Who or what is to blame for Vikings committing eight false-start penalties in loss to Ravens?

As Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk noted, Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. previously suggested that the Baltimore Ravens defense simulating Minnesota quarterback J.J. McCarthy's cadence during this past Sunday's game between the clubs had something to do with the Vikings committing eight false starts in the 27-19 loss that dropped them to 4-5.

On Monday, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh insisted his players did not simulate McCarthy's calls at Minnesota's U.S. Bank Stadium. For an article published on Tuesday, ESPN's Ben Solak looked into the NFL's latest "Clapgate"/"Snapgate" controversy. 

Did Ravens do anything illegal to cause Vikings' false-start penalties?

"I've watched all eight meticulously," Solak wrote about Minnesota's false-start fouls. "I think fault is pretty clearly shared. The team is obviously not yet comfortable with McCarthy's cadence. McCarthy elicited a false start when he went to kill a play and had another thrown on himself for simulating a shotgun snap too aggressively. But the Vikings' line really struggled to hold its water against a Ravens front that was doing a great job anticipating the snap count and disguising their looks right as the motion man sprinted across the formation."

Earlier in November, Josh Kendall of The Athletic mentioned that a team simulating an offense's snap count or snap is supposed to result in a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down for the opposing side. 

As for why the Vikings may not yet be "comfortable with McCarthy's cadence," the second-year quarterback has thus far made just four regular-season starts as a pro. He missed time this fall because of an ankle injury, and he spent his entire rookie campaign recovering from a full meniscus repair. 

What do advanced stats say about play of J.J. McCarthy?

Against the Ravens, McCarthy completed 20-of-42 passes for 248 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. In short, he looked like a young work in progress. 

"On the season, McCarthy averages 0.18 (expected points added) per dropback on the first two drives of games -- drives that we can confidently say are scripted -- and minus-0.03 on all other drives. His success rate drops from 47% to 35%," Solak added. 

McCarthy will attempt to play better beyond the first two drives of this coming Sunday's contest when the Vikings host the Chicago Bears (6-3). Back in Week 1, he tossed two touchdown passes and rushed for a score in the fourth quarter of Minnesota's 27-24 victory at the Bears.