If as expected JJ leaves what are the options at QB?
Of all teams Michigan is the best suited to play and win with an inexperienced QB. They did so last year with JJ.
If Orgi is as talented as they say do they roll with him? They only allowed him to throw once in a game, but they did play him in the biggest games. They could construct their offense along the lines of what Bama did with Milroe. With youth at WR and a talented OL and RBs corps this seems like the most plausible option.
Davis Warren is still here. Not sure what happens with him.
Jadyn Davis is a true freshman.I expect him to get snaps.
Michigan raised significant sums for Champions Circle. I suspect that much of that will go to keeping some key pieces like Rod Moore and Trente. That they didn’t go after a center this cycle tells me they are confident in what they have on the roster.
I do expect they will go after CBs and WRs in the portal and maybe a QB if an intriguing one(Milroe?) pops up. I think all of this is coaching invariant. .
January 14th, 2024 at 12:03 AM ^
I kid but….
Would the Urban/Mullins offense be a legit option? Orji plays the roll of Tebow/JT ie the power back/ dive back on this version of the triple option. Easy 1/2 read throws, screens, crosses and heaves. Handful of good backs to split reps. Morgan is your Harvin/ Samuel esq roll. Loveland is your, eh not gonna go there. All seemingly highly unlikely mess aside. With some tackles that are probably elite run blockers and suspect pass blockers. Potentially still elite defense. You can win a lot of games playing this football
January 14th, 2024 at 12:14 AM ^
Nice. We should definitely try to hire Urban...Wait, what?
January 14th, 2024 at 12:28 AM ^
Not what I said at all. Harbaugh has essentially ran it with Kap. Worked with Greg Roman for years. It’s the philosophy . Not going to happen I was making conversation
As far as portal goes it’s real tricky without tampering at this point. If/ once JJ leaves would need someone like say Cam Rising to see the opportunity post spring.
January 14th, 2024 at 8:27 AM ^
I mentioned this in another thread. I think they should at least see how that plays out in the spring.
January 14th, 2024 at 8:34 AM ^
Frankly this is what I think we should do. I think there are concerns with how smoothly can we implement it, will Orji get to a point where he can be the primary QB, and how will we prepare for Jadyn Davis who is more of a west coast style QB?
But in theory, the idea of relying on our D and using Orji as JT Barrett looks like the best option right now, unless something drops into our lap in the portal (assuming no JJ).
January 14th, 2024 at 12:12 AM ^
Josh henshke is reporting that JJ is leaning towards leaving and has “one more sleep” to change his mind. He’s going pro. We need to find a good QB. Can’t waste an elite D next year. Oh and obviously Harbaugh has to come back..
January 14th, 2024 at 12:27 AM ^
JJ and JH are coming back to run it back.
January 14th, 2024 at 12:59 AM ^
If Taulia Tagliaova is given an extra year do you kick the tires on him?
January 14th, 2024 at 8:40 AM ^
Now that Cam Ward went to Miami I don't know what Lia even would want.
After years of making fun of his propensity for throwing back-breaking interceptions, I would cringe at having him, but without knowing really what we have on the roster right now, I can't discount it.
Being the starting QB at Michigan would be tempting, I'm sure, but I would have to think he would still rather be somewhere that will throw the ball 30+ times a game and, frankly, that is warmer and closer to Miami.
January 14th, 2024 at 8:56 AM ^
NO!!!! Dude is a back-tracking turnover machine when you need a play. The complete opposite of what JJ has been. No thank you...
If Spring ball shows that Michigan needs a QB, the portal will find one. Mostly because Michigan will make a few calls and someone will enter. That's how the portal works. (Check with Riley Leonard, et all...)
January 14th, 2024 at 12:32 PM ^
If you can just give Taulia a half dose of valium before each game, he's a take.
January 14th, 2024 at 1:29 AM ^
I am still in the belief that it is 50/50 with a lean of him returning. He truly could have weighed his options until today or tomorrow and opt to come back after realizing he would barely be a top 5 quarterback pick, or may have made his choice yesterday but wanted to wait until the day after the team's parade to announce he is coming back. This is just my opinion, and he very well could go pro, but the timing does not make me fully believe he is going pro.
If J.J. does go pro, then Michigan will probably have a quarterback battle between Thuttle, Denagel and Davis. I think Warren transfers out after the Spring Game, and Oriji switches positions (linebacker?). If these are the options, then we may be looking at an offense that would be in the bottom half of the B1G, especially if Edward's goes pro, and the lack of depth at the wide receiver position.
There were solid options for Michigan to pick up quarterbacks and receivers from the portal, but they whiffed on all of them. The best option of picking up a receiver (Banks from Wake Forest) recently committed to Nebraska. As of right now, looking at 247's transfer portal list of quarterbacks and receivers, there are no good options. A longshot of a hope is Denagel develops a lot, and Jackson changes his mind about Alabama and commits to Michigan with a position switch to WR. Ideally we all want to read J.J. and Edward's saying they are coming back, though.
January 14th, 2024 at 1:41 AM ^
I can't believe people on here think next year QB is on this roster right now.
January 14th, 2024 at 12:36 PM ^
I have to agree with this. We have the defense to make a deep run. I would hate to waste it.
Look at what a difference getting quality QB transfers like Penix and Nix did for teams like Washington and Oregon. They made all of the difference in the world. Those teams would have been middle of the pack without those transfers.
That's our story if JJ leaves.
January 14th, 2024 at 3:32 AM ^
Given that most of the players who could stay are going to the draft, leads me to believe that JH have told him he does not plan to be back and will be heading to the NFL. I think if JH was going to be back, JJ and others would stay one more season. Oh well, hopefully we will get a good coach.
January 14th, 2024 at 8:36 AM ^
I get what you’re saying, but I really don’t think JH has a handshake agreement with an NFL team at this point or it would be reported by now. As such, I’d really doubt he would signal he’s leaving. Not to say he won’t, just that he isn’t in a position right now to do so.
January 14th, 2024 at 9:27 AM ^
Pretty risky move for Harbaugh to be telling his players he is leaving for the NFL without having a guaranteed NFL job. Two years ago Harbaugh was pretty much out the door at Michigan because he thought he had the Minnesota Vikings job, but the Vikings had other plans.
January 14th, 2024 at 12:14 PM ^
Check the list of those that are moving on. Most are out of eligibility or have nothing left to play for, or there is someone lined up to take away at least some of their playing time. It is in their best interest to move on and Michigan NIL doesn't have a strong reason to break the bank keep them. It doesn't feel like a mass exodus more than just time to move on.
January 14th, 2024 at 3:38 AM ^
I bet you that there are 1 or 2 good QBs out there waiting to see if JJ leaves. I expect one to show up there through the portal. It may also depends who will be our coach. If JH comes back I think we'll be fine. If rumor turns out to be correct, Dan Lanning will be our new coach. I would not mind if Moore gets the job either.
January 14th, 2024 at 4:37 AM ^
Lol, what rumor?
January 14th, 2024 at 7:51 AM ^
Lanning to Michigan rumors? LOL where?? I haven’t heard this even once. And…why would he leave Oregon? It would be a much better position…their primary rival just imploded and they have top tier NIL.
January 14th, 2024 at 7:33 AM ^
It’s times like these where you shake your fist angrily at the sky wondering why Michigan whiffed at QB in its last recruiting cycle.
Having a Dante Moore ready to take over next year would’ve been great. But if JJ leaves, this kind of feels like a 2012 Denard goes down situation and we have……Russell Bellomy to take over?
I know there will be options in the spring, but that guy will have even less time to work with the team and get on the same page. Just saying that if JJ leaves, there are not going to be a lot of good options next year, and we could be in for a tough transition year.
January 14th, 2024 at 8:58 AM ^
Moore will be second string at Oregon.
January 14th, 2024 at 7:37 AM ^
UM will be fine with JJ leaving. Kind of been expecting that all year. Not sure they'll be fine if Jim goes though.
January 14th, 2024 at 8:35 AM ^
If Moore succeeds Harbaugh and can keep most of the staff together I think that transition would be smoother than some think. There'll be a drop off but it should be far smaller than if we brought in an outsider as HC.
I can't take credit for this but someone in another thread mentioned David Shaw as an example. He kept Stanford humming along for quite a while before the wheels fell off, and that was more due to Stanford being Stanford than Shaw fucking it all up.
Harbaugh has shown a great track record of picking assistant coaches and developing them too. If he thinks Moore is gonna be a stud HC one day, then I believe him.
January 14th, 2024 at 12:22 PM ^
I won't rehash this totally, because I beat it to death on another thread (can see my responses in full there), but shaw went 8-5 his 4th year. He had 3 good years with Jim's guys in a week pac-10, then went 8-5. In his defense, Stanford finished #3 in the AP poll the following year, then he never had a top 10 finish again. After year 5.
stanford was a team performing at a top 5 level coming off of a 12-1 year when Jim left. Shaw never had fewer than 2 losses in any year. I would not use that as a measuring stick for our next 5 years. I'm not sure why this persists as something to point to.
January 14th, 2024 at 8:21 AM ^
Its why the contract is taking so long: they found a loophole allowing Jim to return as a Player-Manager.
January 14th, 2024 at 12:39 PM ^
Have you seen him dodge the Gatorade bath? Dude's still got some moves. He could do it.
January 14th, 2024 at 9:15 AM ^
Harbaugh kind of gave it away when he likened Milroe to Orji. If he thinks he has a potential Milroe on his roster, that guy seems a good bet to be out there. (Especially since he got snaps in the biggest games.) This also will be his third spring camp at U-M.
January 14th, 2024 at 9:28 AM ^
How much of that is coach-speak, though? Orji tried his best to simulate Milroe for the bowl prep. What is Harbaugh going to say? “Oh, Orji’s a similar build to Milroe but he doesn’t compare skill wise whatsoever”?
January 14th, 2024 at 9:41 AM ^
It was a coach-speak way of saying the truth. Orji's comp is Milroe. I don't even know how great a passer Milroe is anyway.
It sounds like Orji still doesn't have the mechanics necessary to be trusted, thus the "Milroe is a more polished Orji" comment from Harbaugh. He has this offseason to fix it and win the job. And if the portal doesn't present an obvious option, I feel like he'd have a pretty decent chance.
January 14th, 2024 at 10:16 AM ^
Judging by Bama’s season, I’d say Milroe can’t pass very well. Obviously you don’t have to pass to win, but it certainly helps. Based on the comp, and the fact that they never had Orgi attempt to throw the ball, my money is that he’s not a great passer.
But he seems bigger and more physical than JJ so maybe that’s all you need? Gonna Tebow everyone this next season? Lol
January 14th, 2024 at 11:16 AM ^
Milroe is bad and won’t start for Bama next year.
January 14th, 2024 at 9:16 AM ^
I have a feeling everyone saying Orji will be fine would change their tune very quickly once he started actually throwing the ball. You absolutely fight for a veteran portal QB even if you think Orji wouldn't be a disaster (as I do).
January 14th, 2024 at 9:41 AM ^
Arch Manning, come win the Heisman for Uncle Peyton at Charles Woodson's university.
January 14th, 2024 at 10:47 AM ^
Arch Manning, Milroe are the only ones worth getting. Another option might (I stress might) be to see if there is a guy that is tearing it up in D-II that might be a good enough passer. The success rate in portal QBs is not very good, once you get past the rare situations like one of the top guys moves. So if Michigan cannot get Manning or Milroe...we probably have to look at '24 as a reset year.
January 14th, 2024 at 12:08 PM ^
If Michigan can’t get a transfer from a major FBS program, I got to imagine they could find a guy doing terrific things at a mid-tier FBS program or a top FCS program before needing to look at DII.
January 14th, 2024 at 12:50 PM ^
It is possible. But it actually seems unlikely that there would be a guy available that is decidedly better than the guys already on the roster.
To bring in a transfer, he has to be decidedly better than the guys on the roster. Is that guy going to be available? Outside or Milroe or Arch Manning deciding to leave after spring practice, that guy is probably not going to be available from a FBS/D-I program. From FCS? No idea. But it seems unlikely.
If you bring a guy in, then Dengal, Orgi, etc. probably leave. So you cannot risk that unless the guy that transfers in is a lock to be the starter and also be a material improvement over guys already on the roster.
January 14th, 2024 at 11:24 AM ^
Bring in 1 transfer and have him compete with Orji, Denegal, and Davis and the best guy gets the job. I keep laughing at everybody saying “We haven’t seen Orji or Denegal do anything” that’s kinda what happens when you go to a new starter at QB. The unkown.
None of these guys are 5 stars so bringing in a transfer makes sense, but I wouldn't just hand him the job either. He needs to compete with the guys we have already. Maybe Orji or Denegal surprises us, you never know.
January 14th, 2024 at 12:53 PM ^
Bringing a guy in to 'just compete for the job' won't work on many levels. First, it will cause some of the current roster guys to transfer out. Second, if he is not good enough to be a lock to start, then...he is just an o.k., QB anyway. Michigan already has that on the roster.
January 14th, 2024 at 11:46 AM ^
Very simply:
1. Tuttle -- longshot, since he needs a waiver or whatever.
2. Portal QB.
3. Denegal. He is the only one of the group besides Tuttle that has shown he can throw this season.
Stop with the Orji talk. He hasn't thrown a pass. And without the clutch passes JJ did throw this year, we don't go all the way.
January 14th, 2024 at 11:57 AM ^
〽️It’s Orji Time at the Big House〽️
January 14th, 2024 at 12:05 PM ^
Orji in the end zone!!!
January 14th, 2024 at 12:09 PM ^
The options are enjoy the memories from this year
January 14th, 2024 at 12:16 PM ^
Orji running some kind of wing T with Mullings and Hall split backs 20 plays a game
Edwards 20 carries
We'll never play more than two WR's a time and one of those two WR's might be Loveland
January 14th, 2024 at 12:56 PM ^
O.k,,then 7-5 will be the result.
January 14th, 2024 at 1:49 PM ^
Do you really think a defense returning Graham, Grant, Moore, and Johnson is losing 5 games next year?
January 14th, 2024 at 5:41 PM ^
I think an offense that returns no one could very well lose a handful of games in the new big whatever conference.
January 14th, 2024 at 12:54 PM ^
Orji could be a hellava good RB or LB.
Denegal has shown promise in limited throws.
I suspect we bring in a transfer portal QB and have a competition