Kevin O'Connell deflects when asked if J.J. McCarthy is the Vikings starting quarterback with a brilliant response

Kevin O'Connell has yet to name J.J. McCarthy starting quarterback

The big question still surrounding everything at quarterback is simple: why hasn't head coach Kevin O'Connell named a starting quarterback for the Vikings yet? It should in theory be simple, but it's not something O'Connell has been willing to do as of yet.

Rich Eisen asked him straight up about McCarthy being the starter on The Rich Eisen Show, and O'Connell immediately deflected, but it's how he did so that speaks volumes.

"Rich, right now, the rules prohibit even Minnesota Vikings defensive players from lining up across from Minnesota Vikings offensive players.? So we would be imagining one heck of an opponent if we said it was us coaches standing out there as a defense, or some of the other offensive players forming a defense. That's not what this time of year is about. This is the learning, the teaching phase. So much growth and development can happen during this time when there's really no negative outcomes. There's no plays that don't go your way and have a real impact on the team. They're all just learning moments right now, but there's going to come a time where that changes, and it's going to come very rapidly and quickly.

"J.J. is going to be in a great position to assume and ascend in our in our organization, but right now, we really don't have any feelings on competition as much as we've got an obligation as coaches to put our players in position to attack that competition phase. Sam will be a part of it, but we've got to get Sam ready to play."

It's important to listen to, read, and understand the words that O'Connell has chosen. The Vikings organization is very intentional when it comes to talking to the media. They understand the game and don't misspeak when they do interviews or press conferences.

O'Connell talking about it being a time of teaching is important, because that's not just what it is, but also how the Vikings are approaching McCarthy. Taking advantage of every second you have to teach McCarthy is way more important.

Not only did O'Connell not name McCarthy the starting quarterback, he went into more detail about what the reps in practice mean for him short and long term, including talking about taking snaps from center Ryan Kelly.

"I know everybody is wildly concerned about these reps on here. Let me put you at peace, Rich. When he (McCarthy) is taking snaps, he's taken plenty of snaps from Ryan Kelly, who happens to be a 10-year starting offensive center in this league, so take that for what it's worth. I don't think Vikings fans, or any wildly successful, nationally renowned broadcasters like yourself, should be worried about the amount of reps J.J. is going to get with the ones. We're going to have ready to go and by owning playing quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. That's footwork, that's rhythm, that's timing, that's running the huddle, that's running the show, that's cadence, that's identifying defensive structures that he's got to be responsible for getting us into the right place. He's owning it, Rich."

If you were concerned with McCarthy before, O'Connell just told you five ways from Sunday that you shouldn't be.

It's time we put this to bed.