J.J. McCarthy to start for Vikings at quarterback vs. Lions
For the first time since mid-September, young quarterback J.J. McCarthy will start for the Minnesota Vikings. His high-ankle sprain is healed. His lower-body mechanics have been troubleshot. He’ll be under center Sunday and at the controls when the team matches up with the Lions in Detroit.
“I feel like myself again,” McCarthy said earlier this week. “I feel like I have those mobility things (fixed) that I was concerned about going into last week and prior weeks.”
McCarthy suffered the injury in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons. The team’s medical staff cleared him to return to play, though his accuracy waned down the stretch of the game. The following afternoon, head coach Kevin O’Connell informed reporters that McCarthy would be sidelined due to the injury.
Minnesota did not place McCarthy on injured reserve, opting instead to avoid setting a definitive timeline for his return. He traveled with the team for its two-week stint in Europe, where the Vikings played the Steelers in Dublin and the Browns in London. The Vikings planned for him to first practice in London, but the weather and field conditions delayed his activity. During the ensuing bye week, O’Connell and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown observed workouts. Footwork and eye placement were the focuses. McCarthy was not unloading the ball quickly enough in his first two games, and O’Connell believed that removing excess movement in his lower half would allow McCarthy to play more on time.
O’Connell has deemed McCarthy as “an accurate passer.” This weekend’s contest will put that skill to the test. The Lions don’t run from playing man coverage. They’ve used it at the sixth-highest rate in the NFL, according to TruMedia. That type of coverage can test tight-window throws, which offensive coordinator Wes Phillips discussed Thursday.
“We’re going to have to make some accurate passes,” Phillips said, “and protection-wise, (we’re going to have to make sure) we’re in the right calls.”
No segment of the Vikings has disappointed more than the team’s front. Injuries have played a role. According to Next Gen Stats, the Vikings have played 12 unique offensive line combinations at least 10 snaps together, which is three more than the next closest team. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw, who is now more than a year removed from a torn ACL and MCL, only played nine snaps last week in Los Angeles. He’s questionable for Sunday, as is right tackle Brian O’Neill, who missed last week’s game with soreness in his left knee. With left guard Donovan Jackson and right guard Will Fries both in the fold, the Vikings could have the most advantageous offensive line that they’ve had since the beginning of the season.
Dan Campbell’s brutally honest assessment of Lions should scare rest of NFL
The Detroit Lions have been one of the best teams in the NFL this season. Even after losing both of their coordinators this offseason, Detroit seemingly hasn't lost a step. They come out of their bye week with a 5-2 record, scoring key wins against some of the top contenders in the process.
If the Lions are to be believed, they still aren't playing to their full potential. Head coach Dan Campbell believes that Detroit still has another gear this season. The Lions HC said that they could stand to be better at playing complementary football over the course of the season.
“I really believe we haven't played our best ball yet collectively in all three phases,” Campbell said, per Eric Woodyard of ESPN. “And that's really what we're trying to get to here is how can we sharpen ourselves. We know it's going to take every phase. Every game's different, and one unit may have to pick up the slack, but we need to start playing complete ball across the board. And just keep improving — like with all these teams that we're in the race with right now. So, that's where we're at.”
The Lions have highlighted four key areas for improvement during their bye week. That includes their third-down efficiency on both sides of the ball. Detroit is ranked 22nd in third-down conversion rate this season with just 37.7%, far below their 47% rate last season. On the other side, they're allowing a similar third-down conversion rate on defense, which is higher than their 32.5% rate last year.
The two other areas that the Lions focused on during the bye week are their red zone defense and Jameson Williams' involvement on offense. While Detroit's defense has been generally solid this season, it's allowing a whopping 63.6% of its opponents' red zone trips to end in a touchdown. On the other hand, Williams has had an up-and-down season thanks in large part to his fluctuating target rate. Detroit's offense is at its best when the threat of Jamo downfield opens up the rest of the offense. Finding ways to get him in space is going to be crucial for this team moving forward.
The Lions open the second half of their season with a matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at home. Will Detroit apply what they've installed during the bye week in their next games?
