O’Connell exuded confidence when talking about McCarthy during training camp, keeping his reviews of the second-year quarterback (and de facto rookie after McCarthy missed his entire first season) vague while oozing with excitement. The results haven’t quite followed suit, a surprise to some who believed McCarthy’s year of sideline study would give him an advantage when he took the field in 2025.
“It was really just the injuries that I felt kind of took away all those reps,” McCarthy said, “in the constant repetition to make those a habit and make them concrete like [O’Connell] talks about. But yeah, I feel like it’s just the repetitions. How many times could I go home, and every time I take the dogs out, I’m getting 10 drops each time. Little things like that where I just keep getting the reps.”
Over time, such reps should produce improved results. But in an NFL that seems to dwindle in patience more with each passing year, McCarthy needs to take a step forward, especially if the 4-6 Vikings have any hopes of climbing back into the playoff race in a rugged NFC North, starting Sunday against the rival Packers (6-3-1).
McCarthy believes in the process and will continue to adhere to it, regardless of outside expectations.
“You’re rewiring neurological pathways,” he said, “and that’s not something that happens overnight. So just understanding in giving myself that grace, that patience that I might not have it today, but it’s something I’m going to continue to strive after day after day, rep after rep and get to the place where we all want me to be.”
The Vikings are hoping he arrives at that place sooner rather than later.
