Minnesota Vikings keeping JJ McCarthy heavily involved in the offense

purple daily is daily Vikings entertainment you just want the Vikings to win a Super Bowl before we die I will ride with this group seriously man please and away we go happy Thor's day on purple daily our friend Thor nrom from Matthew Berry's is it like a pretty new platform Fantasy Life like when did he officially launch that thing three years ago okay yeah pretty new player to the I mean he's not a new player he's an OG Mount Rushmore player and you're well on your way I feel like to being a Mount Rushmore player from your your lips to God's ears Phil so we've got we're g to get into the latest on JJ McCarthy here but uh Thor's glorious appearance and beard are presented by Roku TV America's number one TV streaming platform now I have been a like a built-in Roku system guy for probably 10 years I now am a Roku TV owner as of this last weekend my wife and I went my wife my wife and I went we went to a local retailer grabbed ourselves a 65 in Roku TV 4K automatically adjust shows and sporting events with smart picture Max you can go to roku.com to learn more or shop at a retailer near you really Phil we're you know we had like a 50-in TV and uh it didn't quite fill out the space the way that we wanted and so now now football fills the space the way that God meant it to next 5 days that TV will never be shut off oh dude it's just 5 Days Of Glorious football roku.com to learn more or shop at a retailer near you so here's what and Jud you were there for this JJ McCarthy discussion right was is was this come from the Wednesday yeah I asked the question you asked the question I I prodded the question for a minut let's go cuz I needed to know what the McCarthy plan is cuz there ain't nothing more important than the McCarthy plan dude Jud hanging out at US Bank or TCO performance center during the week is already paying dividends because we're going to we're going to literally like fill an episode with Jud I'm think of the show when I'm out there right so uh I'm going to read the quote from that spawned from your question and then Thor and everyone we can analyze this so JJ McCarthy is is using a scooter to get around the facility so he can be efficient with his time and I saw him nice scooter does it have a horn like Dean T he unfortunately uh okell said that he uh crashed into his wall and and I did Express cuz it looked like a souped up I don't know if you can hear this that's JJ McCarthy I like to apologize somebody's doing leaf and grass work and it's September wait that's the sound of Thor trimming his beard yep there it is there it is but but I did express some concern about the about our favorite QB being on a scooter be careful don't crash into walls so all right so here's what Kevin oyle said I want to see him I want his teammates to see him every day I want him in meetings I'm going to meet with him personally one day a week to make sure that I can personally be challenging JJ on his ownership of game plans the why behind the things that we're doing the play intent I want JJ to feel like he's a support system for Sam darnold in the quarterback room but at the same time bigger picture making sure we don't waste one moment where there could be some growth and development and really continue that positive momentum that I think a lot of us saw in training camp before the injury so Thor what do you think of the plan here for your biological son JJ McCarthy sound sounds about right to me yeah I mean you have to get those mental reps in obviously can't physically be on the field this coming season but these are some of the things that are super important for his future and I think he's a guy that projects to be uh engaged during this season he's not going to feel sorry for himself and so those those coaching sessions are super important and he's just going to be a sponge this year on on his little cart going around whatever it's it's a study year for JJ McCarthy and and I think that should help you know heading into next year as far as he can be down there on the field and then you know being able to ask questions what did Sam see what what's the play concept having the mental reps with it um should facilitate a quicker start next season when he takes over and this also to me is where having a head coach who was a quarterback and who knows exact becomes absolutely Paramount because you know oconnell is going to meet with McCarthy once a week I guarantee he's going to get a lot of work in the QB room like if you imagine this with perhaps a certain defensive coach right it would be like he's out for the year I don't you know I guess I'll tolerate him like this cultivation I guess we'll keep his card key active yeah exactly this cultivation is so important and it's an interesting thing because he is sort of going to be for the fan base I think in some ways out of sight out of mind but the amount of stuff that he can learn and pick up on and the special attention like as I've said before on the scoop with Doogie thori he's the most important person as far as I'm concerned in the building yeah like like like McCarthy's importance has not gone down one bit he remains the most important person in the building and so I think what uh oconnell talked about is just so important that there is such a plan in place yeah he most certainly is he's the he's the the the most important person in the franchise for the the viability the next decade and you're still in deference here of course to his development and I know people out there they might be like well he can't get on the field he's just going to stagnate I I would have people question that idea I absolutely think that you can improve out the field and the guy who would would uh stump for this idea was the number two overall pick in this past NFL draft Jaden Daniels Jaden Daniels was not a good pocket passer at Arizona State particularly his third season 2021 I believe he had a t tdt ratio that was even at Arizona State he hit the transfer portal and LSU initially when they signed him they were like oh you're gonna have to compete for the job of Garrett nme we saw for the first time uh uh on Monday against USC but Daniel ends up beating him out he there was Improvement that first season and then there was the enormous leap uh this this this past season 2023 Jaden Daniels in the LSU program has been very open about where that Improvement came from because it's like how did this guy who had no pocket presence and wasn't great at reading defenses downfield how did he become so good at it so quickly they had this VR system at LSU where he would put on the headset he'd see the the defense and you know the route concept coming they they mix up the blitzes and and all this stuff throw different stuff at him and he got so good at immediately you know what what coverage the defense in where is the pressure coming from what's my first read is it there no okay second read here and and he was able to get those mental reps in where then all of a sudden when he was in the pocket everything had started to slow down for him and it all allowed his physical ability to flower out they said by the end of it Jaden Daniels had gotten so good in that VR system they started running it at Double the speed so he was playing games in advance on Fast Forward essentially mentally that's just one example of of things that you could do with JJ McCarthy of course taking Kevin oconnell putting him under his wing the former quarterback San Diego State like jud's mentioning obviously you have a lot of exposure there you can impart a lot of wisdom hang around Sam darnold being able to watch these games from the field level see what NFL speed is what decision would I make here but there's a whole bunch of different things you can do even with JJ off the field this year where you can hasten his development you know I I I should have done like a deeper dive to sort of disprove this theory on the other side but I can think of a handful of quarterbacks in the last 25 years first round picks sat for a year or longer that were wild success stories at least I mean there's one still pending Jordan love but what he did in the second half uh Dante c pepper sat entire first year NFC Championship game the next now he had some turnover problems and obviously it's nice to be throwing to Randy Moss and Chris Carter all although J.J McCarthy's going to be throwing to Justin Jefferson but Co pepper came out was instantly a star 11 wins first year uh Aaron Rogers sat for a few years Jordan love I mentioned Patrick Mahomes is the other recently famous example dude sits behind Alex Smith the entire first year not rehabbing an injury irons out mechanical things you know gets to take a deep breath coming from Texas A&M or uh Texas Tech I know there's probably four or five guys I'm trying to think of other first rounders that sat for the whole first year did not play really any meaningful snaps and were busts but I think it can only help you I think I mean this is this remains to me a blessing in disguise short term yeah it kind of sucks that we don't get to take the shiny new toy and the new car out of the garage but um if if everyone can just be patient for 12 months I think this is only a good thing for the Vikings Thor yeah you you don't rush them in there and and you know you would add people like me that were banging the table for for to see JJ in there and and who knows maybe you know that he probably would he might have started week one by the way he could have yeah I mean like after he was slicing and dicing the Raiders and the progression you'd seen to that point I mean it could have gotten to the point the discrepancy between him and Darnell both in practice and in those preseason games where there was a real fervor for it um and I don't know if KOC and those guys like what direction they would have gone the the injury of course we're and we're not trying to put a silver lining on it like it stinks but it it does allow you to go through that patient uh developmental course with him and again you can still do stuff this off season to improve uh the the mental aspect of his game he was already improving the mechanics the the mechanical things we had talked about just the small minor tweaks needed deducting uh uh uh velocity for Arc and touchdown field some of the different small things you could do mechanically with your footwork and your upper body movement heading into that in order to gain that we were already seeing that from uh the the end of his season at Michigan then into the pre-draft process process then the rookie mini camp and then into the the training camp there have been big progression there the the mental aspect of the game I think is the thing that he can improve on this season and the same thing you were talking about with with Mahomes Mahomes he could make any throw and he could make it from any arm angle but at Texas Tech sometimes he was doing the the crazy stuff when only that get you over that would have gotten you the completion then move on to the next play Jen McCarthy you're going to be learning the same sorts of things uh with Mahomes you were under Reed Andy Reid and then uh Alex Smith was was your your sort of quarterback mentor and then in this case obviously it's it's Kevin oconnell and Sam D darnold but I now now I'm skittish to say darnold's last name because the comments got after me last week I'm working on it guys I'm just have the inflection on the the last part I it's don't read the comments who cares close enough it's it's the French Canadian in me but yeah I think the Learning Tree is set up well for for JJ this year three things quickly first of all um I have confirmed and this is what we speculated on okay the Browns joint practices in the subsequent pre-season game were going to go a long way towards deciding if JJ was going to start on Sunday against the Giants so that decision he was trending right but they hadn't gotten to he's starting like the Raiders game was impressive he was practicing well he was going to start to get serious first team reps that next week he got hurt so like he was never like assured of starting he was just progressing well second thing is uh Thor you you bring up a great point the VR system is something that the Vikings are going to use with him with it with with the thing on darnold's helmet and the thing about this is It's improved a lot so JJ's going to be like looking through the view of what Sam saw Yes exctly will he see the same ghosts or oh that's so unnecessary come on come on why you taking that shot it's week one it's week one but anyway the technology improves like a lot so so that technology improved and the last thing is this when we talk about McCarthy not playing let's keep this in in mind the Vikings had a decision to make when he was placed on IR which was we could take him to cut down day put him on the IR to return and that decision was contemplated okay so so I think we need to I think we need to back off of this well he he won't you know won't set foot on a field I think in December he will now it'll be in practice probably by himself with teammates I don't know we certainly won't see it but like it's a meniscus which is not great but an ACL you're done a meniscus you got to be careful with it but I bet you he starts to practice football drills in December so so and and the Vikings did and I think they made the right call but the Vikings did contemplate putting him on the hey he can come back at the end of the season so he is going to come back and do work so he's not like wiped out for the rest of 2024 hey can we because this is the second time Thor brought up the VR training and then Jud you just brought it up so this is like a confirmed thing and it's not I mean the Vikings aren't the only team that tries to expedite the learning process but um you you guys know my background as a poker nerd going back like 20 years and there was just stick with me for a second non poker people there was a period like in the early 2000s to Mid 2000s where the poker world as it exploded on ESPN when you remember like Chris Money Maker winning the yes a guy named Chris Money Maker won the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event $2.5 million and it it threw it into the mainstream and most of the guys at that final table were like the old back room brick and mortar Casino like the Live players with a set of cards in your hand a cigar in your mouth online poker explodes in the early 2000s and you had a bunch of Birds sitting in their basements with like two computer screens playing 20 tables at once online and L like literally playing like a million hands a month while the back room guys is over there playing 20 hands an hour and uh you know going to the bathroom that's kind of what this is right it's like you're not I get that you can't substitute actually playing in a game of football but if you can sit there and take like a 100 or 150 mental snaps or VR snaps a day or whatever the the amount is like I think that's a really interesting development tool for JJ McCarthy yeah I totally agree with you and I had buddies like that and undergrad at uh the University of Kansas that it was Party Poker and some of those ones where you used to be able to do it and then Full Tilt yeah Full Tilt you you'd be on and I'd see them they would have the multiple screens up and then they'd be click and click and clicking and I asked one of the guys one time like how are you able to play in 15 games at a time or 20 games at a time I mean don't you need to know the players around you to make the decisions there's some stuff in poker and there's some stuff in football and reading a defense where it's the answer is essentially given to you by the Imp implied probability that you're going to have success whether that's the pre- snap look one way what way is the numbers are they in uh are they in zone coverage are they in man coverage the odds would tell you this is the this is the high percentage thing here whatever uh those sorts of things and that sort of decision-making process on the the nuts and bolts stuff you can absolutely fly forward with that in your decision making by doing the in in this case it being the VR the stuff that you can't teach that the pat Mahomes thing going off script scrambling around allowing the receiver to break off and then you have you know this sort of connection with him where where you know where you know where where he's going to go whatever and then you can hit him on the hands when while you're scrambling that stuff McCarthy already does he he has that innate uh special improvisational ability keeping the mechanics with him on the Move he's going to make those decisions in the moment that's a that's his gift the stuff in the the nuts and bolts the the running of the offense seeing the defense what coverage are they in where's my first read is it there no because they were in that now we're going to go to the SEC that sort of stuff can improve uh by doing this stuff by Leaps and Bounds as Jaden Daniels already showed us and I I think a key thing too here is if McCarthy hadn't made such improvement from the spring to training Camp I'd be like this isn't going to help him at all like like he's going to have to sit out now he's been his growth has been stunted but if you look at this I'm telling you I mean this guy when he came to OTAs good arm but some atrocious passes training camp all cleaned up so I mean clearly he's a very smart guy he works his ass off and he's a quick study so I think the VR stuff for a kid like that is perfect fit because the fact that he I I can't expl exp Lain the improvements cuz he made some passes in the offseason stuff where I'm like oh boy and ordinarily you don't come back you know a month and a half after that and it's all cleaned up it was so yeah and and again he's got a coaching staff starting with his head coach that can tell you know can take him exactly through what he needs to see so as far as like concern about what's going to be lost here yeah it stinks he can't practice and can't play but beyond that I don't have a fear that his growth is going to be stunted and in fact in some ways I think from a from a actual mental rep standpoint it's going to be helped yeah I I I think so because you don't develop any bad habits or you don't carry over any bad habits that you have before and and you know that's obviously what they were working on him with and you can continue to to do so w with him off the field and you know we talked about every decision with JJ McCarthy it has to be made through that long-term lens that's what they did even with the election of the surgery that you were talking about Jud the the miniscus you can do the short-term fix where you could have been back sooner and I I got to be honest like if if I was in that building I would have given real thought to that because I want to see JJ McCarthy out there however the smart play was to do the one where it's the you have to be out longer but then it's it's the long-term fix Derrik Rose is one example of an athlete that took the the short-term one so I can be back quicker and then he started to have degenerative knee problems where he had to do it over and over and over again they elected the to take the pain early the Vikings have initially by doing the long-term manisa surgery with JJ but again this what this was never going to be the season where the Vikings were some legitimate Contender whether McCarthy was playing more or not and and now you've done something that's in deference for the long-term development and and I think you're going to see Improvement out of him Ju Just through what he can learn this this this coming season another thing too just like thinking ahead it's it's still just a hypothetical in a theory because we don't we don't know if JJ McCarthy is a 10e answer at this position or not the Vikings haven't had a 10-year answer since Fran Tarkington or Tommy Kramer uh you know depending on your thoughts on Kramer in the 80s but it would be so nice if for the first time in Generations they nailed the head coach quarterback combination for a decade or like six seven eight years whatever it is and you know I'm thinking about the Buffalo Bills for example and Josh Allen I mean they now Josh Allen has a little bit of a turnover problem he needs to calm down on but you know he's one of the consensus three best quarterbacks in the NFL and when you turn over your roster because of salary cap issues and you trade away a Stefon Diggs and you're trying to figure out what your identity is again well sha McDermot is a really good head coach and Josh Allen is a really good quarterback and the rest of it is kind of in flux and but but Vegas says yeah that's a 10 and a half over under team because of sha McDermot and Josh Allen and some other pieces and it's just it's it's nice to know that you can lose and change other parts the Kansas City Chiefs boy uh our salary cap is bleeped a couple years ago we got to trade away Tyreek Hill and we got to do this and say goodbye to defensive player but because we have Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes all those other pieces are kind of substitutable and we're still going to be winning like 10 11 12 13 games in Super Bowls so we we can all hope that they just finally nailed long-term coach and quarterback combo here boys that's what it is yeah and and it you know again starting next season you have four years left on McCarthy on their rookie contract and we know how much cap space the Vikings are going to have next year top 10 projected most in the NFL and you have all these pillars in in place but I believe that we do have that uh with the the long-term coach and the long-term quarterback I I think both those have been figured out but yeah um it's it's an exciting future I I think for the Vikings just have to get through a a 2024 that may not be so exciting so what one thing that I think is going to be extremely interesting to watch starting on Sunday and this actually might transform again with uh McCarthy expect to start in 2025 you guys is this too uh I think we are going to see an offense that is not going to abandon the okono Rams principles but I think we're I think what we have here in oconnell is a play caller who understands I have to adapt as well to my Personnel you know we got a lot of oldtime offensive play callers you're GNA fit in the West Coast or I'm gonna force you to and then it becomes uh an eyesore but I really have the feeling that we are going to see an oconnell offense Unleashed on Sunday that is definitely not designed for Kirk if that makes sense it's going to be designed for darnold strength they are not going to set Sam up to fail and if you put the Kirk game plan in you do and then it could be morphed again because JJ skill set is obviously going to be different than darnold's but we haven't talked about a lot I I need to ask oconnell about this but I mean this guy is I mean he's a sharp dude he's not going to make people do things they can't do do well so like just from saying they're going to run the ball more but I also think we're going to see a different a different uh flavor of the Playbook here which is going to be eye opening for th those of us who watch Brad shers try to force the West Coast offense down people's throats I yeah and it's it's so important and it's a great note there there's coaches that are good play callers but you you know or or have good systems but then it's like you you're trying to shove any of the Personnel into that system and they don't make any adjustments I'm not going to name any names PJ f um but the better offensive coaches are the ones who every single year depending on the Personnel they are morphing the the game plans and the attack around the Personnel on hand to have them uh put them in the best positions to succeed like you're mentioning Jud and that that's what you see is like year-to-year changes in the play calling Tendencies and and and stuff like that in deference to the personel on hand I totally agree with you that's what I expect this coming season I think you're going to see more running I think you're going to see the best rushing team that okono has had by far I don't even think that's going to be close I think you're going to get more passes to the running backs things where you can uh design free completions for for Sam and uh and move the offense that way and not put him you know to your point not put him into that position where in neutral game scripts you're constantly having them sit back in the pocket where the defense can pin their ears back and now Sam has to make a a complex decision downfield under duress that's where things are going to go sideways so I I think you're going to see game plans that are tailored to the strengths of of the offense and the Personnel on hand uh I have a sort of a season question for you guys and then we will definitely get to Thor's college football junkie thing to watch for Vikings fans this weekend but I'm seeing something on prize picks right now I just opened up the the prize picks app on my phone here and by the way you can now win up to a 100 times your money on prize picks with as little as four correct picks so you you select between two and six players you pick more or less on their projected stats and you place your entry and I feel like they're trying to bait you here Sam darnold interceptions 0.5 more or less it feels like you know all due respect to to Samy D here based on his career you would you would hammer the more button here but I don't know maybe there maybe the right move is to is to go less I'm going to have to put some more thought into that but uh yeah prize picks app is free to download you can use the code purple daily and get $50 instantly when you play $5 I see that Justin Jefferson 81 a half on receiving yards I mean he's putting up 195 with Nick Mullen so I think I think we can get him to yeah I think we can get him to like 85 receiving yards in this one here but uh use the code purple daily on price picks to get $50 instantly when you play $5 price picks run your game uh Finch home soltions is running some game around the Twin Cities and greater Metro Jud if you have electrical issues at your home or business there is only one play to call and that is my friend Cody Finch Home Solutions we're talking about all electrical needs big and small car chargers panel replacement indoor lighting electrical repairs and more let's say for fall you're putting a hot tub in well guess what a hot tub needs a lot of electrical work done Finch Home Solutions has you covered and on qualifying purchases purple daily customers will get a one year free of Finch friends and family membership that's a 10% discount priority dispatching and one annual safety inspection 612 35726 Finch homes solutions.com look that guy showing up right there from Finch to make sure that you're home is safe and sound Finch homes solutions.com make sure that you tell them the guys from purple daily sent you on this gorgeous Thor's day amen okay now Thor has been pretty steadfast in just I think Thor's been a little bit less uh optimistic about the Vikings chances here in 2024 I I feel like I generally have a pretty good feeling going into the season you know if injuries aren't the factor of like how the Vikings are going to be the Case Keenum season was a wild Magic Carpet Ride it feels to me like we have no idea what's going to happen I could I could see Sam darnold being the old Sam darnold and they just you know the tough schedule swallows them up and whatever they wind up winning five or six games that is in the realm of possibilities but again we saw a Case Keenum team help lead this franchise to 13 wins we've seen random quarterbacks pop up over the last 25 or 30 years so um like what what do you guys think is a realistic range of outcomes before we officially kick off this season here week one on Sunday I'd say uh six eight wins no wider than that for you there's no World in Your Mind where Magic Carpet Ride 11 wins Off to the Races I don't see it happening if it does KOC should be named coach of the year I didn't think he got enough uh Coach of the Year votes a couple years ago in his first season when he when he took that team to 13 wins but yeah I just the depth and the the talent uh certainly at quarterback and then uh along a couple of those positions on defense I I think that that's what what's going to hinder you here I think a smaller bin outcomes but that being said this is a totally new team uh and is we're gonna have to see so there is a lot of sort of unknowns here worst case for me six wins because I don't I don't think they're going to be a dumpster fire unless everybody gets hurt so like I don't think this is a three or four- win team I think worst case is six wins I think best case is probably about nine wins but I mean I do think they're I think they're going to be competitive I think they're going to playing a lot of close games but most importantly I think they're also going to get guys um um M playing time to help them mature I think this thing is going to be in very good shape to pop when McCarthy is under Center and Thor is like slamming beer beer bongs because he's so happy because his son slamming beer bongs is playing I think that's the thing but I but I actually I am I am not down on this season because I'll continue to say this I think they're going in the right direction Which is far more important to me than let's run it back it was good enough before I am more optimistic about this than I was the 13- win season that felt like a formality of let's prove Zimmer was a bad coach and we can run it back right now you've got your quarterback of the future I know the roster is actually old but that's proba about that it's like the third oldest roster it's a few players though right Harris smth Gilmore so it doesn't it's it's like I think it's uh it's suede by by a few guys but I think there's a lot of things to like here and I also like the 53 man rostered decisions to keep like d linemen who are young I much prefer to well we signed this guy who's long in the tooth and he can play a little bit I like what they're doing what's your range Dex I would say the the the floor is like if if darnold's terrible like even with some good Playmakers they're they're a four or five win team if darnold's horrible if he is who he is not even horrible if he is who he is that's a four five win team horrible usually like which is usually pretty bad although I would fight for like the sample sizes in Carolina if you sort of like dig in between the couch cushions there's there's some interesting stuff I he's playing with bumpers though yeah he's got bumpers no in terms of the floor like I I there is a scenario where where Sam darnold's awful and the vik is can only win four to five games I think ceiling wise they're are nine nine is my absolute ceiling and I think that's even probably more of a I I don't feel great about nine wins but I think four to nine wins is probably the range I'm in and so you guys so Thor's ceiling is like eight Juds is like nine deand is like nine I picked so we all picked them to win either seven or eight in our last schedule pick i' call me a homer here but like I again I pick them to win eight I think there is a world in which and it's not a high percentage but in which 10 or 11 wins is on the table if Arnold becomes the quarterback that people expected or even like 80% of the quarterback people expected 5 years ago and then in the division there's two other interesting forces here at play I think the Packers are going to be good but we are crowning the Packers after a half season of Jordan love that team was like two games below 500 going into December yep caught lightning in a bottle make the playoffs win a road playoff game are we 100% sure about Green Bay and then the li listen the lions are loaded best offensive line in the league but at the end of the day Dan Campbell may be a short shelf life coach the Lions organization tends to have a gravitational pull toward embarrassment like are we too quick to instantly Crown lions and Packers I I I believe they're going to be good but I just think there is a world in which some things don't go the way that they look on paper here I don't think the Packers caught lightning in a bottle I I think they caught an advantageous schedule stretch but you know at at the end of the season there it was like one after the other they it was an advantageous opponent uh I don't I I don't believe in them to the degree that the market does I I see the Lions probably the same that other people do but yeah that the Packers are gonna have to be qualitatively better to have similar results because they got they got lucky with the schedule at the end there and if I'm not mistaken the Vikings and Packers who of course have very similar schedules I believe the Packers is graded as the toughest right now so like they're going to to be tested uh as are the Vikings especially that early season schedule let's get back to darnold for a second though because to Dean's Point like the the fear is oh my God he's the Jets darnold Panthers to a certain point that guy was not as bad as the Jets guy but I will say this my interpretation of what is going on with the Vikings is darnold to be awful would have to go Rogue which probably gets him benched he will be operating with play calling bumpers I can guarantee you of that like he's not going to be just cut loose and been like you know Sam you failed before but you had a year with Shanahan so let's go he's going to be and and this goes back to oconnell tailoring his play calling uh to his quarterback he's going to be put in advantageous situations and if they break down he's going to be told get rid of the ball out of bounds do not you know don't take sacks don't throw picks so like Dean's worst case would actually I think at some point get him benched because it would mean he's going rogue and just panicking completely there will be bad plays but like this is not going to be uh hey we're going to give you a shot now go do it kid this is going to be a very refined I'm calling plays for you you know I I'll say this Nick Mullins for sure last year went rogue at times which bothered them greatly if you go Rogue you're going to have problems that's right yeah and and speaking of last year you guys remember the Vikings started one and four in games they were only outscored by 12 points total because in those games they lost the turnover battle by seven yeah I think like if if there's one thing to keep an eye on VV Kevin OK connell's game plan and and overall thoughts heading into this game it's how do we prevent putting Sam darnold in positions where he is going to turn the ball over history tells us and and that's that's an ideology thing I I think you see a game script here where it is more run again more run heavy initially and then uh the more of the quick hitting passes initially as well so you don't you don't have Sam back there in the pocket the biggest matchup here uh to keep an eye on in the Giants game the Giants have a nasty defensive line with two nasty Edge rushers and of course Garrett Bradberry hasn't stopped having nightmares about Dexter Lawrence since the last time that they met up that was when I I said I I Garrett Bradberry spent more time in Kurt Cousins is lap than his kids in that game and you go up against that defensive line now and your your Chief ID your Chief strategy as an offensive play caller with Sam as your quarterback is don't put him in positions where he gets under duress and then has to make a quick decision so watch early on in the first half of that game what that that game script is I I think that's that's going to be really interesting to watch with with how Kevin oconnell navigates that with with Sam a quarterback on the turnovers I mean yeah that is like that that is the main force that derailed the Vikings last year interceptions fumbles all of it and you'd have to think that everything you guys are saying is correct which Sam darnold will they be getting here in terms of his career so here's something interesting if you took his career interception rate and lined it up with last year's quarterbacks just the 2023 stats Sam darnold's career interception rate would have been tied for the third highest interception percentage in the League last year behind M Jones and Sam Howell tied with Josh Allen who throws a ton of interceptions but with Josh Allen you got to cut those interceptions down but you also get like the upside of 40 combined rushing and passing touchdowns and everything else that he does but if you take Sam darnold's last two years so he played like one game with the ners and then six game games with the Panthers two years ago if you take that interception total Which is far lower than his career rate he's cut way down on the interceptions uh he would have a a below League average interception rate so again like I'm looking in the cushions for signs here he showed some little flashes in Carolina a sprinkling with San Francisco that he is decreasing turnovers increasing you know good decision making can they keep leaning into that version of darnold is the biggest question mhm that's it yeah and in in this game you have to contend with that fearsome Giants defensive run but that position group is by far the giants' best I mean everywhere else we we fall off the Giants don't have someone in their secondary who can handle Justin Jefferson so what are they going to do are we going to see the double teams the entire game certainly are going to see shading to to coverage to that side can Sam take advantage of that what should be a matchup advantage or can he take advantage on the other side if indeed all the coverage resources are going to one side uh a receiving CT certainly that is not at 100% uh because injuries and whatnot I think that that's a big thing to keep an eye on can you inoculate him from the pressure and and then take advantage of the weaknesses on the back end of that Giants defense yeah let's get to Thor's college football junky thing to watch this weekend for Vikings fans I think not on actually we we talk so we we talk about the the running backs as a position I think I'm watching more than than other folks uh VV the Vikings because I I do believe Aaron Jones has that season that that you know we sort of been talking about then he gonna leave as a free agent maybe you get a comp pick for him but the the Vikings if they can acquire a a day to pick they only have that round three comp pick right now projected for next year that's where you can get a starting running back and what is a stacked running back Clash Ashton Jey uh Boise State last week had one of the more ridiculous games that you'll ever see was 250 260 yards rushing six touchdowns and he also had three catches against Georgia Southern uh Boise State ends up winning that game by 11 or 12 points Jey is the your multi-purpose Guy where you can throw in the ball and he can do anything as a a runner I think that's some someone for Vikings fans to keep an eye on and this weekend you're gonna have a shot to do it because Boise state is heading to Eugene Oregon to take on the Oregan Ducks our new friends in the Big 10 how how can je T do when he is the marked man against what is a very good defense that something interesting to keep an eye on there and then as far as the the other things of course we we've just been talking about Defenders Defenders Defenders the game of the week to watch for that is Texas traveling to Michigan I talked to little bit about U the the Michigan Defenders this is the game to see with them will Johnson is the Texas passing offense with Quinn yers um they they the ball the air a ton and I think they're going to be putting the ball in the air even more this weekend because I think Michigan's defensive front is going to shut off the lights on Texas's running game and so of course with the the Michigan defensive front you have Mason Graham who the interior defensive lineman who is number one on the boards of some people heading into the season that kid's just a monster and then he plays next to this kid Kenneth Grant that's more of your grab people knock heads together and then let the linebackers flow Kenneth Grant 63 340 lbs there's a lot of beef inside there and that's how they shut out the lights on your running game but this this weekend I expect Texas staff to throw a little bit more so you might get some targets at will Johnson where usually people just try to avoid him a top 10 overall prospect that the shutdown corner on the Wolverines so so keep an eye on that game as well what is the uh what is the whether it's from a like a prospect scouting or maybe uh just like a you know a friendly wager between friends what is like the most degenerate game you are interested in this weekend Oh God college football I'm like which directional schools which FCS schools well one of the fun ones that uh I I think would qualify is Ohio playing South Alabama because both those teams can't play any defense this year and they're now running they're both running at hyper Tempo uh South Alabama that their head coach kayen wac over the offseason he accepted the defensive coordinator position at at at Alabama so major apple right now our old friend uh he he had a disastrous turn as Houston's head coach uh several years ago but he's back to being a head coach with South Alabama they were running at the fastest Tempo in the nation in week one but now their defense stinks and Ohio is all of a sudden their offense is moving really really fast so I I think that that one's going to be a shootout and if if if people are looking for like an extra game to toss up on a a second screen that could be really fun in the G5 I I think that would be the one this weekend wow dude I want to see I want to see jud's report on South Alabama's offense Monday love no I got names written down see guys to watch numbers dude that North Carolina running back you talked about that guy's got some uh some wiggle to him watching him watching him Shred the Gophers on a couple runs he's a tough he's tough Runner Hampton's a tough Runner yes yeah he's he's really good and on that UNCC team this year the Lost Dr may now they lost their their new starting quarterback Max Johnson of course went down in that game they're gonna have to go even more run heavy this year so yeah he is on the list for Vikings fans to look at assuming that Aaron Jones does leave after this year I think he'll have a good year but you're you're looking to fill the the running back vacancy in day two can get a starter there's a bunch of names on that list certainly Omarian Hampton's name would be as well yeah uh by the way if you're looking for Frontline protection like a like a great South Alabama offensive line for your quarterback uh Federated is here to help you business owners out there we know there's a bunch of business owners that uh that are loyal to purple daily We Appreciate You Federated is all about Equity Integrity teamwork and respect that is what their corporate culture is grounded in they measure their success by the success of the businesses that they work with so you can find out how they can keep you focused on safety and preventing claims they will set up a customized plan for you Federated insurance.com where it's our business to protect yours and uh don't forget we're giving away a four pack of Renaissance Festival tickets on the scor North app listener rewards section uh Renaissance Festival weekends through September 29th if you need to break away from your college football uh Feast then you can go stop over at the Renaissance Festival and those four pack of tickets were giving away on the score nor that one more thing for you I saw you telling people on Twitter uh about a certain sleeper wide receiver to to watch out for on your fantasy drafts well last night I did the hubard TV Fantasy Draft Chris Long uh from Channel 5 locally yeah is the the longtime 15-year commissioner our guy AJ frederickson's in this league and so it's a 16 team draft snake draft with like eight-man benches I mean you are reaching but I just want you to know that I took Luke mcaffrey in like the eighth round of this draft and I'm B I'm banking on that depth chart that they put out not being a hoax they put Luke mcaffrey as a starting wide receiver on the Commander's depth chart so I'm taking your word Thor second kid indeed yeah mcaffrey I I I like him a lot and and you people out there that watch that Thor's day is going back to the spring you know every single one of the drafts I was was taking mcaffrey in the seventh round initially because was rated too low on PFF so uh listeners of the show you have a lot of exposure on Luke McCaffrey's game I won't get into it but this is a perfect situation for mcaffrey in Washington because J the AFF mentioned Jaden Daniels his favorite thing is throwing downfield and mcaffrey is an assassin downfield it doesn't matter if he's covered by two guys his contested catch rate was insane down the field uh and he tested the exact same as his brother Christian did uh in the pre-draft process so definitely a sleeper out there for people last year I'm I I don't want to evoke just put too much pressure on my boy Luke mcaffrey but last year everyone knows I was banging the table for puking Nua this time last year before the season started banging the table for Luke mcaffry this year he's in a perfect situation let's go dude pressure's on it's too late Thor talking this kid up for months now I took it in the second round actually is what I meant to say my first round pick it's either him or uh it's either him or Aman Ro St Brown and I told mff well luckily you can get him on a huge disc go there he is folks Thor nrom from Matthew Barry's Fantasy Life platform every Thursday here every Thor's day on purple daily dude enjoy five days of Football starting tonight tonight on NBC or tomorrow tonight what network are we on tonight tonight NBC okay Friday tonight college football all day Saturday and then the Full Slate I mean Vikings Giants how can you not love Kenny Albert dude it's the Vikings and the giants live on fo it's the Vikings the Giants and the Packers it's a triple threat match next on Fox and Vilma knows nothing about any of those I've done no prep for my partner Jonathan Vilma hasn't studied film in 10 years find out the linebacker has to make a play here because when the linebacker is snorting the team's in trouble back to you Kenny thanks Jonathan we're we're definitely going to be going out for that that Giants game me and the friends if you see me come up and say hi someone uh by the way boys after that golfer game I I had to go out because I always get the lifts back so you have to like walk away from the stadium and I ended up in front of that Domino's Pizza that's where they said that to do the the thing or whatever it was $6 pizzas after the game $6 stash inside it you know ridiculous anyhow I went in and get one this isn't an ad I'm just telling a story the guy behind me I hear him like whispering to his girlfriend he's like that's the dude on purple daily and I turned around and anyway I I love that stuff I I love talking to you Also if anyone sees out come up and say hi hey honey it's Thor's day every day even on Saturday yep Awesome Man Thor nrom we'll see you next Thor's day sir appreciate you boys looking forward to it all right boys purple daily daily Vikings entertainment we just want those Vikings to win a Super Bowl before we die come on let's go