Cade appreciation thread
Lost in the feel good vibes of Saturday is what likely must be a tough time right now for a young man who delivered spectacularly for all of us last year and was the key reason our program, coach and university were able to enjoy success we have not enjoyed around these parts in what feels like a lifetime.
Cade has earned lifelong adoration from Michigan for his success on the field, and for the incredible way he has carried himself at such a young age.
Every Wolverine fan is hopeful that Cade will leave an incredible mark on this season just as he has done in years past.
Wolverine royalty for life. Much love.
September 12th, 2022 at 3:06 PM ^
Bang, bang!!
September 12th, 2022 at 3:08 PM ^
Bang, bang, bang!!!
September 12th, 2022 at 8:21 PM ^
Going Price is Right on you and one upping you with a Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang
September 12th, 2022 at 5:13 PM ^
We should give him a Standing Ovation next time he goes in!
<said before ducking for cover!>
September 12th, 2022 at 3:11 PM ^
Agreed. He seems like a wonderful young man, respected by the coaches, and looked up to by his teammates. He'll always have the Championship ring. Go Blue!
September 12th, 2022 at 3:11 PM ^
I'm sure there will be a key moment this season we need Cade to come through like he did last season. Go Cade.
Team Cade convert. JJ earned it. Hopefully he will continue to do so. Will always be a big fan of Cade though.
September 12th, 2022 at 3:12 PM ^
Hear, hear! He is going down as a legend for ending the drought. He was the perfect QB for the team we had last year.
September 12th, 2022 at 3:29 PM ^
He. . . wasn't, in fact he threw a brutal pick in The Game, so "perfect" is already off. He was a liability in the run game, still is, and threw multiple passes into the helmets of his O-line. I don't think we're doing him favors by putting him on a pedestal.
He was, however, a team player through all the adversity, was very good at avoiding sacks, and kept improving as the season went on. He wasn't close to All-B1G, but there's a juggernaut of a Michigan offense out there with Cade building off last season's momentum, making elite pre-snap reads, protecting the ball, and giving his teammates a chance.
That he hasn't is genuinely frustrating! I don't think booing is the way to get the point across, but it's not so much that Cade is playing worse than JJ; Cade is playing way worse than Cade. You know, the one that helped us beat Ohio State. The Cade we've seen the last two weeks is frankly quite terrible, and Imma say that because we know he can be way better than that!
September 12th, 2022 at 3:59 PM ^
Get off my lawn!!!!
Actually, cade has looked bad, but i bet his confidence is really down and maybe has teammates aren't behind him as much. I am also Team Cade, but have converted. We will likely need Cade though this year.
September 13th, 2022 at 1:45 PM ^
I think it's terrible that people are booing when Cade takes the field.
If you're booing quarterback coaching decisions, don't. It's too easy for the player to take it personally.
We should never be booing these kids. Vent on social media if you must but don't do it at the stadium.
You wanna boo pro players, knock yourself out.
September 12th, 2022 at 3:13 PM ^
Class A++ act! Feel for him and position he's been put in. Harbaugh had to hedge in spring/fall due to JJ's shoulder injury / rehab. Warren hadn't yet established himself as a capable backup, which he's trending. JJ and a lot of uncertainty would be a tough situation to enter the season.
September 13th, 2022 at 1:07 AM ^
Warren showed me enough that he could start after JJ leaves.
September 12th, 2022 at 3:13 PM ^
Cade!
September 12th, 2022 at 3:14 PM ^
Great leader. Made the throws when we needed them last year. True Michigan Man.
Long season upcoming, lots of football to be played. Hang in there Cade!
September 12th, 2022 at 3:15 PM ^
He beat Ohio State and won the B1G Championship. He should never buy his own beer if there are Michigan fans around.
September 12th, 2022 at 3:18 PM ^
He's earned the appreciation and wish him nothing but the best.
That said, I hope his "mark" on the team this year is primarily support and leadership as this would mean JJ stays healthy and is performing at a very high level.
If he does play significant minutes, then it's great knowing we have a battle tested backup capable of winning big games.
September 12th, 2022 at 11:21 PM ^
Our backup QB situation has to be the envy of most of FBS, for both of the last two years. Last year it was great knowing that our backup was ultra talented, if too young to be trustworthy. This year it's great to know our backup is battle proven, a great leader, and trusted by his coaches and teammates. It's an embarrassment of riches and Cade is why we got here.
September 12th, 2022 at 3:22 PM ^
Can we just have a pinned cade megathread rather than one a day? I don’t think a wolverine on this board has had as many appreciation threads as cade has these last 10 days.
it may be more than Aiden, Devin, and Denard combined.
September 12th, 2022 at 3:49 PM ^
If you count his coaching and player threads I bet Mike Hart has it by a lot.
September 12th, 2022 at 4:01 PM ^
Eh, there were games where I am almost positive we had Denard appreciation threads for each series in which he played, so that likely inflated the total somewhat. Just a bit.
September 12th, 2022 at 4:34 PM ^
Personally, I think it’s about time for another Michael Barrett thread
September 12th, 2022 at 9:39 PM ^
In the offseason, Michael Barrett was bitten by a King Cobra.
Sadly. after five days of agonizing pain, the cobra died.
September 12th, 2022 at 3:23 PM ^
Even though many here, including myself, have been critical of elements of his play, he was a damn good QB last year. I hope he rediscovers that consistent and sharp play this year as he may be called on to step up in case of injuries or extenuating circumstances. I know that QB is still in there. If you’ve got the time or desire, go rewatch this 24 minute(!) highlight video of him from last season. An unforgettable season.
September 12th, 2022 at 4:50 PM ^
Thanks for posting this. His critics need to watch it. Too many have forgotten so many of these moments. Outstanding!
September 12th, 2022 at 5:19 PM ^
Nobody has forgotten these moments, nor does it negate any of the criticism of Cade. Half of the highlight is slants, swing passes and passes 5 yards past the line of scrimmage. These were things Cade was good at last year, and has struggled with a bit this year.
Cade is criticized for being overly conservative and checking down too often. Cade is criticized for failing to keep on zone reads. Cade is criticized for relying too heavily on his pre-snap read and missing targets that come open during the play. Nothing in that highlight film disproves those criticisms.
Many people seem to be under the impression that criticisms of Cade means a dislike of him or a claim that he’s bad and it’s just not true. Cade is a fine QB that is more than capable of being a P5 starter. However, that does NOT mean he is a flawless QB and that there aren’t deficiencies in his game that can be pointed out. It also does not mean there aren’t better options at the position, nor that one of those better options is already on the roster.
We (as a fanbase) will forever be grateful for his contributions to a team that beat OSU, won the B1G, and made the CFP. But Cade was/is a good QB that could have been better. That’s all anyone is saying.
September 12th, 2022 at 6:12 PM ^
I certainly think most in the fanbase, and obviously you, are grateful for his contributions. But that's not "all anyone is saying." Throughout last year some people never stopped pining for JJ despite The Game and despite the BTCG. Some have said UM won in spite of him, that H2, the OL & the D were the only reasons. Some this year are posting that Cade doesn't even deserve the to be QB2. However few these are, they're noticeable and vocal. The booing was shameful (again it was a small infamous minority). People, as they will, took sides in this competition. I think some in the JJ camp did not seem grateful to me or to even acknowledge Cade's accomplishments as due to his talent and leadership.
For the record, I was in both camps. Still am. Love what JJ showed. I think he might be a generational talent. But I still very much appreciate Cade. I honestly hope UM doesn't need him again this year. But if they do, I'll be glad they have him.
September 12th, 2022 at 7:13 PM ^
Throughout last year some people never stopped pining for JJ despite The Game and despite the BTCG. Some have said UM won in spite of him, that H2, the OL & the D were the only reasons.
While I wouldn’t say Michigan won’t those games “in spite of him,” I’d also argue his production in those games wasn’t going to silence anyone. 159 yards and a pick against OSU, 169 a TD and a pick against Iowa. H2, the OL, and the D were certainly more of the reason we won those games than Cade. Which is a big reason I take issue with people trying to give Cade hero or legend status. His production simply doesn’t merit that.
So when you say “despite” those games, I’m not sure what you’re implying. It sounds like you’re saying his performance should have silenced any critics but I don’t know why you’d think that would be the case. Much like your implication with the highlight tape above.
It was more of the same from Cade. A conservative QB that was good, but his limitations and conservative nature prevented him from being great. But with the team that surrounded him it was enough to have a really great season. We can be grateful for what the team accomplished and still acknowledge that those limitations existed.
September 12th, 2022 at 8:16 PM ^
I'm not sure what you think you're debating in this Cade appreciation thread. This exchange highlights what I personally dislike about the Cade & JJ conversation within our fanbase. In this appreciation thread you cannot help yourself but write multiple paragraphs criticizing Cade and pointing out his flaws.
He is far from the most talented QB UM has had. He certainly didn't play perfectly. But Harbaugh chose correctly last year -- whatever his critics might have said. The critiquing last year wasn't going to change the staff's mind. And Cade lead the team to a championship despite many critics thinking he could not (and perhaps that he was an impediment). The "he won, but..." crowd isn't really appreciating Cade.
I think Harbaugh chose correctly again this year. I've literally seen no one who thinks JJ shouldn't have the job. I just wish you, and others like you, didn't feel the need to muddy this thread with critiques of Cade's game -- irrespective of their potential validity.
September 12th, 2022 at 8:30 PM ^
I’m debating things you are specifically saying because they’re off-base. You’ve implied twice now (your comment on the highlight video and “despite the OSU/BTCG” statement) that you think that criticism of Cade is unfair because the team won games.
This isn’t me criticizing Cade and pointing out his flaws. That dead horse has been beaten plenty already. I’m not saying anything about Cade that hasn’t been discussed by countless others or shown up in UFR. This is me pointing out that neither that highlight tape, nor the results of OSU/Iowa did anything to squash those criticisms despite what you’ve tried to claim on two separate comments.
My comment is directed at you and what you’re saying. Not Cade.
September 12th, 2022 at 8:52 PM ^
Your comments are in response to me, but they're certainly about him and as you say repeat things that have been said countless times. Let's just drop it. No need to have a meaningless debate.
I appreciate Cade. I love what he did last year. That is the point of the thread. Let's just leave it there now.
September 12th, 2022 at 10:06 PM ^
Yes I repeated the things said about him to highlight the fact that nothing you’ve brought up refutes those criticisms. Not to rag on Cade, but to demonstrate how your comments are terribly off base.
September 12th, 2022 at 10:43 PM ^
You came here more for debate than to show appreciation for Cade.
Do you love what Cade did for and with the team last year?
September 13th, 2022 at 5:43 AM ^
Your literal first comment is an attempt to dunk on people who have criticized Cade… You then doubled down on that… and you think “I’M” the one who came here to debate?
Buddy, don’t get upset because you threw out a few off base points and someone called you out on it. It’s okay. It happens.
September 13th, 2022 at 9:21 AM ^
So, no then. Okay.
September 12th, 2022 at 3:26 PM ^
Cade was a baller last year
September 12th, 2022 at 3:27 PM ^
Thank you Cade for everything you did last year. It was a cleansing of the soul last year. This year you have an opportunity to really cement you legacy here at Michigan.
Yes, everyone wants to play, but you were voted TEAM captain. It is very important that you embrace such a honor and lead this TEAM to another championship.
You can do this, there are many fans that love, support, and appreciate what you have done for Michigan.
Michigan football is about the TEAM, the TEAM, the TEAM.....
September 12th, 2022 at 3:30 PM ^
Cade is a Michigan legend, and always will be. Here’s hoping he Tom Bradys it in the NFL.
September 12th, 2022 at 5:35 PM ^
And then he cures cancer and brings about world peace.
September 12th, 2022 at 5:46 PM ^
I, too, have high expectations for Tom post-NFL.
September 12th, 2022 at 3:32 PM ^
I was surprised to see Cade seem like he wilted under pressure because this was something he didn't do last year. I know he didn't show his best these first two games and agree JJ needs to start. I hope Cade can relax as he will at some point be essential to this year's team. He made history and I hope that with pressure off he can keep growing and contributing.
September 12th, 2022 at 3:33 PM ^
Cade oozes with class. Very well spoken, intense in all of the right ways and a winner. The throw to All vs. Penn St last year and subsequent interview on the field will live on for long long time in Michigan lore.
September 12th, 2022 at 5:43 PM ^
McNamara did a fine job last year, but some of this is really over the top. The pass to All went about five yards, over the middle, to a guy who was wide open. It would be better described as the Eric All run after the catch.
September 12th, 2022 at 6:01 PM ^
You're afraid that all this praise for Cade is going to result in his elevation over your favorite QB, aren't you?
Who's your favorite QB again? Can't remember ... kidding!
September 12th, 2022 at 11:05 PM ^
That's what I've been thinking, Oracle -- I don't see how an honest assessment of his play could be anything other than "fine" or "decent." He played properly conservative football for a team intending to pound the rock, with good run checks and some nice throws mixed in here and there. He had some very shaky moments. We almost lost to Rutgers at home because of him.
I do think that throw to All, short as it was, deserves praise because of the moment in which he delivered it. The dude has some stones. But we won that contest because Hassan Haskins played the gutsiest game by a Michigan RB since Perry against State in '03. It's really hard to see Cade as something more than a solid, yet important role player on the '21 team. Does a decent player on a great team deserve to be called great because he was part of the team? Maybe, but I'm not so sure.
Still, the guy is a B1G Champ. The '21 team changed the direction of Michigan football in an unforgettable way. For that reason, yes, I would buy Cade a beer (many beers, in fact) if given the chance. I suppose the point of this thread is to get some good juju going for him. He certainly deserves that much. Booing him is some classless bullshit. We will probably need him for at least one key series this year, should JJ take a stinger of some kind. Here's hoping Cade gets it together and is ready for that moment, if it comes. I think he will be.
September 13th, 2022 at 4:45 AM ^
I agree that booing McNamara was ridiculous.
September 13th, 2022 at 1:13 AM ^
Not when you consider that Milton couldn't execute any of that, yet got far more plausible deniability that Cade had.
September 12th, 2022 at 3:37 PM ^
Absolutely a team player and the first QB to lead Michigan to a Big Ten title in 17 years. He deserves NOTHING BUT accolades. If he hasn't lived up to your expectations, that's on you. He led us to the college football playoffs. You, on the other hand, haven't done dick for Michigan football.
I look forward to the game in 2041 that honors the 20th anniversary of Michigan's 2021 Big Ten Championship and QB Cade McNamara.
September 12th, 2022 at 3:56 PM ^
Can't you celebrate Cade without shitting on someone else? I swear some Michigan fans can't be happy unless they are shitting on some portion of the fan base.
September 12th, 2022 at 4:47 PM ^
There is a segment of the fanbase who is very vocal that can't seem to celebrate Cade, or can't do so without shitting on what he did (more to the point what he didn't do) last year. They got louder in camp and were even louder after week 1. Some say UM won last year in spite of Cade. Some even booed him this year. That segment of the fanbase bothered me more than his post above.
I really appreciate Cade. I don't appreciate the fans that booed or the fans who can't lay off the criticism even in an appreciation thread. There are some in here already.
Go Blue!