JJ McCarthy will be the best Michigan quarterback since ______?
September 11th, 2022 at 12:40 PM ^
The QB he reminds me a lot of.
Drew Henson.
September 11th, 2022 at 12:52 PM ^
This is exactly what came to my mind, except JJ fits the running scheme better, and we actually have a scheme to use it, unlike the Henson era. Just praying he doesn't get injured, because the offense is totally different with Cade. It's not just JJ's physical gifts, it's just that there twice the playbook with JJ, at least in the sense of what the D has to prepare for. The QB run game, quick, deep throws, and strong field-side out throws. These are things Cade just doesn't threaten with, which leads to a tremendous constriction of defenses toward the line of scrimmage. JJ threatens with literally every constraint in the playbook.
September 11th, 2022 at 1:30 PM ^
That's immediately who I thought of. Henson was playing at a Heisman level at the end of the 2000 season, and that was in a much more conservative offense. (2000 OSU game in Columbus: 14-25, 303 yards, 3 passing TDs and a game-clinching rushing TD on a bootleg). I'll always be mad at Steinbrenner for signing him away, right after he'd announced he was coming back for his senior year.
If JJ can perform anywhere near that level, in this offense, it will be a fun year.
September 11th, 2022 at 7:30 PM ^
Hopefully the fucking Yankees aren’t eyeing him as the 3B of the future.
September 11th, 2022 at 1:53 PM ^
but without the pain-in-the-ass father threatening the coach to bounce if he doesn't get adequate playing time.
And no OSU booster (Steinbrenner) to pay him to NOT play football.
September 11th, 2022 at 2:35 PM ^
McCarthy will be the best QB since Cade McNamara.
September 11th, 2022 at 4:55 PM ^
The only correct answer
September 11th, 2022 at 5:58 PM ^
Get why you're saying it, but disagree. I think JJ is actually a naturally better passer, and a quicker runner to boot. But, this is based on my memory from watching Henson however many years ago....
September 11th, 2022 at 12:43 PM ^
He's at least the best quarterback since Nick Sheridan
September 11th, 2022 at 2:33 PM ^
He’s the best QB since the QB that started against Hawaii the last time we played them.
September 11th, 2022 at 12:43 PM ^
Sliced bread.
September 11th, 2022 at 12:43 PM ^
Cade McNamara
September 11th, 2022 at 1:09 PM ^
This 100%. Plus, the staff needs to keep Cade happy as you just never know when we'll need him
September 11th, 2022 at 1:51 PM ^
Cade's apparent regression has been absolutely shocking. I mean, Davis Warren and Alan Bowman have both performed better than Cade has. I get the sense that something is going on with him. His body language after throwing that bad INT yesterday seemed like he was mad at himself for not having his head in the game. JJ is clearly the best QB on the roster, but Cade struggling so mightily against two bad teams after having led us to a B1G Championship last year is really unexpected.
September 11th, 2022 at 2:47 PM ^
Cade's body language after the INT said, "oh my God, I lost my job". The competition got to him and he was pressing, trying to play out of his comfort zone. He tried to make a throw he had no business attempting.
Now, he needs to accept what happened and build himself back up, since I'm pretty certain we will need him this season.
September 11th, 2022 at 5:20 PM ^
There really isn’t a regression. Cade is innately risk averse and conservative. He looks to take the safest option possible on every play. Whether it’s throwing at a certain angle so that it’s not intercepted but also not easily caught, check downs, not running, overthrowing the ball on long routes so that it has no chance of being intercepted, at least.
Not throwing interceptions and keeping the offense on the field was what the team needed. Now that JJ is looking Johnny Manziel, he’s being forced to go out of his comfort zone, make plays with his arms and legs which something he visibly can NOT do at JJ’s level. He’s competing against a guy with Denard level electricity, something that is not him at all.
September 11th, 2022 at 7:23 PM ^
Cade's check down on third and long was so on point for him.
September 12th, 2022 at 9:25 AM ^
I'd love him to get in this game this weekend and just ball out. You'd think he will get a few series (maybe more if he does well) but man he just seem so off. I'd love to see him get in and toss it around a bit and get his confidence up. He is a captain and I would imagine Harbaugh and Co will help lift him up this week as much as they can.
Tough pill to swallow either way for him.
September 11th, 2022 at 2:05 PM ^
You know how the saying goes, though: there's no more popular player on the team than the backup quarterback.
JJ will get his chance at adversity too. Cade needs to stay frosty.
September 11th, 2022 at 12:44 PM ^
I don't know, but (it seems like) he can run like Dennard and throw at least as well as Henne
it's too early to tell
September 11th, 2022 at 12:49 PM ^
Nope. I checked the student registry and there is nobody with the surname Tacopants currently enrolled.
September 11th, 2022 at 1:02 PM ^
he can run like Dennard
Outlandish comparison and misspelling of a legend's name, amazing.
September 11th, 2022 at 1:22 PM ^
+1 for outlandish. Good word but one you don’t see much.
September 11th, 2022 at 1:46 PM ^
He will never match him as a runner. He could be so much better as a passer that he could be better. But we are a long way from making that comparison.
September 11th, 2022 at 2:01 PM ^
Hopefully better than Henne. He had issues to the left side. See wode open miss of Manningham on second drive of 2006 game
September 11th, 2022 at 9:00 PM ^
Didn't Manningham slip on that one, or am I thinking of a different play.
Obligatory declaration that Crable's hit was legal.
September 11th, 2022 at 2:55 PM ^
Not even our WRs or CBs can run like Shoelace. Put some respect on that name.
September 11th, 2022 at 5:23 PM ^
Johnny Manziel couldn’t run like shoelace. I dunno, I’m no sports analyst but I don’t think I’ve seen an electric runner in Denard’s vein ever since.
September 11th, 2022 at 12:45 PM ^
60+ years old and for this ONE game I have never seen a better Michigan qb performance. We will see how it unfolds going forward.
September 11th, 2022 at 1:39 PM ^
Please go back and watch Tom Brady against Alabama in the Orange Bowl. That was against real competition and Brady single handedly won that game. Incredible, incredible performance. Better than this one against a bad team that barely showed any effort, let alone a pass rush.
September 11th, 2022 at 1:56 PM ^
Well, Brady and David Terrell.
September 11th, 2022 at 1:47 PM ^
Lol Henson in our last victory at the shoe says you’re wrong !
September 11th, 2022 at 3:16 PM ^
Here's to grabbing a dub this year in columbus
September 11th, 2022 at 12:46 PM ^
Purdue O’Korn
September 11th, 2022 at 1:49 PM ^
Why would you do this to us?
September 11th, 2022 at 12:47 PM ^
He has to beat OSU first... Let's stop piling on the pressure please.
September 11th, 2022 at 12:47 PM ^
If he reaches his full potential, 1879.
September 11th, 2022 at 12:47 PM ^
It's a different era, but Jim Harbaugh. Wouldn't surprise me at all if JJ ended up as a Heisman finalist next year, like Harbaugh was in 1986.
September 11th, 2022 at 12:53 PM ^
That is a great comparison. Why didn't I think of that.
September 11th, 2022 at 3:08 PM ^
JJ has the potential to be a Heisman finalist this year. We will be an undefeated, top 5 team the entire season…history shows our QB should be a Heisman finalist.
September 11th, 2022 at 12:51 PM ^
Henne
#GoBlue
September 11th, 2022 at 1:41 PM ^
As great as Henne was I'll always remember that overthrow of a wide open, streaking Manningham in the 1 vs 2 in 2006 vs OSU... Great QB but damn...
September 11th, 2022 at 2:47 PM ^
McCarthy is better, plus he can actually run. Henne overthrew a lot of passes. We'll see how JJ does against better competition.
September 11th, 2022 at 12:52 PM ^
Since the Remarkable Jake Rudddock.
September 11th, 2022 at 2:19 PM ^
Hell yes, the rough and readdy, reddoubtable, raddical, riddiculously steaddy Ruddock.
I just wish he could have played here at the same time as...Northfleet.
In all seriousness, another vote for best since McNamara for now. I'd like a few more games to truly see what all we've got here.
September 11th, 2022 at 12:52 PM ^
Honestly, this all seemed like a setup for Cade. I feel bad for him. Let's see if they really open up the playbook against Iowa, psu, etc... Or if we're back in conservative mode again. We've always assumed that QB was the limiting factor, but let's see if the guy with all the tools is given the keys to the car.
Also, Hawaii's defense was a joke and jj stared his receivers down a lot. Obviously no reason to go to your 3rd read when they're all running free.
To answer your question... Probably henne. If he wins. Hopefully more than henne in November
September 11th, 2022 at 12:57 PM ^
It’s not a setup if you’re expected to play better than the guy you’re actually better than. And then you don’t do that in consecutive games.
September 11th, 2022 at 1:13 PM ^
That's the result. I'm referring to the intention. And I don't think it was nefarious. Just a tough spot to be in for Harbaugh. Probably worked out as expected
September 11th, 2022 at 1:59 PM ^
I don't know why you're getting downvoted, but I agree that anointing JJ the second coming of Tom Brady and Denard Robinson rolled into one is premature. Yes, JJ is clearly the best QB on the roster and yes, he was great against a non-existent pass rush and junior varsity secondary. I'm excited to see how he performs against a B1G defense.
September 11th, 2022 at 2:29 PM ^
I agree to some measure, and not just as someone who was supporting Cade as the season started. I think Jim was reluctant to simply bench the guy who just won his team a championship and this was his way out, giving them both the chance to showcase what they had. It's kinda crappy to do if he knew in camp that JJ had clearly surpassed Cade and so already knew what verdict the court of fan opinion was going to hand down, but maybe he didn't, I don't know. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a set-up, but I do get where you're coming from.