Michigan getting back in the QB market
Justin Martin 4 star QB that was committed to Cal.
September 21st, 2021 at 4:44 PM ^
Awesome. I'm loving the future as I hope we get to see plenty of JJ and then (hopefully) Dante Moore.
Anybody else intrigued by the speed JJ showed on that Read Option keeper last week? Along with the arm ofcourse the young man looks like the real deal.
September 21st, 2021 at 4:50 PM ^
Hell yeah, I think it's a safe bet we're all stoked about the wheels on that kid
September 21st, 2021 at 5:59 PM ^
I'm willing to take my negs, but I actually think we should start JJ over Cade right now. JJ has a higher ceiling which we'll need for the Game. Let's get him all the game action we can.
Yep, hawt take. Neg away.
September 21st, 2021 at 6:19 PM ^
No, you need the guy who is just solid overall right now, IMO. I do think McCarthy has a legit chance to take the job at some point this year, but I think next year is more likely. He'll play either way this year, so I'd just keep doing what is working.
September 21st, 2021 at 6:19 PM ^
Party like it's 1999 all over again.
And let's start Henson over Brady while we're at it!
September 21st, 2021 at 6:39 PM ^
Todd Collins FTW!
September 21st, 2021 at 6:52 PM ^
I remember being the irrational freshman calling for Collins to start after Grbac was healthy.
September 21st, 2021 at 7:43 PM ^
to me grbac threw the best most consistent deep ball i've seen at UM. he put air under it and allowed his guys (desmond) room to run under it away from the defenders.
i seem to remember collins constantly overthrowing deep balls early in his career. he was damn good as an upper classmen though; better than penn state's collins.
September 21st, 2021 at 8:29 PM ^
While I primarily agree with this description, the Collins deep ball to Toomer against Colorado may be the prettiest deep throw I've ever seen from a UM QB...of course, no idea at the time it was all just a set up for a deeply scarring wound.
September 22nd, 2021 at 12:28 AM ^
Cade is ranked the 2nd best QB in the league according to PFF. It’s only game three but the kid is only going to get more comfortable. JJ has crazy skills. His time will come.
September 22nd, 2021 at 5:09 AM ^
I just hope neither of them takes the transfer portal route.
September 22nd, 2021 at 10:06 AM ^
JJ didn’t come to Michigan to transfer. He was Michigan’s #1 recruiter last year and came to Michigan to make his mark at Michigan.
I don’t see him leaving.
The perfect scenario is Cade has a year that gets him on draft board discussions and then crushes next year and goes pro.
September 22nd, 2021 at 1:10 PM ^
I think he has too many physical limitations to go early, which would almost require a round 1-3 grade. His height is the biggie.
September 22nd, 2021 at 5:05 PM ^
Great college QBs aren’t always great NFL QBs. I don’t disagree with you but the really good NFL QBs require the right smarts ahead the best physical skills.
Brian Griese as a sophomore had one of the weakest arms in you would see in D1. And he stayed all four years.
Cade’s arm is strong enough and he is accurate. This team very well could keep winning and how do bench an unbeaten QB?
September 23rd, 2021 at 12:40 PM ^
I didn't say he should be benched, nothing like that at all. Actually, I said the exact opposite in another comment. He's playing well, so keep playing him.
My comment was strictly about his NFL future. I do think he'll get picked up, but I'd be astounded if he left early as that would require a high round grade in an underclass QB. I think his height will preclude him from that. How many past NFL QB's drafted in rounds 1-3 were within an inch of his height (you know our roster has him an inch taller than he really is).
September 22nd, 2021 at 8:22 AM ^
Grbac's deep throws were sublime... I would love to see that ability in Cade right now - the offense would be unstoppable! I don't think he's too far off, but his WRs aren't exactly Desmond clones, either.
Is it too much to hope that CJ and Daylen become kinda sorta like Desmond and Anthony?
September 22nd, 2021 at 9:30 AM ^
Come on man, wouldn't you want to be Todd Collins. Dude made a tidy sum being a clipboard carrier for 15 years. Sign me up for that gig. Working out pretty good for Henne too!
September 22nd, 2021 at 10:50 AM ^
This person gets it.
For the record, I liked Collins as a QB at Michigan. Debate his ability as an underclassman all one wants -- he was a lifetime ahead of Sheridan, Threet, Forcier, Peters, JOK, Speight, Patterson at any point of his career.
Gardner gets a pass for being the #5 ranked QB as a recruit but the coaching staff fucking him up.
Let that list of recent history marinate a bit too...
Woof!
And +1 on the backup QB role... yeah, not HOF material but gets to retire at 40 when we're still slaving away for the man by way of comparison and with millions in the bank and his brain intact.
September 21st, 2021 at 7:01 PM ^
"And let's start Henson over Brady while we're at it!"
Hmm, I wonder how that worked out.
September 21st, 2021 at 7:22 PM ^
Well, it never happened, so …
September 21st, 2021 at 7:44 PM ^
1999 msu
September 21st, 2021 at 8:10 PM ^
Brady started that game. Just like he started every game at Michigan when he and Drew were teammates.
September 22nd, 2021 at 8:13 AM ^
I still believe playing Henson over Brady cost us a national championship that year. My recollection in the MSU game was they played Henson too much and it cost them the game. I think Alabama and Michigan were the two best teams that year. Either would have beaten FSU or VA Tech.
September 22nd, 2021 at 9:23 AM ^
That 99 season was my first after graduation. All I know is that the Orange Bowl was INSANE. I was watching it with my friends and a ton of other M alums at Joe's on Weed in Chicago. Absolute madhouse.
September 21st, 2021 at 7:17 PM ^
So what you're saying is that Cade is going to win 8 Super Bowls?
September 21st, 2021 at 7:25 PM ^
I don’t like to limit college players like that- I was thinking 9+
September 21st, 2021 at 7:23 PM ^
Man keeping the best WB in history on the to keep Henson happy, I like Lloyd and all but I think he deserved that Yankees karma. We the fans did not. It was pretty evident who the better QB was the number of time Tom came in and saved the game.
September 21st, 2021 at 8:36 PM ^
Exactly. I was at that MSU game and it was my opinion that if Coach Carr had stopped the rotation of QBs and just let Brady do his thing we would have won. I understand that Coach Carr was in a difficult predicament at the time because he did not want to see his prized QB recruit, and local hero, walk out the door to focus on baseball, but it was obvious who the best QB was all season.
Brady was a clutch, confident, and obvious leader with the intangibles. What he wasn’t was dynamic or dramatic. Henson gave you the wiggle but was inconsistent, inaccurate, and anything but clutch. All of these things are forgivable for a young player, but not at the expense of a seasoned veteran like Brady who had proven his mettle and had an obvious flair for playing his best at the biggest moments on the biggest stages.
Let’s not make the same mistake again. JJ may be destined for greatness but we have barely seen what Cade can do yet, though it appears that he too has the leadership and intangibles that elevates the level of everybody’s play.
September 21st, 2021 at 10:14 PM ^
Agree about Brady but don’t sell Henson short either. When he did play nearly a full season for Michigan he was fantastic.
Henson could live to 99 and never make a bigger mistake than choosing baseball over football. He was a very, very good QB
September 21st, 2021 at 10:35 PM ^
Henson last year was probably the best year of QB play ever at Michigan. Brady was a better QB when they rotated in 1999, but the 2000 season was fireworks. It isn't a coincidence that 2000 is the last time we won in the Shoe.
September 21st, 2021 at 7:25 PM ^
But the party’s over oops
September 22nd, 2021 at 11:06 AM ^
I firmly believe Cade should be the starter right now. But playing devil's advocate with counter examples--
Trevor Lawrence over Kelly Bryant
Tua over Jalen Hurts
Not saying JJ is either of them but let's not count out the true freshman, especially as the season goes on.
September 21st, 2021 at 7:02 PM ^
The Cade who just had a 100% DSR on the latest UFR? Let's not do the Joe Milton thing and get hypnotized by potential. He can start when he's a better quarterback.
September 21st, 2021 at 7:06 PM ^
Done.
September 21st, 2021 at 7:37 PM ^
Yep, just in time to take a cheap shot vs Wisconsin next weekend. Can add him to the list of derailed UM QBs by the Badgers.
September 21st, 2021 at 7:42 PM ^
"Higher ceiling" is what the Joe Milton proponents said in calling for him to start. How did that work out?
September 21st, 2021 at 10:06 PM ^
Well JJ’s floor is significantly higher than Milton’s floor to be completely fair.
September 22nd, 2021 at 10:23 AM ^
Even if he threw left handed wearing an eye patch.
September 21st, 2021 at 10:09 PM ^
Your wish is my command
September 22nd, 2021 at 10:06 AM ^
If Cade has a bad game that leads to a loss or throws multiple picks, then that’s a fair comment. Until then, I think it’s Cade all the way.
September 22nd, 2021 at 3:33 PM ^
Wow, a lot of replies to my comment—and not a single personal attack. Nice! Anyway, I hear ya. It was hard for me not to downvote myself. My hot take is almost indefensible. Here’s my reasoning in case anyone cares. If JJ is the eventual starter (even before Cade matriculates) and has the ceiling we believe he has, let’s not waste time and get him into more games right now. Get him as much experience as we can and let’s find out what he can do. Against OSU, we’ll need more than just a game manager at QB. Our defense isn’t good enough or deep enough to play field position--ball control all game against OSU. The QB will need to attack downfield, make the tight throw, and scramble for third-down conversions. He may even need to “win the game by himself” as the phrase goes—ie, do something spectacular, like seemingly every OSU QB has done against us in the last 15 years. I think JJ has that ability. I’m not sure Cade does.
To be fair to Cade, and the reason I understand the downvotes, is that Cade has done everything asked of him so far. He hasn’t been asked to throw downfield much but when he has he’s been successful (two throws to Corn Johnson, one to All down the seam, in three games). He doesn’t turn the ball over and has been more than competent in what he’s been asked to do. And who knows, once he’s asked to do more, he may continue to shine. He also won the starting job outright which would suggest he was/is the best QB on the roster. I’m pretty sure JH knows more about this team than I do and if JJ was better, for whatever reason, he’d already be starting. So, yeah, I get it. Feel free to continue to neg away.
As for the Joe Milton comparison that some have mentioned, I believe the analogy is off. In Milton’s case, he was the outright starter out of training camp and Dylan/Cade were the backups with the unknown potential. Milton was not the backup who later came in to replace a competent starter based on potential alone. After three games it was painfully clear Milton’s actual performance was not good enough to keep the team from finding out what Dylan/Cade could do and it was time to make a switch in starter. This year, Cade is the starter and JJ is the backup with the unknown potential. And although Cade’s performance does not warrant being replaced, per se, my position is that JJ’s potential (and the flashes shown so far) are enough to make the switch now because we’ll need what JJ brings to the table against OSU. Let’s see what the kid’s got. If he has it, we’ll need it.
Anyway, this has been fun. Cheers!
September 21st, 2021 at 10:19 PM ^
There should be no surprise. McCarthy is, by far, the most talented QB Harbaugh has had at Michigan and will soon be the starter.
September 21st, 2021 at 4:47 PM ^
So the question is why. Is Denegal a decommit risk (whether his choice or ours)? Are we looking to add 2 QBs in this class? I don't see Martin as some can't-miss we have to shoot our shot on, so there must be some part of the picture that the staff isn't satisfied with.
September 21st, 2021 at 4:58 PM ^
Experts are pretty down on Denegal and his abilities in general. He’s been a steady and consistent faller in the rankings. Big guy, not super athletic, long throwing motion. Essentially Speight as a recruit.
Not a huge deal in a class between McCarthy and (hopefully) Moore. But if you can get an upgrade over what you currently have, then you should do it.
September 21st, 2021 at 5:00 PM ^
He's a higher rated kid and Denegal seemed like the "settled" option (lower rated and sliding down the rankings). Since he opened up his commitment, kick the tires and see if he's interested.
Downside is Denegal gets upset and decommits. Upside is this kid commits. Or nothing changes.
September 21st, 2021 at 5:06 PM ^
We're by far Denegal's best option so I'm guessing they think he'll stay committed even while they court others.
September 21st, 2021 at 10:11 PM ^
My guess is the coaching staff isn’t totally against taking two QBs this class. There’s a greater than zero chance that either JJ or Cade transfer out depending on the QB battle in the spring. Which would leave the winner, Villari, and the QB of this class as the only scholarship QBs.
September 21st, 2021 at 11:50 PM ^
I think Alan Bowman will still have eligibility next year and has Power 5 starting experience, so the QB room isn’t quite as bare as you suggest.
September 21st, 2021 at 4:48 PM ^
McNamara is looking good, but not draftable good, and has a couple years of eligibility left. JJ is hot on his heels. Gotta make recruiting high caliber QBs difficult.
September 21st, 2021 at 4:51 PM ^
Doesn’t seem to be a problem for elite programs eg OSU, Alabama, Clemson etc.