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Michigan’s Pep Hamilton says Shea Patterson has ‘it’ factor
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Shea Patterson and the Michigan offense wasn’t too impressive in the season opener against Notre Dame. The passing game struggled, the rushing attack was stagnant and the Wolverines couldn’t get the ball across the goal line.
Everyone went into panic mode after that first outing.
In the two weeks following the Week 1 contest against Notre Dame, Patterson and Michigan have looked much crisper on the offensive side of the ball. They’ve totaled 94 points in blowout wins over Western Michigan and SMU. Things appear to finally be clicking.
On Wednesday morning, passing game coordinator Pep Hamilton joined the Jamie and Stoney Show on 97.1 The Ticket to talk about the improvement of Michigan’s offense over the last two weeks, as well as Patterson’s development. He had some really high praise for the quarterback.
“He’s a playmaker,” Hamilton said. “If you look at some of the plays he’s made outside the pocket, some of those plays, some of the calls were designed quarterback movements, but then there were times he got off schedule, he had to abort the pocket and you see elite arm talent. Instinctively he can do the things you can’t coach.
“He has ‘it’. He has the combination of instincts and talent that you desire in your quarterback, and I think it’s shown on a week-to-week basis you have to account for Shea both in the pocket and outside the pocket. That’s what we desire to have at the quarterback position here.”
Patterson has put up solid numbers through the first three weeks of his Michigan career. He’s thrown for 589 yards, six touchdowns with just two interceptions while completing over 70 percent of his passes.
But Patterson’s impact can’t simply be measured by the numbers. He’s demonstrated a great ability to extend plays and has made incredible throws over the last two weeks.
Now, with the non-conference schedule over, the Wolverines enter the challenging part of the schedule. Patterson will have to prove he still has the ‘it’ factor against some of the B1G’s best defenses.
Through the first three weeks though, he’s done a pretty good job. And he’s received the approval of his coaches.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB