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The combination of skills and experience that Kyler Murray brought with him to the Minnesota Vikings has made him their presumptive starting quarterback this upcoming season, even if the coaching staff declared an open competition for the job with JJ McCarthy.
In his first public comments since Murray was released by the Arizona Cardinals and signed with the eager Vikings, McCarthy sounded like he understood the situation but didn’t necessarily appreciate it.
“Look, the organization made a decision that they feel is going to improve the depth and quality of the slot,” McCarthy said Wednesday after the team’s first offseason practice session opened to reporters.
“All I’m thinking about is continuing the upward trajectory that I set for myself last season, that last quarter of the season, and continuing to be the best version of myself every day.”
When asked directly if he was disappointed the Vikings acquired Murray, McCarthy said, “Then I would be disappointed if the rain came down. That’s out of my control. At the end of the day, I just have to focus on what I can do to be the best quarterback for this football team.”
As for her budding relationship with Murray, McCarthy said there’s no awkwardness between them but, well, he sure didn’t sound warm about it in his terse response.
“It’s like two guys in a classroom. He sits on one side. I sit on the other side. And it’s the coaches’ responsibility to teach us and train us,” McCarthy said.
Murray, for his part, did not hesitate to praise the working agreement, which is undoubtedly easier to achieve as an eighth-year player in the NFL with multiple standout seasons on his resume. Murray said McCarthy has been “too” receptive to his contributions as a veteran with 87 starts.
“We’re both competitors. I know we both want what’s best for the team,” Murray said. “He’s always communicating, asking questions, stuff like that, so it’s been good.”
Murray has deftly dodged any discussion about expectations on the depth chart. Even with all the assets the Vikings offer — from top-notch facilities to a quarterback-friendly head coach in Kevin O’Connell and star receiver Justin Jefferson — I probably wouldn’t have chosen Minnesota on a one-year minimum salary contract if I didn’t think he’d be the starter. Whether the job was promised to you privately or not is of little importance.
“My confidence is unwavering. That’s how I feel about myself,” Murray said. “Regardless of what happens day to day, I know that the next day I will come out here giving my best effort.”
McCarthy declined to specify whether he made any changes to his throwing mechanics after being dogged by erratic performances during his rocky, injury-hit debut. However, he has spent a lot of time since the offseason began working on the field with Jefferson.
“Just building those passes in time and in rhythm for every concept and every route,” McCarthy said. “It’s just tremendous to be around that guy every day.”
When Vikings players gathered again last month to begin the formal offseason training program, Jefferson spoke candidly to reporters about his excitement over Murray’s arrival and his expectations for McCarthy’s improvement.
“It’s good to have some good talent in that room to give a little spark in that room, to see a competitive advantage from those guys to block and do what we expect them to do, which is come in and be that guy,” said Jefferson, the two-time All-Pro who has entered his seventh year in the NFL. “We have some great talent in that room, especially for JJ to have that spark and for Kyler to come from Arizona and continue that spark.”
Assuming Murray wins the job this season, his mobility should open up more space for Jefferson on the field.
“I’m definitely looking forward to his speed, his quickness and his arm strength that he’s demonstrated countless times over the years,” Jefferson said. “For JJ, someone in that room with that kind of skill, that kind of talent, has to step up a little bit. So it’s good for him to feel that kind of pressure and really lock himself in a little bit and say, ‘It’s either now or I’m going to take a backseat again.'”
Associated Press information.
