J.J. McCarthy’s Game-Changing Moment: How the Right System and Leadership Are Unlocking His Full Potential
In the high-stakes world of the NFL, there’s always a moment when everything clicks for a player—a perfect storm of the right system, the right mindset, and the right leadership. For J.J. McCarthy, that moment is now. The young quarterback, once known for his raw talent, is entering a new era of his career, where every play and every decision are falling into place like pieces of a well-crafted puzzle. But it’s not just about the stats. This is a deeper transformation—one where McCarthy is not just learning to play, but learning to lead.
For years, McCarthy has shown flashes of brilliance. He has the arm strength, the mobility, and the football IQ to compete at the highest level. Yet, something was missing. Despite his talent, he hadn’t fully broken through to the next level. Enter Kevin O'Connell, the mastermind behind the shift in play-calling that is now unlocking McCarthy's true potential. O'Connell's approach is not just about throwing plays at McCarthy and hoping they work—it’s about building a system that plays to McCarthy's strengths, allows for creativity, and nurtures confidence.
“There’s a moment in every player's career when everything aligns—the right system, the right mindset, and the right leadership. J.J. has always had the raw talent, but it’s the shift in play-calling that’s allowed him to step into his true potential. We're not just giving him plays, we’re giving him the opportunity to redefine his future.”
This philosophy of leadership and system building has allowed McCarthy to thrive in ways we haven’t seen before. It’s not just about executing the plays anymore; it’s about McCarthy taking ownership of his role and having the space to make creative decisions. As O'Connell has made clear, this isn’t just a tweak to McCarthy’s game—it’s a paradigm shift.
The numbers are already speaking for themselves. McCarthy is making faster decisions, showing more confidence under pressure, and delivering balls with accuracy and precision. But the true measure of his success isn’t only in the box scores. It’s in how McCarthy is growing as a leader on the field, how he’s commanding the offense, and how his teammates are responding to him. This shift in play-calling isn’t just helping McCarthy; it’s raising the entire team to a new level.
It’s clear that McCarthy is only scratching the surface of his potential. With the right system in place and O'Connell's leadership guiding him, McCarthy has the tools to become one of the league’s top quarterbacks. This moment, this game-changing shift, could very well be the catalyst for the next great quarterback in the NFL.
Patriots Considering Derrick Henry Trade to Fill Running Back Void Left by Gibson Injury
It’s officially trade season in the NFL, and the resurgent New England Patriots have a need. Is superstar running back Derrick Henry of all people the solution to their problem?
On the surface, it might sound a little crazy, but with the Patriots’ running back room suddenly thin with the season-ending injury to Antonio Gibson, and the Ravens’ season potentially on life support, it’s an interesting idea to say the least.
It’s one Boston Herald beat reporter Doug Kyed entertained in his weekly mailbag.
“It depends on how the Ravens look by the NFL trade deadline, which falls after Week 9, but I would be a little bit surprised if they give up on the season,” Kyed wrote for the Herald on Oct. 8. “The Ravens did just trade Odafe Oweh to the Chargers, but they were able to get Alohi Gilman back.
“Obviously, there’s a connection there with Henry and Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, who coached him in Tennessee. But there’s also a question of whether Henry would be an upgrade. It’s too early to write him off, but he’s averaging just 3.2 yards per carry since Week 1, when he had 169 yards on just 18 carries.”
Is Derrick Henry Realistic Option for Patriots?
To be fair, Kyed isn’t exactly suggesting it’s something the Patriots would or should entertain. He was just answering a question about the running back void, saying he got plenty of questions about the possibility of trading for Henry, Alvin Kamara or potentially bringing back Ezekiel Elliott.
Additionally, as Kyed notes, Baltimore hasn’t given any sort of indication it’s ready to sell off pieces. The Oweh trade, while surprising, did at least address an area of need with a depleted secondary, so it’s not exactly the waving of a white flag. The Ravens, despite a 1-4 record and a historically bad home loss to Houston in Week 5, does still have hopes to contend. The AFC North and the conference in general are wide open, especially if Lamar Jackson returns soon.
If he doesn’t, though, or even worse, his return doesn’t fix the Ravens’ issues, then perhaps trading Henry becomes slightly more likely.
Kyed was also right to point out that Henry just hasn’t been productive in 2025. His usage rate, especially on early downs, is lower than what it probably should be, and his early-season fumbling problem has directly contributed to Ravens losses.
The hope for a team potentially trading for Henry is that a change of scenery and system might do him some good. In New England, he could round out a three-pronged rushing attack alongside Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson, although he doesn’t address New England’s potential need for a pass-catching back in Gibson’s absence.
Reunion With Mike Vrabel Could Spark Henry Turnaround
And not everyone is ready to give up on Henry yet.
“Henry is still averaging 3.73 yards after contact and still has speed to run away in space,” Kevin Patra wrote for NFL.com ahead of Week 4. “His five runs of 15-plus yards are tied for first through three games, per PFF. I’m more concerned with the Ravens forgetting about Henry for stretches, like Monday’s two-carry third quarter.”
Patra added: “The King has been questioned in the past. Remember last year, when he opened the season a bit slowly, and many were fretting about his age and carry history, then he romped over defenses for 1,921 yards? I still believe the maniacal competitor is closer to that than washed because of a few fumbles.”
One person who probably wouldn’t mind seeing it happen is Vrabel, who coached him during their time together in Tennessee.
“Our best player was our running back, as you can see in Baltimore,” Vrabel said in January on WEEI after being hired, referring to Henry.
