During his first preseason football game, Vikings’ rookie J.J. McCarthy suffered an early interception against the Las Vegas Raiders. But the former Michigan gunslinger managed to bounce back in a major way. He threw for 188 yards and two touchdowns.
It was a mostly good performance for Vikings fans to witness. But that early mistake made The 33rd Team’s Ian Valentino give McCarthy a B-grade against the Raiders. Valentino explains that the interception, or mistake, was the key to him unlocking his comfort.
“Most of what followed the mistake was much better. He stood tall in the pocket and displayed a strong, accurate arm throughout the majority of attempts. McCarthy has a knack for unleashing feathery balls that float perfectly into his receiver’s chest.”
He goes to explain that “consistency is the key for McCarthy. His rushing ability and arm talent are great, but his misses are often way off target. The game didn’t seem too fast for him, and he easily hit the most difficult throws he attempted, including a deep shot that went for a touchdown.”
If McCarthy is able to bounce back as he did against the Raiders after making mistakes, then Minnesota is in good hands. But it’s hard to tell how rookies will perform in the NFL after making crucial mistakes in meaningful games.