Minnesota Vikings path to fixing QB J.J. McCarthy could be making one offensive change, and the same was true with Carson Wentz
Quarterback play has been the biggest issue for the Minnesota Vikings this season.
Neither quarterback has been good for the Vikings this season. Now, there have been some stretches of solid play from both J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz, but the lack of consistency has driven everybody crazy, both inside and outside the building.
Sunday afternoon's loss against the Chicago Bears brought out the worst play we've seen in some time from the quarterback position in Minnesota, but it wasn't all bad. In fact, we saw one element of his game shine, and it could be the blueprint toward immediate success.
Running the offense with tempo could minimize J.J. McCarthy's issues
There are some really interesting elements with McCarthy's performance against the Bears. He was massively inconsistent across the board, and his misses were arguably the biggest reason why the Vikings lost the game on Sunday.
Even with the issues being accuracy at just 50% completion and two interceptions, there were still good plays from McCarthy. He ripped the ball over the middle with beautiful passes to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison (albeit dropped), and he read the field well. The most success for McCarthy came in the final drive of the game. The one thing with the final drive that separated it from the rest?
The Vikings used tempo.
Now, you can't use a no-huddle strategy forever, as it's not viable long-term. However, it can be a really nice way to build up McCarthy's confidence and, oddly enough, slow him down.
When you look at what's going on with McCarthy mechanically, it starts and ends with his lower half. His feet are all over the place. The game is too fast for him for the most part, and his feet get the brunt of it, especially with his base getting wide and back leg swinging like he's throwing a 100 mph fastball (he is). It's still a little too fast for his processing, but the feet are the far bigger concern here. When he had to work faster on a play-by-play basis, his feet calmed down, and McCarthy was playing good football across the board. You can see how accurate and clean his football is when his base is underneath him.
"How can I remain poised, remain present, and just worry about the little things like my footwork and my fundamentals?" said McCarthy after the game. "Take it each play by each play, and we'll see where we get at the end of it."
He understands the issue at hand is his mechanics, and there are flashes of brilliance. Head coach Kevin O'Connell mentioned after the game that he had two great days of practice before the game.
“Whether it’s just the initial posture, where we’ve just learned that when he has great posture, you know, at the top of drops, he throws the ball really well,” said O’Connell. “He did it Friday. Did it Thursday. And I even referenced on Friday, the type of practices we had.”
If you end up having McCarthy run the offense with tempo and he builds up his confidence with a rhythm, that could completely shift everything with his development and the trajectory of this team.
Caleb Williams Fires Up Bears’ Offense: 'We’ve Got Too Much Talent to Waste Opportunities'
In a candid and fiery statement, Caleb Williams is making it clear — the Chicago Bears' offense has too much talent to be held back by missed opportunities. The young quarterback’s words serve as a rallying cry for his teammates, urging them to take advantage of the potential that has been on display all season long.
“It’s frustrating, but we’re not going to let this hold us back,” Williams said after a recent loss. “We’ve got too much talent on this offense to be wasting opportunities. It’s time to step up, execute, and show the world what we’re really capable of.”
The Bears’ offense has been inconsistent this season, with flashes of brilliance followed by moments of missed chances. Despite ranking highly in several key categories, including total yards per game, the team has struggled to convert that potential into consistent victories. Williams, who has quickly become a leader on the field, believes that it’s time to put those flashes of greatness together and perform at the highest level.
“We know we’ve got the pieces in place,” Williams continued. “Whether it’s in the run game with [David Montgomery] or through the air with [Darnell Mooney] and [Cole Kmet], we’ve got the weapons. Now it’s up to us to make it click. We can’t afford to keep leaving plays on the field.”
Williams' frustration is understandable. As the starting quarterback, he has often found himself trying to rally a talented group of players who have struggled to maintain a rhythm. But his confidence in the team is unwavering. He believes that once the offense starts executing with precision, they can be one of the most dangerous units in the league.
The Bears' offense has shown flashes of brilliance, especially with Williams at the helm. His deep ball accuracy and poise under pressure have been standout features of his game. However, consistency remains the biggest hurdle. In some games, the offense has moved the ball efficiently, only to stall in the red zone or fail to capitalize on key third downs. These missed opportunities have kept the team from reaching its full potential.
But Williams is determined to turn things around. He recognizes that leadership is not just about executing plays but also motivating the team to perform at their best, no matter the circumstances. “We’ve got to hold each other accountable,” he said. “It’s not just on the quarterback — it’s on all of us to make sure we’re executing at the highest level.”
The Bears’ offensive line has also faced challenges this season, but with the return of key players from injury, the hope is that the group will find more cohesion in the coming weeks. If the offensive line can provide more consistent protection for Williams, the offense could take the next step in becoming one of the NFL’s top units.
With Williams leading the charge, the Bears are ready to silence any doubts about their potential. The quarterback's confidence and leadership will be critical as the team works to turn their season around. There’s no question about the talent that exists on this offense — now, it’s time for the Bears to prove they can execute when it matters most.
“We’re not waiting anymore,” Williams said. “We’ve got the talent — now it’s time to deliver.”
