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Michigan football: Cade McNamara is still the right QB for Wolverines
By Adam Biggers
Published:
Michigan QB Cade McNamara had a career day Saturday against Michigan State.
Ordinarily, completing 28 of 44 pass attempts for a career-high of 383 yards and 2 TDs, with only 1 pick, would have been enough to beat any team, home or away.
Despite a personal-best in yardage and a 64 percent success rate on passes, the No. 6 Wolverines still lost 37-33 to the No. 8 Spartans in what was easily one of the best installments of the in-state rivalry ever witnessed. For the first time sine 1964, both teams were undefeated and in the top 10 of the Associated Press rankings.
Saturday was historical.
It’s too bad that McNamara came out on the losing end.
But it wasn’t his fault.
He did everything necessary to win the most important game of the season thus far. Other than the 1 interception, he was nearly flawless in execution and delivery. His first long pass of the game went to the house, via WR Andrel Anthony, quickly setting the tone for what looked to be a big day on the horizon.
The Wolverines’ 4-point loss to the Spartans wasn’t the fault of McNamara, who, despite an outcry from the UM fanbase, is still the right man for the job in Ann Arbor.
Forget that Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is 2-13 when facing top-10 opponents. Forget the fact that UM has lost 2 straight to MSU. Forget that true freshman JJ McCarthy is the next in line.
None of that matters, and it still doesn’t change the fact that McNamara — whose Wolverines are now 7-1 — fits perfectly within Michigan’s offense.
No other Harbaugh-era QB at Michigan has thrown for 383 yards, let alone against a bitter rival.
McNamara did everything right Saturday and had the stat line to support what should have been a victory.
“This one stings, for sure,” McNamara said during the postgame press conference. “You know, we’ve got to be able to bounce back, and can’t let this game define our season.”
He’s right, too.
One loss shouldn’t define Michigan’s season, nor should it be an indictment on McNamara, who was visibly upset while speaking with the media in East Lansing.
The Wolverines are still on track to compete for a Big Ten championship; it’s just that the road has gotten a little longer and bumpier — but a conference title, on the shoulders of McNamara, isn’t out of reach after losing a heartbreaker to the Spartans, who trailed 30-14 in the 3rd quarter.
Sure, Harbaugh has a star waiting in the wings in McCarthy. But he also has a star who trots out as the starter every Saturday, and that’s McNamara, who looked more than steady while opening up his passing attack. Meanwhile, the true freshman McCarthy fumbled twice, losing 1 of them, while also going 3-for-4 passing for 23 yards and a TD.
Ordinarily, in a perfect world, McNamara’s stat line would have been enough to defeat any team. His performance was enough Saturday, it’s just that his team — primarily the defense, which had no answer for Mr. 5 TDs Kenneth Walker III — failed to provide enough support. Putting up 30-plus points against the Spartans, striking first to Anthony and flirting with 400 passing yards should have done the job in East Lansing.
It didn’t, though.
But it wasn’t McNamara’s fault. He’s still Michigan’s best option at QB. He’ll continue to lead the Wolverines in the same way he’s done all season: Calm and collected, efficient and steady.
Adam Biggers brings his expertise on the Michigan beat to Saturday Tradition. Follow him on Twitter @AdamBiggers81.