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The Minnesota Vikings have yet to make a call on their quarterback battle. That isn't a mistake, but snap allocation may be one.
The Vikings are splitting snaps between 2025 starter J.J. McCarthy and presumed 2026 starter Kyler Murray. And while a true quarterback competition is best for team unity, in that others were given every opportunity to earn the job, the lack of snaps for Murray is to his detriment.
We all have a good idea Murray will win the starting job. McCarthy was historically bad for his first six NFL starts. And while he improved over the year, it's tough to say Murray has ever had a 10-game sample as bad as McCarthy had last year.
Steve Silverman of Clutch Points discussed the dangers in delaying the snap allocation shift to Murray. Here's what Silverman added on the battle.
"Murray is an excellent athlete with arm strength, but he has taken the large majority of his snaps in shotgun formation. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell likes to have his quarterbacks work from under center, and Murray is not familiar with that role. As a result, it could have an impact on how well he performs in practice for the Vikings and how he does in preseason games.
McCarthy is more familiar with taking snaps under center, and that could allow him to have a slight advantage when O'Connell and the coaching staff observe how each quarterback performs.
Still, it is a long shot to think that McCarthy is going to beat out Murray. McCarthy had problems with his accuracy at several points last season — especially when he threw the ball to star wide receiver Justin Jefferson. McCarthy failed to deliver accurately on multiple occasions when throwing to a wide open Jefferson last season. This is clearly a problem that can't happen again this season."
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) and Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) after the game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
McCarthy does not need as many reps to learn the offense as Murray. McCarthy ran the offense last season. Murray is in his first months in the offense. Therein lies the problem of not getting the Vikings' free agent signal caller adequate reps heading into the season.
On the other hand, head coach Kevin O'Connell does not want a spirit of entitlement. He wants Murray to have earned the starting job. More than that, he wants McCarthy to stay engaged in the event that the Vikings need him. Obviously, that would include an upset win of the starting job.
O'Connell is having to manage a delicate situation, but sooner or later he will have to make a decision. We expect Murray to ultimately still win the job.
Continue reading...
The Vikings are splitting snaps between 2025 starter J.J. McCarthy and presumed 2026 starter Kyler Murray. And while a true quarterback competition is best for team unity, in that others were given every opportunity to earn the job, the lack of snaps for Murray is to his detriment.
We all have a good idea Murray will win the starting job. McCarthy was historically bad for his first six NFL starts. And while he improved over the year, it's tough to say Murray has ever had a 10-game sample as bad as McCarthy had last year.
Steve Silverman of Clutch Points discussed the dangers in delaying the snap allocation shift to Murray. Here's what Silverman added on the battle.
"Murray is an excellent athlete with arm strength, but he has taken the large majority of his snaps in shotgun formation. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell likes to have his quarterbacks work from under center, and Murray is not familiar with that role. As a result, it could have an impact on how well he performs in practice for the Vikings and how he does in preseason games.
McCarthy is more familiar with taking snaps under center, and that could allow him to have a slight advantage when O'Connell and the coaching staff observe how each quarterback performs.
Still, it is a long shot to think that McCarthy is going to beat out Murray. McCarthy had problems with his accuracy at several points last season — especially when he threw the ball to star wide receiver Justin Jefferson. McCarthy failed to deliver accurately on multiple occasions when throwing to a wide open Jefferson last season. This is clearly a problem that can't happen again this season."
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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) and Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) after the game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
McCarthy does not need as many reps to learn the offense as Murray. McCarthy ran the offense last season. Murray is in his first months in the offense. Therein lies the problem of not getting the Vikings' free agent signal caller adequate reps heading into the season.
On the other hand, head coach Kevin O'Connell does not want a spirit of entitlement. He wants Murray to have earned the starting job. More than that, he wants McCarthy to stay engaged in the event that the Vikings need him. Obviously, that would include an upset win of the starting job.
O'Connell is having to manage a delicate situation, but sooner or later he will have to make a decision. We expect Murray to ultimately still win the job.
Continue reading...
