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Jim Harbaugh explains Michigan’s plans for utilizing Cade McNamara, JJ McCarthy at QB
By Michael Daly
Published:
With just over one month before the regular season begins, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is pleased with quarterbacks Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy.
Last season, McNamara and McCarthy saw significant playing time throughout the season. Ultimately, McNamara played in 14 games for the Wolverines, while McCarthy appeared in 11 games. Both quarterbacks were utilized throughout the season and Harbaugh was asked at the B1G Media Days about his plans to use both quarterbacks in 2022.
Harbaugh recognized how talented each quarterback was and he set parameters for how the starting quarterback will be determined. Harbaugh outlined how he will choose the winner of the QB competition: “the best player is going to play,” Harbaugh said.
He made an argument for how difficult it will be for McCarthy to beat McNamara out for the job, but he also recognized that McCarthy was going to make it difficult for McNamara to win the job:
“Cade McNamara is going to be really tough to beat out for the starting quarterback job,” Harbaugh said. “J.J. McCarthy is going to be really tough to beat out for the starting quarterback job.”
Michigan has two quarterbacks who can lead the offense for the entire season and it will be a grueling battle heading into fall camp. Even with a starter, Michigan could implement a dual-QB system again. After all, it’s a system that worked out well in 2021.
“Both had phenomenal seasons, J.J. in his true freshman year, Cade in his junior year,” said Harbaugh. “Both played outstanding winning football every time they went out there.
“The really cool stat on Cade McNamara is over 50 percent of his drives end in points. I don’t know exactly what the number is for J.J., but it seems like every time he got in there and led a drive, it ended in points as well.”