Cade Calling Audibles
I was going to wait for the UFR on the offense against Maryland, but I'm obsessing on Michigan football right now and keep wondering about something. In the Maryland game, on a 3rd and 9 play, Cade seemed to move some receivers around pre-snap and then handed the ball to Haskins, who then almost broke a long run (got nipped on the ankle). The announcer said that Cade audibled into the run call. I don't hear about QB audibles much, or ever, in the college game. Does anyone know if Cade is getting the freedom now to audible? It's an interesting possibility heading into the OSU game, and especially because Cade is such a heady pre-snap QB.
November 22nd, 2021 at 1:47 PM ^
Cade has made checks at the line for much of the season and JJ checked into a play on the Sainristil TD.
November 22nd, 2021 at 1:52 PM ^
Harbaugh mentioned that Cade audibled on a play (can't remember which one), in his post-game interview with Jon Jansen.
November 22nd, 2021 at 2:00 PM ^
That was McCarthy on the incredible Sainristil TD pass.
November 22nd, 2021 at 2:02 PM ^
Woops - thanks for the correction.
I'd guess that if JJ is authorized to audible, then Cade is as well.
November 22nd, 2021 at 1:58 PM ^
Remember the start of the season when the Offense would stop and check the sideline before each call? Youre not seeing that quite as much later in the season.
November 22nd, 2021 at 2:03 PM ^
He does indeed check into/out of plays pre-snap. This ability is going to be critical vs those Wisconsin linebacker in two weeks.
November 22nd, 2021 at 2:11 PM ^
I like what you did there.
November 22nd, 2021 at 3:17 PM ^
What, did you like, that he's trying to jinx Wisconsin?
November 22nd, 2021 at 2:31 PM ^
I like your chutzpah and particularly the cut of your jib
November 22nd, 2021 at 7:42 PM ^
You mean Minnesota linebackers, surely.
November 22nd, 2021 at 2:06 PM ^
The only checks are pre-built into the play calls based on defensive alignments and such, it appears. Generally a full play change only comes from the sideline. And that’s really all you need the way the offense works.
November 22nd, 2021 at 2:26 PM ^
Isn't that how audibles typically work, though? You have a few pre-set calls, either tied to the original play call (i.e. every base play is paired with a set audible) or just standing audibles (like in Madden where there are 3-4ish designated plays you can audible into). Even at the NFL level, I doubt QBs would be audibling into random plays...
November 22nd, 2021 at 2:55 PM ^
Not that this is what Michigan does, but a high school buddy of mine coaches at a D2 school and what their OC will do is essentially call two plays. Each attacking the defense in a different way, and based on defensive alignment the QB decides which play to go with. I thought that was an interesting way to do it.
I wouldn’t be surprised if D1 schools (especially P5 schools) did something similar, or even more complex.
November 22nd, 2021 at 8:44 PM ^
Didn’t Rich Rod do that? I seem to remember media coverage of Carr teams talking about they called one pass play and one running play in the huddle and decided when they got set at the line. Am I misremembering this?
November 22nd, 2021 at 2:58 PM ^
audibles most typically have a color indicator meaning the next words are 'live'. some are simple such as 'opposite', for instance, if you want to keep your play but run in the other direction. there are also some simple ones where they will agree to a series of numbers and the 'live' number or word is replacement play. so a QB might use the audible indicator and then say a series of numbers like '21! 33! 42!' and the offense will know which one is live, and of course what play the live number corresponds to. that new play may or may not be getting signaled in by the OC.
November 22nd, 2021 at 2:07 PM ^
That was a great audible, just missed the home run.
November 22nd, 2021 at 6:55 PM ^
Hearing Cade yell, “Omaha! Omaha!” sparked up nostalgia!?
November 22nd, 2021 at 3:28 PM ^
This is the kind of thing that isn't obvious in terms of QB performance. Cade is absolutely checking into different plays (or at least variations of plays) depending on the defense.
November 22nd, 2021 at 4:00 PM ^
i wish he would audible to a one on one pass play when the D puts 8 or 9 men in the box on a run play.
November 23rd, 2021 at 8:05 AM ^
This is the huge game-within-the-game, on both sides of the ball, that makes coaching so critical. And generally the defense is at an advantage here because of their ability to show a pre-snap look then move multiple people relative to how the offense responds-or does not respond.
I believe Cade is very good at and continues to improve his pre-snap reads...and choose the target that best fits his ability to deliver. When/if he develops the ability to come off that initial read and find that deep open/1:1 covered WR he could become a special QB-a Joe Montana type QB.