapolis (where he flourished). That only added more fuel to Kwesi's rumor fire, after KOC got his extension early this offseason, and Adofo-Mensah was forced to wait.. But all of that seems behind us now. The Wilf family has decided that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is there general manager, both now, and into the future. No matter what growing pains that entails. Is he the right guy for the job, time will tell. Clearly, the Wilfs believe so.
