July 30, 2025 • 15 mins
In this episode, Tim discusses J.J. McCarthy's recent practice performance, emphasizing the importance of experiencing struggles during training camp. He argues that facing adversity now can better prepare McCarthy for the regular season. Tim also debates the risks of playing McCarthy in preseason games versus the benefits of joint practices, ultimately advocating for a cautious approach to ensure McCarthy's readiness for the season opener.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Grind, a Minnesota sports podcast. JJ McCarthy has a
rough day of practice, according to the reporters that we're
at practice. Welcome to the Grind. My name is Tim
and I'm the host of this Minnesota sports podcast. Hit
(00:23):
that subscribe button on YouTube if that's where you're watching
or listening, and if you're listening somewhere else, hit that
follow button so this podcast will show up interviewed Monday
through Friday. Rate and review the show, and hit that
like button on YouTube just right down there if you're
willing to do that as well. So we're gonna talk
about McCarthy's practice, and I'm gonna double down on my
take from yesterday because a lot of people are criticizing
(00:46):
me after my JJ McCarthy preseason take, but I don't care.
I'm gonna double down anyways. Thank you for joining the show.
Let me first tell you about five Star Bass Solutions
of Minneapolis, because they train formed our bathroom in forty
eight hours, a full bathroom model. Before we had a
(01:07):
moldy shower and ugly floor, a step going into the shower.
It was all outdated, disgusting and unhealthy. We had a
single sink, a disgusting countertop and mirror and vanity that
were outdated and ugly, ugly. And then five Star Bass
(01:28):
Solutions of Minneapolis came in and remodeled the entire thing
in forty eight hours. We went from a single to
a double, a new shower, a new tub, a new surround,
the mold was gone, a new mirror, vanity, flooring, everything.
Five Star Bass of Minneapolis remodeled our full bathroom in
forty eight hours. And that's what they'll do for you.
(01:50):
Don't wait eight weeks. Call five Star Bathom Solutions of
Minneapolis and get your bathroom transformed today, all right? Will
reggitts Judge Zolgad insiders that are at Vikings practice every
day shared a negative report about JAJ McCarthy. Here's what
(02:17):
Will said. I want to preface this by saying today
was a shorter or less intense practice, and it's still
very early, so nothing means too much. With that out
of the way, it was not a great day for
JJ McCarthy and the offense. A lot of incompletions, whether
(02:39):
due to slight misses or total miscommunication or drops, was
especially tough in the red zone. Periods up and downs
from McCarthy were expected in camp. It's been mostly ups
so far, but not today. So my reaction to this
(03:03):
is not the reaction that you might expect. I am
not going to hammer JJ McCarthy this morning, because ups
and downs are expected from JJ McCarthy in his first
(03:26):
camp when he is designated as QB one. What would
be concerning is if McCarthy had bad days in NFL
camp every single day. But what we are seeing is
(03:50):
the progression towards learning and becoming a QB one, and
what we are also seeing is the process from McCarthy.
So although he struggled in camp yesterday, I would rather
(04:12):
have McCarthy struggle in camp, start to figure things out
through process, through tape, than to dominate camp and then
struggle in the regular season. It is a good thing
to struggle early. Now to many struggles like the reports
(04:36):
we've seen out of the Chicago Bears camp is not
a good thing. It's got to be a balance. We've
seen many good McCarthy reports from the insiders that watch
practice every day. That's great, awesome, good stuff, and it's
also important to see reports like this that McCarthy was
(05:02):
mostly down, because I would rather have him work through
these things in a practice setting, then get to a
regular season game struggle, and then wonder what to do next.
This game came so easy. What do I do now?
(05:22):
I thought I was just gonna mow through the regular
season because I did that in training camp, and Brian
Flores as one of the best defenses in the league.
So the reason why I'm not worried or concerned about
McCarthy's rough training cramp practice is because we have not
(05:49):
seen that report often. In fact, this is the first
time in a week of practicing where McCarthy's was not
up to point as quarterback one. Because let's face it,
every game in the regular season doesn't go as planned
(06:13):
for any quarterback. Every quarterback has rough moments throughout the
regular season. And what this is showing me is that
training camp thus far has really been a picture of
what we hope the regular season will look like, or
(06:36):
what it will look like. Because as much and as
cool as it is to see McCarthy light it up,
it's also important to see how he will respond from
struggles in camp. The response to a struggle, the respond
(07:00):
to overcoming adversity, is important for McCarthy to experience and
that's what we will see today. He had a bad day.
Justin Jefferson was also not available, which matters. So without
Justin Jefferson, struggles are going to be more obvious and
(07:23):
it's going to be more clear. But it's also important
for him to experience these issues. It's also important for
mccarnarthy to face a blitz and face a good defense
(07:44):
because I would rather have it that way around. I'd
rather have him face these kind of adverse situations in
training camp. Then get to week one, you dominate training camp,
your struggle in a ceres or two against the Bears,
and you wonder, Okay, how am I supposed to figure
this out? Now, Now McCarthy can lean on his experiences
(08:07):
in training camp when he did struggle, not every day
but sometimes and use that moving forward. So, yeah, he struggled,
big deal, it happens. Now he can learn from it
and put it in his back pocket for the future struggles. Okay,
(08:30):
McCarthy again, I shouldn't take yesterday that. I think it's
a bad decision by Viking's management to play McCarthy in
the preseason. Why does a series or two make a
big difference whether or not McCarthy is ready to play
(08:52):
Week one against the Bears. I just don't see it.
I don't see how the reward of McCarthy throwing the
balls having or eight times in a preseason game against
the Vanila defense is worth the risk of him getting injured.
Let me tell you about Hopeland Farms beef real quick,
because they have the best rotaste, the greats one hundred
(09:14):
percent grass said beef nine five two four five four one.
You can look at a store. We bought some steaks
in the day, or we looked at him, didn't buy them.
Is nine dollars a pound, nine dollars a pound. Hopeland
Farms Beef has those things for four dollars a pound.
(09:35):
It's crazy the difference. You're looking at five dollars a
pound in savings and you get tons Hoapeland Farms beef.
What one hundred percent grass fed, no preservative, is no junk.
Don't worry about where your beef comes from. Contact Hokland
Farms nine five two four nine five four one. Tell
you already heard about it from Tim, and he'll give
(09:57):
you a discount on your first order. Four nine one
five four one. All right, McCarthy preseason A lot of
comments you can't guarantee health. Uh, you look like a
water boy. That's pretty good. I was a water boy
at one point in time when I was like a
fourth grader, third grader maybe for my brother's high school
(10:21):
basketball team and my cousin Jake, who appears on the
show often. A lot of responses on my reels on Facebook.
Facebook page has over three thousand followers. If you don't
follow it, check it out. Check the reels. A lot
of people saying, oh, health isn't guaranteed. You could get
(10:41):
hurt in practice, blah blah blah. He needs reps, he
needs time. It's like, I don't see how a series
or two of reps as worth risking your quarterback when
you could get a series or two worth of reps
in the first quarter against the Bears. Plus it doesn't
end there. The Vikings have joint practices with the Patriots
(11:07):
before their second preseason game, and that's what every NFL
team does. They do these joint practices because it is
a simulation of a regular season game. But what it
is it is a controlled simulation. It is much more
(11:28):
controlled than a appearance in a preseason matchup. Last year,
McCarthy didn't get hurt in training camp. He got hurt
in a preseason game against the Raiders because he took
an awkward hit. The Vikings are risking that again with
(11:54):
McCarthy by playing him against the Houston Texans. One awkward
hit in a situation that is uncontrolled, and the Viking
season has flushed down the toilet. I don't see why
that risk is worth it. To me. The reward of
(12:17):
McCarthy getting random in game reps against a vanilla defense
that isn't going to put their best foot forward isn't
worth the reward of him getting in game experience and reps.
(12:38):
McCarthy is going to get more in game experience and
be more ready to play in Week one by facing
the Patriots in joint practices than he would by playing
the Houston Texans in week one of the preseason. I
(13:01):
don't see where or how this makes any sense whatsoever.
And I get it. I'm not a coach, I'm not
a decision maker, blah blah blah blah blah. But you
are risking your season by putting McCarthy on the field,
(13:27):
and that's a risk that I don't want to take.
Comments you can't guarantee health he need reps against NFL talent.
He is getting reps against NFL talent in preseason. Yeah,
you can't guarantee health in training camp. It's true, but
it's way more controllable in a practice than it is
(13:56):
a preseason game. A preseason game has a lot of
variables that you cannot control a practice does. So I
disagree with the opinion. Here's one comment. Dumb take. He
(14:16):
missed the whole year. He needs game speed and the
beginning all the reps he can but come on. A
preseason game. Two series against a vanilla defense is not
going to be enough to get him up to game speed.
He needs as many reps as he can. Get what
he needs as many reps as possible. Can't fear injury,
(14:37):
you certainly can in an uncontrolled environment like a preseason game.
Reps in a preseason game are not going to dictate
whether or not McCarthy has success against the Bears on
Monday night. I guess I'm on an island, but here
(14:58):
I am on an island. Thank you for watching and
joining the show today. Remember five Star Bath Solutions of
Minneapolis for your bathroom needs and Hoakland Farms Beef for
one grass Fed Beef N four one five four one.
Thank you for joining the show today and I hope
(15:18):
you all have a good day. Even if you disagree
with me, I hope you still have a good day,
because that's the kind of man I am.
The Grind, a Minnesota sports podcast. JJ McCarthy has a
rough day of practice, according to the reporters that we're
at practice. Welcome to the Grind. My name is Tim
and I'm the host of this Minnesota sports podcast. Hit
(00:23):
that subscribe button on YouTube if that's where you're watching
or listening, and if you're listening somewhere else, hit that
follow button so this podcast will show up interviewed Monday
through Friday. Rate and review the show, and hit that
like button on YouTube just right down there if you're
willing to do that as well. So we're gonna talk
about McCarthy's practice, and I'm gonna double down on my
take from yesterday because a lot of people are criticizing
(00:46):
me after my JJ McCarthy preseason take, but I don't care.
I'm gonna double down anyways. Thank you for joining the show.
Let me first tell you about five Star Bass Solutions
of Minneapolis, because they train formed our bathroom in forty
eight hours, a full bathroom model. Before we had a
(01:07):
moldy shower and ugly floor, a step going into the shower.
It was all outdated, disgusting and unhealthy. We had a
single sink, a disgusting countertop and mirror and vanity that
were outdated and ugly, ugly. And then five Star Bass
(01:28):
Solutions of Minneapolis came in and remodeled the entire thing
in forty eight hours. We went from a single to
a double, a new shower, a new tub, a new surround,
the mold was gone, a new mirror, vanity, flooring, everything.
Five Star Bass of Minneapolis remodeled our full bathroom in
forty eight hours. And that's what they'll do for you.
(01:50):
Don't wait eight weeks. Call five Star Bathom Solutions of
Minneapolis and get your bathroom transformed today, all right? Will
reggitts Judge Zolgad insiders that are at Vikings practice every
day shared a negative report about JAJ McCarthy. Here's what
(02:17):
Will said. I want to preface this by saying today
was a shorter or less intense practice, and it's still
very early, so nothing means too much. With that out
of the way, it was not a great day for
JJ McCarthy and the offense. A lot of incompletions, whether
(02:39):
due to slight misses or total miscommunication or drops, was
especially tough in the red zone. Periods up and downs
from McCarthy were expected in camp. It's been mostly ups
so far, but not today. So my reaction to this
(03:03):
is not the reaction that you might expect. I am
not going to hammer JJ McCarthy this morning, because ups
and downs are expected from JJ McCarthy in his first
(03:26):
camp when he is designated as QB one. What would
be concerning is if McCarthy had bad days in NFL
camp every single day. But what we are seeing is
(03:50):
the progression towards learning and becoming a QB one, and
what we are also seeing is the process from McCarthy.
So although he struggled in camp yesterday, I would rather
(04:12):
have McCarthy struggle in camp, start to figure things out
through process, through tape, than to dominate camp and then
struggle in the regular season. It is a good thing
to struggle early. Now to many struggles like the reports
(04:36):
we've seen out of the Chicago Bears camp is not
a good thing. It's got to be a balance. We've
seen many good McCarthy reports from the insiders that watch
practice every day. That's great, awesome, good stuff, and it's
also important to see reports like this that McCarthy was
(05:02):
mostly down, because I would rather have him work through
these things in a practice setting, then get to a
regular season game struggle, and then wonder what to do next.
This game came so easy. What do I do now?
(05:22):
I thought I was just gonna mow through the regular
season because I did that in training camp, and Brian
Flores as one of the best defenses in the league.
So the reason why I'm not worried or concerned about
McCarthy's rough training cramp practice is because we have not
(05:49):
seen that report often. In fact, this is the first
time in a week of practicing where McCarthy's was not
up to point as quarterback one. Because let's face it,
every game in the regular season doesn't go as planned
(06:13):
for any quarterback. Every quarterback has rough moments throughout the
regular season. And what this is showing me is that
training camp thus far has really been a picture of
what we hope the regular season will look like, or
(06:36):
what it will look like. Because as much and as
cool as it is to see McCarthy light it up,
it's also important to see how he will respond from
struggles in camp. The response to a struggle, the respond
(07:00):
to overcoming adversity, is important for McCarthy to experience and
that's what we will see today. He had a bad day.
Justin Jefferson was also not available, which matters. So without
Justin Jefferson, struggles are going to be more obvious and
(07:23):
it's going to be more clear. But it's also important
for him to experience these issues. It's also important for
mccarnarthy to face a blitz and face a good defense
(07:44):
because I would rather have it that way around. I'd
rather have him face these kind of adverse situations in
training camp. Then get to week one, you dominate training camp,
your struggle in a ceres or two against the Bears,
and you wonder, Okay, how am I supposed to figure
this out? Now, Now McCarthy can lean on his experiences
(08:07):
in training camp when he did struggle, not every day
but sometimes and use that moving forward. So, yeah, he struggled,
big deal, it happens. Now he can learn from it
and put it in his back pocket for the future struggles. Okay,
(08:30):
McCarthy again, I shouldn't take yesterday that. I think it's
a bad decision by Viking's management to play McCarthy in
the preseason. Why does a series or two make a
big difference whether or not McCarthy is ready to play
(08:52):
Week one against the Bears. I just don't see it.
I don't see how the reward of McCarthy throwing the
balls having or eight times in a preseason game against
the Vanila defense is worth the risk of him getting injured.
Let me tell you about Hopeland Farms beef real quick,
because they have the best rotaste, the greats one hundred
(09:14):
percent grass said beef nine five two four five four one.
You can look at a store. We bought some steaks
in the day, or we looked at him, didn't buy them.
Is nine dollars a pound, nine dollars a pound. Hopeland
Farms Beef has those things for four dollars a pound.
(09:35):
It's crazy the difference. You're looking at five dollars a
pound in savings and you get tons Hoapeland Farms beef.
What one hundred percent grass fed, no preservative, is no junk.
Don't worry about where your beef comes from. Contact Hokland
Farms nine five two four nine five four one. Tell
you already heard about it from Tim, and he'll give
(09:57):
you a discount on your first order. Four nine one
five four one. All right, McCarthy preseason A lot of
comments you can't guarantee health. Uh, you look like a
water boy. That's pretty good. I was a water boy
at one point in time when I was like a
fourth grader, third grader maybe for my brother's high school
(10:21):
basketball team and my cousin Jake, who appears on the
show often. A lot of responses on my reels on Facebook.
Facebook page has over three thousand followers. If you don't
follow it, check it out. Check the reels. A lot
of people saying, oh, health isn't guaranteed. You could get
(10:41):
hurt in practice, blah blah blah. He needs reps, he
needs time. It's like, I don't see how a series
or two of reps as worth risking your quarterback when
you could get a series or two worth of reps
in the first quarter against the Bears. Plus it doesn't
end there. The Vikings have joint practices with the Patriots
(11:07):
before their second preseason game, and that's what every NFL
team does. They do these joint practices because it is
a simulation of a regular season game. But what it
is it is a controlled simulation. It is much more
(11:28):
controlled than a appearance in a preseason matchup. Last year,
McCarthy didn't get hurt in training camp. He got hurt
in a preseason game against the Raiders because he took
an awkward hit. The Vikings are risking that again with
(11:54):
McCarthy by playing him against the Houston Texans. One awkward
hit in a situation that is uncontrolled, and the Viking
season has flushed down the toilet. I don't see why
that risk is worth it. To me. The reward of
(12:17):
McCarthy getting random in game reps against a vanilla defense
that isn't going to put their best foot forward isn't
worth the reward of him getting in game experience and reps.
(12:38):
McCarthy is going to get more in game experience and
be more ready to play in Week one by facing
the Patriots in joint practices than he would by playing
the Houston Texans in week one of the preseason. I
(13:01):
don't see where or how this makes any sense whatsoever.
And I get it. I'm not a coach, I'm not
a decision maker, blah blah blah blah blah. But you
are risking your season by putting McCarthy on the field,
(13:27):
and that's a risk that I don't want to take.
Comments you can't guarantee health he need reps against NFL talent.
He is getting reps against NFL talent in preseason. Yeah,
you can't guarantee health in training camp. It's true, but
it's way more controllable in a practice than it is
(13:56):
a preseason game. A preseason game has a lot of
variables that you cannot control a practice does. So I
disagree with the opinion. Here's one comment. Dumb take. He
(14:16):
missed the whole year. He needs game speed and the
beginning all the reps he can but come on. A
preseason game. Two series against a vanilla defense is not
going to be enough to get him up to game speed.
He needs as many reps as he can. Get what
he needs as many reps as possible. Can't fear injury,
(14:37):
you certainly can in an uncontrolled environment like a preseason game.
Reps in a preseason game are not going to dictate
whether or not McCarthy has success against the Bears on
Monday night. I guess I'm on an island, but here
(14:58):
I am on an island. Thank you for watching and
joining the show today. Remember five Star Bath Solutions of
Minneapolis for your bathroom needs and Hoakland Farms Beef for
one grass Fed Beef N four one five four one.
Thank you for joining the show today and I hope
(15:18):
you all have a good day. Even if you disagree
with me, I hope you still have a good day,
because that's the kind of man I am.
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