The New York Giants are moving forward with J.J. McCarthy as their quarterback, and that choice has drawn a blunt warning from a former NFL MVP.
McCarthy’s first look in Week 6 against the New Orleans Saints was a mixed bag. He threw for 243 yards, one touchdown and one interception, and while there were stretches where he looked rough, he also showed enough to give the Giants hope that more can come if he settles in as the full-time starter. His completion rate that day was just 52.4%.
Rich Gannon is not convinced the leap will be immediate. In an interview with casino.org, H/T Heavy, the former NFL MVP didn’t hold back on what he sees as the biggest problems in McCarthy’s game.
“He’s still got a lot to do,” Rich Gannon admitted when asked about McCarthy in an interview with casino.org, H/T Heavy. “His accuracy, decision-making, and his lack of anticipation are all areas of concern for me … The game is going way too fast for him.
He must step up and improve that side of his game. I think he’s figuring out that the NFL is not the Big Ten.”
McCarthy is only 23 and has played in just 12 NFL games, so expecting him to arrive as a finished product would be asking a lot. The Giants acquired him with the idea that he could help them win, but this is still a quarterback with plenty to absorb at the pro level.
The hype has always followed McCarthy. He came into the league as a first-round pick with plenty of people believing he could be the answer at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. But every player has his own pace, and McCarthy’s path now continues in New York.
If he can keep learning and ironing out some of the issues Gannon pointed to, the Giants may still have a serviceable option under center.
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