‘He Hits The Panic Button,’ ‘They Don’t Fully Trust Him’ — 3-Time Pro Bowler Calls J.J. McCarthy a ‘One-Read Quarterback’ After Giants’ TNF Loss
· Yahoo Sports
The New York Giants dropped to 5-3-1 following the 24-21 loss on Thursday, while the Washington Commanders improved to 3-5-1. It was an unfortunate ending for J.J. McCarthy, whose interception on the Giants’ final possession sealed the loss.
However, McCarthy proved his caliber in the game and has continued to prove he is better than expected.
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While McCarthy had New York in position to protect a late lead before a 33-yard pass interference penalty helped fuel Washington’s game-winning drive, three-time Pro Bowler Donte Whitner identified a concerning weakness in his game that opposing defenses could exploit going forward.
Why Donte Whitner Believes J.J. McCarthy Could Become a Problem for the Giants
McCarthy played brilliantly in the Commanders game, completing 23 of 36 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown and an interception while adding six rushes for 34 yards.
His lone touchdown pass was important, as he connected with Isaiah Likely for a 66-yard score over the middle just before the halfway mark of the fourth quarter, helping the Giants overcome a 17-14 deficit.
Though McCarthy’s performance may have given some Giants fans confidence in his ability to remain the team’s QB1, Whitner offered a different assessment.
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“J.J. McCarthy is a one-read quarterback,” Whitner said in an ESPN appearance Friday. “Half-field reads, and if it’s not open, he hits the panic button like somebody pulled the fire alarm.”
Whitner made a case for his take by reviewing several plays from the Giants’ loss and explaining that McCarthy repeatedly concentrated on his initial reads to the left or right.
The former safety pointed out a play in which McCarthy overlooked an open crossing route on the opposite side of the field. He said McCarthy had sufficient time to move beyond his initial reads and identify the available receiver.
The three-time Pro Bowler also highlighted a sequence in which McCarthy continued looking toward the right side despite having other potential targets available. He said that even when Malik Nabers appeared open on one particular play, McCarthy only had a narrow window to complete the pass.
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Whitner believes these things could become a big problem as opposing defensive coordinators study McCarthy’s performances.
“So, what defensive coordinators do when they step into those meetings on Wednesday, they’ll pull up these plays and say, ‘Hey, J.J. McCarthy, if we can get him off his first or second read, then he’s going to panic in the pocket,’” Whitner added. “And you guys are talking about how they got conservative in the fourth quarter last night.”
“I thought they started the game conservatively. One of the first plays of the game was a zero route to Malik Nabers. Malik Nabers isn’t a run-after-the-catch type of guy. They’re giving J.J. McCarthy these types of plays because they don’t fully trust him,” he said.
However, McCarthy is still developing as a starter, having made his third start for the Giants against the Commanders. He has displayed good chemistry with his top targets in the game and currently ranks No. 18 in the PFN’s NFL QB Impact metric with a 74.2 grade.
McCarthy’s ability to improve his pocket awareness and make quicker decisions will remain important.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.