Colorado State Snowflakes - The Offense
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:21 PM ^
All hail JJ
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:34 PM ^
I mean, the offense was humming when he was in the game and coach said that was 1 of the 3 things he was looking for...
I've been on Cade's side for most of the offseason but after today, I think it's JJ's job to lose next week.
September 3rd, 2022 at 4:18 PM ^
I am sad for Cade, but I fear you are right.
September 3rd, 2022 at 4:53 PM ^
Cade wants to win as badly as anyone else, and this will only push him harder.
No true leader would want anyone but the best players to be on the field, to be in the best position to win.
September 3rd, 2022 at 6:26 PM ^
McNamara wants to be on the field. McCarthy wants to be on the field. Neither is going to be happy sitting, and whoever does sit will think they should be playing. That’s human nature, and especially the nature of competitors. When McNamara spoke to the press after the game, he said he was surprised there was even a competition.
September 3rd, 2022 at 6:35 PM ^
The way he played, the competition might be over.
September 3rd, 2022 at 6:44 PM ^
Eh this seems a little preachy. Pretty sure most of us, including Cade, would be pretty bummed if we got demoted from a dream job. Even if it was justified.
September 3rd, 2022 at 6:10 PM ^
Was rooting for Cade but this was a poor performance to use to try and win the job. Definitely held the door open for JJ.
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:35 PM ^
Thought it was going to be Cade but yeah it's all JJ so far. Hail JJ lol
September 3rd, 2022 at 4:24 PM ^
My hawt take is the O looked very vanilla. If there was a pass attempt that traveled 20 yds in the air vertically I missed it. Maybe that's the way they want it to look for now. You're gonna have to find a way to get this receiving corp more touches or risk having half of them leave. Cade was I think 1 for 6 before settling down and looked pretty bad doing so - the 1 being essentially a screen to Wilson for the TD. JJ by far looked more comfortable but if these guys never throw a pass over 10 yds. it's hard to tell what kinda QB(s) we have. 3 FG's on 3 trips to the red is not getting it done.
September 3rd, 2022 at 5:15 PM ^
J.J. will get the ball downfield next week
September 3rd, 2022 at 5:57 PM ^
His WRs also had 3 bad drops, his day looks marginally better if they hang on to those, more first downs and who knows if he moves the ball more on those drives. But I agree JJ seemed to have more of the it factor today
September 3rd, 2022 at 9:46 PM ^
There may have been a few drops, but there were also some nicely caught balls that weren't thrown well. That performance was well below Cade's potential.
September 3rd, 2022 at 6:32 PM ^
"You're gonna have to find a way to get this receiving corp more touches or risk having half of them leave."
My feelings exactly. Giving the benefit of the doubt, first game, want to establish the run, see what we can do there, OK, fine. Next game though, we've got to air it out. With Corum, Edwards and our O line, our run game is going to be there. Got to get the passing game humming, hitting on all cylinders. It can't seem like a rarity, like we're all holding our breath when Cade of JJ drop back. "OH BOY! It's a pass play!"
It reminds me of 2007 when we were loaded at receiver (Mario Manningham, Adrian Arrington) and Lloyd Carr and OC Mike DeBord barely threw the ball. That is until the Bowl Game when they beat Urban and Tebow as 2 touchdown dogs. I was so conflicted after that game, happy for the win but pissed because of the season that could have been.
You have the QB's and receivers. You need the reps! Might as well get them against these tomato cans early in the schedule.
A I R I T O U T !
September 3rd, 2022 at 7:08 PM ^
I hear you but it should be clear by now that they aren’t inclined to do so.
I mean, the coach has never done that, and McNamara is even more risk-averse than the coach is.
September 3rd, 2022 at 9:37 PM ^
You're right. They talk about the offense evolving and I get my hopes up.
I checked the stats and we threw 41% of the time. Hopefully, that will improve as the season progresses.
If not, I wonder how long we'll be able to recruit (or keep) top QB's and WR's to the program if we only throw 40% of the time.
Of course, the counter-argument to that is to consider many times we threw against the Nuts in the 2nd half last year. Just would love to see us balanced, especially with our WR corp.
September 4th, 2022 at 3:06 PM ^
To be fair, OSU had linebacker issues and were often in a nickel formation if I remember correctly. It makes some sense to try running it in that context.
September 8th, 2022 at 4:00 PM ^
After 7 years as my team's coach, I'm shocked and dismayed that Jim Harbaugh still refuses to prioritize MY HAPPINESS!!!
September 3rd, 2022 at 7:10 PM ^
Why would a receiver transfer when you have a five star QB possibly about to take over. Michigan has had great receivers for a long time while being run heavy.
September 3rd, 2022 at 8:11 PM ^
Harbaugh has never done that and never will. We have had great groups of receivers year after year, and he still reins in the passing game for reasons that are a mystery.
September 4th, 2022 at 10:38 AM ^
Is it really a mystery? Its the QB play, he was throwing early and Cade was bad.
1st series of the game was a 4 or 5 yard run by Corum then 2 bad throws by Cade for a 3 and out. The next series was a screen pass that Wilson took to the house.
When he had Rudock, he threw deep all the time. Since Rudock the qb position has not been good. Just because we won last year I will stay say qb was not good.
September 4th, 2022 at 1:43 PM ^
The QB is struggling to throw an accurate ball in attempts under 10 yards, there’s no reason to let the passing game loose when your QB can’t hit your WRs.
September 4th, 2022 at 10:11 AM ^
“Risk having half of them leave.”
You win the internet today
September 5th, 2022 at 6:16 PM ^
If there was a pass attempt that traveled 20 yds in the air vertically I missed it.
I mean I think that's kinda a product of Cade. Last year, the "JJ Package" was almost exclusively to run the ball and take deep shots, two things that Cade is either unable or unwilling to do. Has that changed? I don't think so. If JJ can make the short and intermediate throws that Cade makes, it's his job
September 8th, 2022 at 1:37 PM ^
Did any of the receiving corps transfer after last year? Did our early season passing "woes" ruin our season? JFC
September 3rd, 2022 at 6:59 PM ^
He better be the starter the rest of the year or the WR will revolt. McNamara never once threw deep today, his pocket presence was horrible and he threw the ball in the stands with a wide open Ronnie Bell in the end zone. He had 4 receivers to his left and Cho’s to roll to his right and throw the ball away. Nice guy but he is not the starter
September 3rd, 2022 at 9:24 PM ^
Had to laugh at, “Cho’s”
I love talk-to-text too!
September 4th, 2022 at 10:54 AM ^
Maybe he's referring to famed comedienne Margaret Cho, who, I hear, is a terrific QB with excellent mobility. She can throw on the run!
September 4th, 2022 at 1:28 AM ^
The lady that owns the dry cleaner down the street from us is Mrs. Cho. True story. And a cool story bro.
September 4th, 2022 at 9:20 AM ^
Which begs the question, why was Cade obviously distracted by Mrs Cho when he had four open receivers?
: /
September 3rd, 2022 at 8:32 PM ^
the offense definitely felt way more dynamic and explosive with him in there
Then again, he's never really had 2 or 3 full series in a row to demonstrate his command of the offense over a longer time frame. Easy enough to be a closer, but being a starting pitcher and going a full game? A bit different
If he's gonna stir the drink that is our offense, JJ needs to demonstrate he can make the throws to keep the offense on schedule.
He can definitely make the splash plays, but the boring ones I want to see too
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:21 PM ^
Cade very meh. Reminiscent of early last year. Rest of offense fine.
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:21 PM ^
Here for the spiciest of takes
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:22 PM ^
Yeah so I’ll get the QB take out of the way. This battle is over. JJ is QB1
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:30 PM ^
I am with you here. I am sure some caveats apply due to being late in the game of a blowout, but the offense felt way more explosive with JJ in the backfield.
September 3rd, 2022 at 4:06 PM ^
You’re simply not getting enough from Cade through the air to outweigh what JJ brings through the air and on the ground. Full stop. Cade is a game manager, JJ is a game changer. That’s really all there is to it.
The best pass plays you’re getting from Cade are all receivers making a catch and then making a play (think All’s TD against Penn State last year or Wilson’s TD today), or beating the DB and being wide open deep and Cade lofting it to them. Very rarely do you see Cade just getting a ball there to a guy despite good coverage. The out route that JJ completed being a prime example. That’s just a throw Cade simply can’t make.
Harbaugh laid out his three criteria for the QB battle, and so far JJ looks ahead in all three areas.
September 3rd, 2022 at 4:15 PM ^
Cade's throw to All was a much more difficult and precise throw than JJ's quick out, but Cade looked off early in the game.
September 3rd, 2022 at 4:23 PM ^
Uh, WHAT? Cade’s pass to All against Penn State last year was a crossing route to a wide open target like a yard past the original line of scrimmage… that in no way, shape, or form is more difficult than an out route.
There is absolutely nothing difficult about this throw from Cade.
September 3rd, 2022 at 4:37 PM ^
He's not even talking about that throw. He's talking about the throw to all today...
September 3rd, 2022 at 5:34 PM ^
The best pass plays you’re getting from Cade are all receivers making a catch and then making a play (think All’s TD against Penn State last year
I read it as him responding to my reference to Cade’s pass here and the next sentence was me talking about JJ making throws Cade just can’t make.
September 3rd, 2022 at 4:27 PM ^
Its conceivable that we need both at some point. It is clear the offense with JJ is more explosive. For that reason he is my QB1. But its possible, against a team like Iowa, at Iowa, that having Cade’s steady hand could make a big difference in the right moment.
September 3rd, 2022 at 4:32 PM ^
What makes you think Cade's hand will be steady against Iowa when it's not steady against Colorado State?
September 4th, 2022 at 10:15 AM ^
September 3rd, 2022 at 4:50 PM ^
This narrative that Cade has a "steady hand" or "makes the right reads" is simply not true.
September 3rd, 2022 at 5:39 PM ^
I think Cade makes good pre-snap reads, but there is definitely plenty to be desired on his live reads. Both in the run game and where to go with the ball he misses quite a bit.
September 3rd, 2022 at 6:29 PM ^
He nearly threw a pick at the 5 yard line today. I’m sure McCarthy will make mistakes as well, but this idea that McNamara is the “safe” QB doesn’t quite match reality.
September 3rd, 2022 at 5:38 PM ^
Idk man, if he’s struggling at home against Colorado State then he’s not going to inspire confidence on the road against Iowa.
The offense looks lightyears better with JJ in and there’s really not much more to it than that. Barring an injury to JJ, I don’t see a reason we need both QBs. Cade doesn’t have an aspect of his game that JJ doesn’t.
September 4th, 2022 at 10:42 AM ^
As Brian has said many times, since Shea Patterson and now with Cade, you can't fully run this offense without a QB that is a real threat to pull the ball on the zone read. Also be willing to do it. Patterson memorably turned down massive gains by his reluctance to pull it. McCarthy and Corum or Edwards running the ZR will terrify edge players trying to pick their poison. And as we all figured out last year when he ran lead blocker for Corum, McCarthy is really, really fast. He just makes it look effortless.
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:22 PM ^
We had an Orji in the end zone!
I repeat, we had an Orji in the end zone!
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:23 PM ^
Legendary call by RG3.
Let this day live in infamy.