Football: McCarthy, Colson and Dixon interviewed by EJ Holland at the Pylon 7 on 7 game
I can’t link the videos because it is Rivals content but I did want to touch on some observations from some fairly short videos.
They are all enrolling early which helps them for next season to have a better chance at playing time.
They are all very well spoken and seem very humble. Basically they were asked what the expectations for themselves and the team are for next year and they all kind of said they just want to put in effort and let things shake out. They said that the team would be as best as it could be. They didn’t place unreasonable expectations or make predictions.
Holland told Colson that we had hired our new DC and he was surprised by it but took it in stride. He made the most out of it by talking about the guys NFL experience and how that may help them all prepare. As far as I know the team hasn’t officially hired MacDonald so I’m not sure why Holland was adamant we had.
Dixon has a good chip on his shoulder where he thinks he was under ranked and overlooked a lot so maybe we can have another Olave on our team where he plays above his ranking.
JJ said it was bittersweet without McDaniels being there but is looking forward to working with Harbaugh. He’s a competitor and said he would approach the season the same whether we had a returning starter or not, you still have to compete and win that spot.
I’m mostly paraphrasing the comments. What I ultimately got out of them is that they are confident kids but they don’t come across cocky and that they will be good teammates and represent the University well. They are worth the watch for free videos.
January 9th, 2021 at 2:44 PM ^
I can’t edit my post but the interviews were actually at the registration, not the actual game itself.
January 9th, 2021 at 3:14 PM ^
What is the Pylon 7 on 7, and where is it, and if they are enrolling early, why are they there? I would assume this is something for HS players who will be in HS next year. I'm curious where because McCarthy is from Illinois, Colson in from Tennessee, and Dixon is from California, why would they be at this event?
January 9th, 2021 at 3:20 PM ^
It’s an invite only 7 on 7 event in Dallas,Texas. It’s for All Americans to play in. Most of the All Star games got cancelled so I don’t know if this is filling in for that. Pylon has a whole schedule of events all over the country all year. They don’t enroll for another week so I think this is their last event before they head up to Ann Arbor.
January 9th, 2021 at 3:26 PM ^
Thanks! Are they on the same team?
January 9th, 2021 at 3:31 PM ^
I haven’t found much on the specifics of the event but I know Dixon and McCarthy were talking about the time spent working with one another will be helpful for them and Dixon made a joke about hopefully he don’t get smoked by Colson even tho it’s 7 on 7
January 9th, 2021 at 2:49 PM ^
Thanks Jordan, that was interesting and insightful.
January 9th, 2021 at 2:49 PM ^
Damn double post, hope they all have great careers and help Michigan win regularly again.
January 9th, 2021 at 2:51 PM ^
Thanks for sharing. Unfortunately, we have not had one Olave on our team, so at this point it would be hard to get another one.
it is nice to see kids with some maturity and composure - not predicting heismans and national championships before arriving on campus.
January 9th, 2021 at 2:54 PM ^
Bad phrasing on my part, I meant maybe Dixon could actually be another Olave and outperform rankings, but would actually be on our team.
January 9th, 2021 at 3:04 PM ^
I got it - and I would love to see it!
January 9th, 2021 at 2:59 PM ^
Hope they get the proper coaching and schemes to excel at Michigan.
January 9th, 2021 at 3:04 PM ^
Time will tell on that. We’ve all beaten the Harbaugh saga to death. He’s back so now it really comes down to the staff as far as recruiting and coaching them up.
January 9th, 2021 at 3:09 PM ^
Can't UM sue somebody for saying "UM hired the DC" to a recruit - potentially altering their decision making with ..... (gasp) fake news?
Go Blue.
January 9th, 2021 at 3:16 PM ^
They are already committed, and enrolling next week, what would they be suing for?
January 9th, 2021 at 3:33 PM ^
Germany Schulz, I also wonder about the "news" of UM hiring a new DC
January 9th, 2021 at 3:25 PM ^
Jordan2323, do we have a new DC?
January 9th, 2021 at 3:33 PM ^
According to EJ Holland at Rivals, yes. As far as me, I have no clue because I’m definitely not an insider.
January 9th, 2021 at 5:42 PM ^
Such an EJ Holland thing to do.
January 9th, 2021 at 3:40 PM ^
Glad to have them. I hope their talents aren't wasted. It's been a while since we've had this many offensive skill players with this much potential (McCarthy, Edwards, & Worthy).
January 9th, 2021 at 3:51 PM ^
Throw in Corum, Henning, Jackson, Wilson and Sainristil along with the ones you mentioned and there are a ton of playmakers all over the field.
January 9th, 2021 at 6:30 PM ^
It stands to reason, but I also would have thought that with Patterson, DPJ, Collins, Black & Charbonnet, but :/
January 9th, 2021 at 6:40 PM ^
I think it’s been well documented about Patterson’s lack of work ethic and his time on the golf course. As far as the other players, I definitely don’t think they fit into Gattis system at all. Those guys were without a doubt pro style wide receivers. Jury is still out on his system but I think if it’s ever going to work, we have the speed, versatility and quick twitch types to utilize multiple formations. I’m not throwing this year out because of COVID but because we didn’t have a qb to accurately hit receivers most of the season. This is the 3rd year coming up with Gattis so I’m interested seeing what his offense can do. If he fails with all of these playmakers and speed demons, he doesn’t deserve to be a coordinator anymore.
January 9th, 2021 at 7:11 PM ^
Yes. Plus, both Patterson and Milton continously ignored WIDE OPEN receivers, or just flat out over threw them (Milton mostly).
Patternson was always locked in on Ronnie Bell and the tight ends. If they were covered...he bailed on the pocket and dumped it off to the closest receiver. How many times was Nico Collins or DPJ open, but didn't get a look? Charbonnet was hurt his Freshman year.
So, it's hard to judge what they could have been in this offense....with a QB that actually reads the field.
I feel like we have several Percy Harvin type of game changers on offense. Now, they have a bit more experience, and will actually be able to get some on field coaching this spring and fall. Will also have McNamara with more experience, Milton (hopefully as the backup) with experience, and a ridiculously talented McCarthy pushing for playing time. The offensive line will have more experience, and will be naturally bigger and stronger....with another year of growth.
I feel like next year's offense will be super exciting. The type of offense that we've seen our competitors throw at us.
January 9th, 2021 at 8:21 PM ^
I just don't know anymore. Speight, JOK, Peters, Patterson, and now Milton :/. I'm hopeful that either McNamara or McCarthy will be better, but I'm not convinced it won't happen until JH is gone. Milton looked pretty good one week, pretty meh the next, then awful. McNamara looked good one week, then pretty meh the next. It seemed like once defenses got film on our QBs and what they wanted to do and took that away we had nothing else. At some point we need to be able to both run the ball consistently and also find open WRs consistently in a way that keeps defenses off balance. That also means we need to be able to run block and pass protect. WRs need to run good routes, get separation, and catch the dang ball. We just haven't seen this consistently much against decent defenses. The tools look there on paper. We are still young. Things may also be dicey on the o-line with Carpenter gone which likely pushes another guy into the lineup we've never seen play. My guess is next year's o-line is still a struggle as they are young and haven't played much together as a unit. Again, I'm hopeful, but also skeptical.
January 10th, 2021 at 1:01 AM ^
Too early to judge Cade. Whoever decided to put Milton out there better hope it was because they already knew McCaffrey was leaving and had no choice. Physical freak who is not a qb. Cade played good and then got hurt so the jury is still out. JJ hasn’t played college level ball so who knows with him yet. I think the oline will be fine, it’s the one position we got a lot to reps in this year with different players.
January 9th, 2021 at 4:25 PM ^
I feel like Harbaugh coaching QBs isn't being talked about enough. Why wasn't he coaching them before if he was always considered a "QB whisperer" or whatever?
January 9th, 2021 at 6:37 PM ^
I sure hope he teaches the qb’s to find the center’s asshole.
January 9th, 2021 at 6:42 PM ^
He coached them in 2015 with Rudock, Fisch had them in 2016. Those were our best 2 years under Harbaugh as far as qb’s. Ironically it has went down since then. Maybe Harbaugh needs the hands on approach with qb’s.
January 9th, 2021 at 6:53 PM ^
The last time we had competent QB play, he coached. Ruddock and Speight. I vividly remember him getting in Speight's butt on that Prime series.
January 9th, 2021 at 7:27 PM ^
Step in that ass Harbaugh. Step in that ass.
January 9th, 2021 at 7:02 PM ^
January 9th, 2021 at 6:09 PM ^
I’m liking some of the guys coming in. They have confidence, seem to be hard working guys, but are mature. We need some guys that can step up and lead day one.
I’m especially looking forward to McCarthy. He has a chip on his shoulder about OSU given their recruitment of him, he is very mature, he’s a leader, and works hard. Jim needs to get him and Cade a good QB coach. Don’t waste these guys. We have some decent QBs.
January 9th, 2021 at 7:35 PM ^
Cade McNamara reminds me of Trace McSorley a little bit. The way he plays, his moxy, his leadership, and (I'll say it again) the way he plays.
Remember, McSorley redshirted his Freshman year, and watched James Franklin ride Christian Hackenburg to back to back crap seasons. 7-6 (2-6 in the BIG), in his first year, and 7-6 (4-4 in the BIG), in his second year. The very next year....as a RS Sophomore QB....he came in and led the team to an 11-3 (8-1 in the BIG) record and a BIG Championship.
Interestingly enough....McNamara will be a RS Sophomore, next year. Under a very similar offense that Trace McSorley had. With a similar surrounding cast that McSorley had. I'm excited about McNamara.
I'm even MORE excited about JJ McCarthy, but that's a lot to put on a true Freshman. Even though Chad Henne seemed to do just fine in his Freshman season, as the Michigan starter. So, who knows....JJ McCarthy might be the better 2021 option, but that will be a great position for the team to be in.