Debate over how Michigan QB management
I have been in a vigorous debate with my friends on the fate of the Michigan football program depending on who the starting QB is. I am of the opinion that Michigan will have a successful year regardless of who the starting QB is. I caveat it with to have an extraordinary year will require the skills and virtues of both.
My opinion of Cabe McNamara is he presents a low error solution. He makes great pre snap reads. He is not fast but has what I call phone booth agility to avoid sacks. His low mistake profile is extremely advantageous for bad hair environments like Iowa City. A young talented QB might be prone to mistakes that lead to more panic.
I have confidence in McCarthy because if he wins out, it is because he showed extraordinary skills to justify bypassing a strong incumbent. McCarthy can make plays with his arms and feet that McNamara cannot. That may be needed in Columbus.
My opinion is that Harbaugh has to make the right decision where the definition of "right decision" is a moving target. My speculation is that McNamara wins the starting job with the QB situation evolving into a time share. Other than @Iowa I do not see other grim games that box Harbaugh's strategy until the final game @Columbus. Harbaugh should have his answer by then. If played right, UM could run the table to the last game and then perhaps have a punchers chance at the end.
Thoughts? Should we go with one starter for the year? Is sharing mean you have zero QB's? What do folks want to see? What do folks believe the floor/ceiling of the program is based on if we have a singular starter or there is some sort of timeshare?
Who's Cabe?
The QB that allows us to survive "bad hair" environments like Iowa night games.
The guy who "how Michigan QB management".
Especially "caveat it with to have an extraordinary year." Michigan NEEDS "with to have"! It's even better than giving 110%.
Didn’t he cover high school sports for the Freep?
Cabe NcManara obviously.
Cabe Cunningham
New transfer dude
Cabreham Lincoln.
I got you, Cabe.
Cabey hit me one more time,
Brady over Henson
"Puncher's chance at the end"? So the team that returns nearly its entire offense that just bludgeoned its rival for 28 second-half points, will have a puncher's chance? Please explain to me how OSU's defense is suddenly back? I expect us to be right in that game with equal talent at almost all positions, and a toughness that Ryan Day can't dream of. Ryan Day <<<<< Urban Meyer. Go blue.
I don’t expect our defense to hold down OSU’s offense as well as last year’s did.
I'm addressing the "Puncher's chance". I didn't say we were going to dominate them again. If we can run the football down their throats again, we might hold them under 30.
Way to early for begin predictions IMO. Injuries, OSU's defense, and our pass rush will need to pass the eye test this season.
But I love the optimism!
I think we’ll see more of JJ this year than we did last year. The combination of two - specifically, those two - each with their strengths - may add to the challenge opposing staffs / teams face - in terms of preparation.
IMO, it’s fortunate to have two players of that caliber who seem to cheer each other on… The Team, The Team, The Team.
it may not be 50/50, but, it wouldn’t surprise me if it was 60/40 depending on the opponent.
Go Blue!
This just so rarely works. Its so hard to get a QB with confidence enough to be yanked randomly throughout the game .. no flow to it. I get that its hard for the defense to prep. but its the same offense, so arguably, the bigger challenge is on the offense to function well with both guys.
WRs have to know tendencies for both. the QB/Center exchange has to be perfect for both. OL need to know that the runner will bail, and the pocket guy will stay. RB ball exchange is a big thing - those fumbles are huge game/momentum killers... any of them are.
I wish we could have 2 QBs but.. im skeptical. If JJ is the real deal, then run with him. If he's not showing consistency and protecting the ball, then go with Cade.
Your point is fair. But, I’d also say - how often do teams enter a season with the INTENT of two QB’s playing? The OL is experienced, and you could potentially “platoon” the receiving corps - with “most of a set” working more often with one QB, so tendencies will be better understood.
Regarding the exchange with the RB’s - it’s essential as you noted. Ball security was a key factor in the team’s success last year.
I don’t think it would be a “yank” of the starting QB, but - it would be a plan to have both play every game. We’ll know more in less than 8 weeks. Go Blue!
I get it. But everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.
Will they decide ahead who gets "crunch time" drives of 80 yards? Or who gets "milk the clock" drives.
The only real platoon i recall that really worked was Leak and Tebow and that was a long ass time ago. I'm sure others have happened. The reason that worked was because they really had two different skill sets and an offensive juggernaut around them. Do we have that? Maybe to some extent.
Its nice to have a scripted plan for early. What happens when one guys throws 2 picks early. Is he benched? Is he done? How long?
Meh.. I think you can go in with some plan, but overall, I dont see how this works unless we win win win. Then itll be the team the team the team.
I think the Leak and Tebow splitting time is a bit of revisionist history. Tebow was primarily used that year as a goal line QB who primarily rushed. He only had 33 passing attempts for the season and 89 rushing attempts. Meanwhile Leak had 365 passing attempts and 77 rushing attempts. Last year's use of JJ was more comparable to what Tebow did his freshmen year.
the QB/Center exchange has to be perfect for both
You lost me with this one!
A 60/40 situation would really concern me. I think QB is one of those positions where you really just need to pick your guy and stick with him unless he starts showing he can't get the job done. If you want to bring in another guy for some gadget plays that's fine, but otherwise you're just interrupting the flow and confidence of the other guy.
A lot of people bring up "Well it worked for Chris Leak and Tim Tebow," and okay, but that is one example from almost twenty years ago.
Just go with the guy that gives you the best chance to win football games. I don't care who that is. JJ definitely seems like the future, but Cade has done more than enough to earn the right to compete for the job.
but will there be speed in space?
Rather molasses in January
This folk wants to see better editing.
….and 33 steal.
I think Weiss how manage JJ will over Cade partially first downs third quarter.
Uhhh….did you just have a stroke?
Lol Don. I’m assuming that’s a shot at the OP title. If not, see a doctor!
Well, our friend Don is a bit older, so let's just chalk my post up to a wellness check.
are you into account taking that Cade manage snapcount ball hike RPO with JJ pass run?
Yes, but bifurcated leverage.
Ah. Now I get it. Thanks for straightening us out.
I really hope Henne starts over Gutierrez.
... and Denard over Tate.
Too soon!
I still have no doubts whatsoever that Matt Gutierrez would have been a star and long-term starter (if I remember correctly, he was either a Junior or a redshirt Senior with two years of eligibility remaining), had it not been for that torn labrum as he warmed up to start the 2004 season.
It ranks right up there with the injury to Antonio Bass when it comes to "what if?" injuries to Michigan QBs.
Had Gutierrez have been blessed with better luck/health, I'm guessing Chad Henne would have been redshirted in 2004, gotten meaningful experience as a redshirt freshman in 2005, leaving him three years as our starter (2006-2008).
I don't think I'm ready to entertain a reality without Tacopants.
Could’ve used Henne in 2008
Oh Korn!
Sheridan > Threet
If we're being honest with ourselves, this was basically the choice between being impaled on a large cocktail umbrella or trying to win a game of 500 played with the old metal-tipped lawn darts.
And yet, there are Michigan fans who think Lloyd could've rung up ten wins in 2008 with that duo. (Of course, he wouldn't have "run off" Mallet like RichRod supposedly did.)
BTW, quite a visual with the lawn darts.
I thought it was Lloyd who ran the players off so to speak instead of encouraging them to stick it out with the new coach? Even in Rich Rod’s system, Ryan Mallet would’ve been lightyears better than Sheridan or Threet.
Either way, once Lloyd hand waived the transfers for almost everyone with a pulse on the roster, NOBODY was winning with what Rich Rod was given to work with his first season.
While I don’t think he would’ve turned Michigan into a juggernaut, I do think he got a bit shafted during his time here.
Nothing like getting Jarted to death
Better than sharted to death.
My eyes, the goggles do nothing.gif
Michael Spath (sp?) On Sam's show made a good point. If Cade wins the job, JJ will play some snaps for sure. He doesn't believe the same if JJ wins the job because he thinks JJ can do it all. I agree with him. If JJ wins the job, I don't see a QB controversy even at IOWA. You roll with your best option.
I don't even think this would be a real battle at any other program that is seen as serious about winning. Yes, Cade is a low-mistake guy but he - as of last season - is not the kind of guy that can go win a game for you. The QB play was probably reason number 7 or 8 as to explain the season UM had last year. UGA game isn't the only game to show that fact.
So, it's either a case of wanting to ride that system out again or playing the QB that has the talent to go beat people with his arm/legs. I'll leave it up to the coaches to pick what they want and I think Jim is drawn to a guy like Cade but if these were the QBs at OSU, Bama, Clemson, etc this isn't even a discussion. It's JJ. JJ is your starter.
Now, this is all based on last year as I think the only thing keeping Cade from being a very good starting QB is his post-snap ability to read a defense. He left so much meat on the bone last year. So much. The only game where you couldn't find a few easy scores that were outright unseen by Cade was the UGA game. The entire team was outclassed by UGA. Other than that game, regardless of his stat line there were always multiple plays where you just have to see your guy that's wide-open and he didn't, often with no pressure in his face.
If Cade has matured mentally as a QB (he already has the mentality you want) it's a battle. If so, what I said above is void. If Cade is still pretty much 2021 Cade, it shouldn't be a battle at all and you'd just be managing egos otherwise. Any other team would make JJ lose the job (which has happened before). Speaking of Bama, it wasn't that long ago that they had thag 5* QB from California (iirc) that started their opener in one of those mega-matchups. He stunk. Saban realized by the 4th or 5th series that it just wasn't going to work and the dude transferred a few times before moving on in life beyond football. It happens.
The talent disparity is just so vast that you're crazy if you don't make JJ lose the job.
"Yes, Cade is a low-mistake guy but he - as of last season - is not the kind of guy that can go win a game for you."
Except that he went out and won the game at PSU. And he drove the team to victory at Nebraska. And made the plays against OSU that kept the defense from keying on Haskins all day long.
Cade is good - you don't need to qualify him with statements like that. When you do, you just announce your view that JJ should be the guy. So go ahead and say that, it's okay - really!
Cade is good. JJ might be great. I don’t think anyone can confidently confirm the latter based on what we saw last year.
I’m not normally a “trust the coaches” guy but we finally destroyed the Deathstar so this year I will trust them until things get ugly.