Michigan QB battle: Jim Harbaugh suggests Cade McNamara, J.J. McCarthy competition could run into season

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is open to the potential for taking part in each Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy nicely into the 2022 season if the heated quarterback battle can’t be solved by Week 1 towards Colorado State. McNamara, a senior, and McCarthy, a sophomore, have been competing onerous this offseason to be QB1 after sharing snaps final season. 

“This can be a excellent distinctive scenario. We’ve two quarterbacks which can be taking part in at a excessive starter stage and we’re gonna hold competing and it is attainable there is a starter by the primary recreation, after which attainable that it performs into the season.” Harbaugh stated Wednesday, per MLive.com. “Then we decide the one which’s gonna assist the crew win, who’s gonna be the perfect particular person to play quarterback to win the sport.”

McNamara took the lion’s share of snaps in his first full season as a starter in 2021, finishing 64.2% of his 327 passes for two,576 yards and 15 touchdowns whereas main the Wolverines to the Faculty Soccer Playoff. Michigan, in the meantime, posted one of many 20 most effective yards-per-play offenses within the nation. 

Alternatively, McCarthy performed quite a few snaps as a change-of-pace backup, displaying off a dynamic arm and spectacular dashing means. McCarthy performed nicely in reduction of McNamara within the CFP semifinal loss to Georgia, throwing for 131 yards, dashing for twenty-four and scoring the lone Wolverines landing of the sport. 

McCarthy was a five-star recruit and the No. 5 quarterback within the 2021 recruiting class. He has been thought of the quarterback of the long run in Ann Arbor for years. McNamara, nevertheless, hit all the appropriate notes on the way in which to a Large Ten championship and upset victory over rival Ohio State. Including to the layers of the offseason battle was McCarthy’s shoulder damage, which severely restricted him through the spring. 

Listed below are key takeaways from Michigan’s quarterback competitors because it stretches in the direction of the season opener on Sept. 3.  

Passing recreation should enhance

McNamara was requested to handle video games through the Wolverines’ run to the playoff, however the job will not be fairly as easy in 2022. Main rusher Hassan Haskins is off to the NFL, and the protection misplaced three superstars in Aidan Hutchinson, David Ojabo and Daxton Hill. 

There isn’t any cause to imagine the protection and working recreation will fall off a cliff, however the passing recreation must be extra productive for Michigan to be a top-10 crew. McNamara threw for fewer than 200 yards in 10 video games final season and solely eclipsed 300 yards as soon as. 

The passing recreation was environment friendly, nevertheless, which means there’s unexplored upside if McNamara throws extra passes. Nonetheless, McCarthy offers a extra dynamic element together with his legs and talent to throw off steadiness. The battle might come down as to whether McCarthy can get extra constant or if McNamara can get extra dynamic.  

Extra weapons, extra expectations

Michigan confirmed actual upside at receiver final season when Ronnie Bell caught a sensational 76-yard landing within the opener towards Western Michigan. Sadly, he tore his ACL in the identical recreation and the pass-catching group turned much less dynamic. Fortunately, Bell is again, together with nearly each main receiving goal on the roster. 

Cornelius Johnson and Roman Wilson mixed for greater than 1,000 yards receiving, whereas tight finish Erick All caught 38 passes. Regulate freshman receiver Darrius Clemons, who dominated the spring recreation together with his bodily body. 

The items are there for Michigan to place collectively an elite passing offense, particularly when mixed with one of many higher offensive strains within the nation. 

Schedule does some favors

Because of a canceled home-and-home sequence with UCLA, Michigan boasts one of many best nonconference schedules within the nation with Colorado State, Hawaii and UConn on the slate. Maryland and Iowa might trigger some points to begin Large Ten play, however each video games — together with an Oct. 8 matchup at Indiana — ought to be Michigan wins. 

Harbaugh might simply play each quarterbacks all through the primary six video games of the season in preparation for a marquee matchup towards Penn State on Oct. 15. That is adopted by a revenge recreation towards No. 15 Michigan State two weeks later. There’s loads of time for Michigan’s offense to seek out its rhythm earlier than the guts of the Large Ten schedule. 

The schedule is mild sufficient that the Wolverines simply have to have a quarterback rolling by the point The Sport towards Ohio State rolls round. Throwing quick passes will not do a lot good if it is a shootout towards Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud and his group of receivers.