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The summer break is upon us. We unveiled 10 big-picture takeaways from the entire offseason program last Friday to help fill the gap between now and the team reporting for Vikings Training Camp, which will be here before we know it.

We will still have some content, but not as much during the lull. We have a couple of projects that we're continuing to work on and also will try to fully recharge the batteries to be ready to roll when camp opens.

In that spirit, the Vikings have generously continued a policy of fully closing the office during the week of the Fourth of July, so we will not publish a Mailbag on June 30 but will return on July 7. Hopefully everyone has a good and safe Fourth of July.

My family will be heading up to the North Shore for the first time in too long, and we're going to be able to introduce that special place to great friends.

Going a different way with this question. I've been to more home games than I can count. However, I've never traveled to watch the Vikings play a road game. Green Bay and overseas are on my bucket list. We will exclude those for this drill.

Taking city, stadium, attractions, fan experience and any other factors you can think of, which of the 31 other teams (in your opinion) is a must-do for any Vikings fan looking to attend an away game?

Thanks as always,

— Roman in Grand Forks, North Dakota

I love this question from Roman so much that I'm going to introduce it here but wait to provide my full answer in the July 7 Mailbag.

My goal in doing so is to try to have other fans weigh in on their favorite road destinations with a brief explanation of why.

Please email the Mailbag account to share your favorite road trip, and I'll put together my answer for this.

I'm so excited for this season!! Is J.J. McCarthy the right quarterback to lead the Vikings into the future, or is he more of a quarterback who seems right in the present moment?

SKOL!

— Ellie in Minneapolis

The goal for any first-round pick is that the player will have multiple impactful seasons (and contracts) beyond the rookie deal, which can last up to five seasons because of the fifth-year option teams have for first-round selections.

Vikings leadership knows the magnitude of the position, and decision-makers were incredibly thorough in their evaluation of a bumper crop 2023 draft class of quarterbacks.

But McCarthy showcased what the group wanted to see on the field and a demeanor that Minnesota appreciated off the field with how he handled his celebrity status in Ann Arbor after leading Michigan to the national title.

Quarterbacks can have arcs in their careers and certainly are not susceptible to ups and downs as they play the sport's most important position at the game's highest level. But resilience is important in getting past the inevitable bump.

Minnesota has been quite intentional in developing its plan for how to support a young quarterback and has dedicated resources at other positions to try to take advantage of McCarthy being on his rookie deal. The team (and roster) can continue to evolve around the QB.

Ideally, McCarthy is right for the team as it is built now (impressions from the offseason program indicate so) and as the QB of the future.

Given J.J. McCarthy's intense offseason and minicamp workload, how are the Vikings strategically balancing the crucial need for throwing repetitions with the potential risk of arm fatigue as he prepares for the season and perhaps as the season itself gets intense?

— Steve Tarnowski in Duluth, Minnesota

The Vikings have trackers in their practice jerseys that log players' metrics to monitor and evaluate — and hopefully prevent overuse, particularly when it comes to footsteps/running, but they also chart passes and can modify practice scripts if they feel it is necessary to do so.

McCarthy handled plenty of reps to get his work in the offseason program, but Minnesota also rotated through quarterbacks Sam Howell, Brett Rypien and Max Brosmer.

It's quite common for teams to have four quarterbacks when the roster expands to 90 or 91 to help avoid arm fatigue and continue to develop QBs.

If you haven't checked out this interview by VEN's Tatum Everett with quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, it's worth a watch. See above.

Every game can be different, but I don't know that Minnesota plans on having McCarthy throw 40-plus times a game in the season, not so much to avoid fatigue but because of philosophy.

A recent comment from Special Teams Coordinator Matt Daniels regarding kicker Will Reichard related to player load management. Reichard had a solid rookie season but dealt with a quad injury along the way.

"Having a rookie kicker last year, a guy who played into the [college] playoffs, went to the Senior Bowl, went to the combine, and then he had a pro day," Daniels said. "This guy basically played 11 straight months of football without a break. "We have to find a way to truly, kind of taper down the workouts, how many times [he is] kicking a week. Obviously having a quad injury that took place right around the middle of the season, and that was probably due to over kicking, over exertion, really, because of how much he did in January, February and March."

I'm super stoked about our offensive line. Hopefully it stays healthy. I'm really curious to see these young CBs play and super hopeful! I'm super trusting of our coach and J.J. at QB!

— Toby S. in Alaska

Christian Darrisaw returning to the field for individual drills at minicamp was incredibly encouraging. It had to be rewarding for "Big Dog" because of all the work he's put in to recover from the knee injury he suffered in Week 8 of 2024.

With him and Brian O'Neill end-capping the rebuilt interior of the o-line, Minnesota has the makings of a special "Moving Company."

The young cornerbacks are going to get some great reps during training camp against a highly talented group of Vikings receivers. The secondary had some reactions to McCarthy's arm strength and ability to fit footballs into tight windows. The group is looking forward to increasing intensity at catch points once the pads are added in training camp.

I have been saying for years now that our personnel was not the issue for pass protection. It was our SCHEME!!!!!

Now we brought in new linemen, but if we do not start to drop back and build a pocket to protect J.J., the new talent won't matter.

Look at old film of Tom Brady and how the Pats would protect him.

We have the talent. Let's go win this.

— Vikingjoe in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

McCarthy can pass from the pocket, has shown the ability to navigate within it (Brady became a Kung Fu master at that element) and can play on the move. He's working on arm angles and deliveries to maximize throws from any of those situations.

The Vikings know they would benefit from having fewer hits on the quarterback than last season and have a goal of making that happen. That goal can be accomplished in multiple ways, but it will be important for McCarthy to help with that, as well.

Thanks for the unbelievable ride for my 60 years.

— Robert Waugh

I love the opportunity to close out a Mailbag with a note of gratitude. I'm so incredibly grateful of what was built here long before I joined the organization in 2014.

Players, coaches and fans had tremendous roles in that creation. It truly is incredible to think of how many fans like Robert have been so faithful for so many years.

Whether it's been 60 years or someone is in their first 60 minutes of Vikings fandom, there's a shared connection capable of bringing people together for a common goal.

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