Dang, the kid is mature and self confident. He will have a very good year.
I think that JJ is going to have a monster year this year. The OL should buy him plenty of time, the RB are amongst the top in the country and we finally have some consistency in the offensive coaching staff.
Not worthy of its own thread, but a question for the board: If you are the M coaches, how do you balance getting JJ game reps and developing the offense against keeping JJ in bubble wrap over the first 4 games, which should be games in which we win comfortably. Do you allow JJ to run much, if at all? Play him only a half of each game?
I like it. No running, play the first half, 50/50 run/pass ratio, or even 40/60, just to make sure he gets enough passing reps. Then let Warren, Tuttle and Orji run the offense and get some experience.
The Don and Corum will take the run snaps.
they will do exactly what they did last year.
Boy won’t it be awkward then bringing in Cade for the first game…
Can’t keep in bubble wrap. I would run him 4-5 times per game with the same 2-3 base plays against the first half of the schedule. Then about half way through the season, maybe against MSU, you use a couple counters to those plays (mostly to screw with them, but also to keep him a little safer from the goons). Break out a couple new plays down the stretch, since I’m sure we’ll need those for PSU and maybe a little Maryland too.
In what I hope/assume will be the easier portions of the schedule just run him 3-4 times. Against MSU, PSU, and OSU, it should be 7-10.
Honestly I’m fine if they don’t “run him” at all in the non-conference portion. Give him the green light to take off 3-4 times a game if the play breaks down but no designed runs until conference play. Maybe once a game off of our base arc run just to let them know it’s there.
Definitely don’t keep him in bubble wrap but I’m not against limiting how many times you know he’s taking a hit either.
He's not a finished product, so you can't just bubble-wrap him until the competition shows up. We know he can get creative and extend plays, but he needs to avoid the timing issues that allowed the pick-sixes against TCU. Let's see the rhythm throws.
I like popping bubble wrap. Maybe J.J. does too!
... and the soundtrack is even better!
You play him until the game is well in hand. Usually should be into the third quarter so he gets his reps but you’re also getting reps for the backups. You run your offense as you normally would as you need to be able to execute flawlessly throughout the season and you need early games to get it there
Assuming the games go as expected obviously, I’d play him the entire first half and then give him at least the first two drives of the 2nd half or the entire 3rd quarter.
He’s only entering his 2nd year as a starter and many seem to forget he lost all of spring practice and part of fall camp last year while rehabbing his shoulder. You have to make sure he’s getting the reps HE needs to be successful.
This actually would have been good for it's own thread! Honestly, it's just a balance. I think you look for key times to "push it". When the game starts, key moments (maybe after the other team scores) or even manufactured moments from harbaugh to put the offense on the spot. Maybe some designed runs with a mature JJ who knows you have to go down and how to avoid the hits.
JJ does need growth so I do think there is a balance of pushing it at the right times, while also limiting total reps.
I also think you need to get some backups in there with JJ. Look at that Illinois game last year. You got 3rd, 4th, 5th string running backs in a serious situation needing to make plays. I think they need to get experience not only with the starts but with backups at all roles in there with JJ.
Sounds very mature and confident. Love it! Although, after this year, I hope he things he needs just one more season at M to really get things right :)
Kid just loves life. That smile is contagious and almost, almost made me crack one. I want a championship as much as the next fan but this kid truly deserves the best.
A good listen. Thanks for posting.
Considering C Johnson and R Wilson likely take the top two WR spots with D Edwards coming out of the backfield, I'm wondering who will step up at WRs 3 & 4. Seems every off season there are a few WRs with a lot of hype and then when the season begins, they disappear.
Need to find a reliable slot with good hands who keeps the chains moving (T Morris?) and a downfield threat to keep defenses honest (D Clemons). C Loveland seems like he could split out as well.
The gunslinger mentality and play calling used in the 2nd half of the TCU should be embraced, especially against more stout defenses where JJ has to extend plays and/or make multiple reads or audibles at the line.
Keep in mind that CJ and Roman have been there for a while now in those spots, with Ronnie Bell alongside them. When you throw 14 times a game at your WRs it’s hard to find someone emerging behind entrenched guys. There is some real athleticism in that WR room - I wouldn’t worry too much
The gunslinger mentality and play calling used in the 2nd half of the TCU should be embraced, especially against more stout defenses where JJ has to extend plays and/or make multiple reads or audibles at the line.
I love the way we run the ball but airing it out is going to be critical if we hope to be able to beat Georgia. That's how the Nuts were able to get within a missed field goal of beating them last year.
Also, we need it for future QB (Bryce Underwood) and WR recruiting. Who knows? If we air it out and beat the Nuts again we might be able to flip a 5-star receiver this year before National Signing Day.
It's Harbaugh, so WR playing time behind Roman and CJ will probably have less to do with speed and catching ability and more to do with who blocks the best.
I think Tyler Morris is going to be the dude. JJ has already hyped him up (literally in this press conference saying he's going to have a great year) and cited their previous relationship as an advantage.
The one item that remains critical to me is - JJ’s maturity / development in defensive recognition - and, the associated adjustments - hot routes - options - etc.
He has a high ceiling - and my hope for him, as well as everyone on the roster, is to prepare and execute to their potential - as a team.
Go Blue!
The Zen Master will deliver for Michigan this year. Mark this post!
we are going to win football games and I for one am excited
I haven’t been this excited since my wife took me to McDonald’s after my colonoscopy.
On lessons learned from watching film of himself from last season:
"Knowing when to run, like God's given me this great ability to use my legs, gotta use them more"
Somewhere Brian and Seth are cheering right now
First full off-season officially in the QB1 seat. He has a great mentor in coach Harbaugh and thier styles are very similar. Looking forward to watching him progress.
We are so lucky to have this kid as Michigan's QB.
Another example of the importance and role of character on the roster.
As an aside, I was at the B1G CCG in Indy in ‘21. My children, who were freshmen at the time - saw JJ in the lobby of the hotel - several hours before the game - hanging out and trying to relax before the game. He was polite and engaging.
With Campbell providing actual proven success at QB coach, another year as QB1 & one signal caller in Sherrone - I'm hoping to see more diversity in the offense and better communication on play selection in practice & during the games. JJ should be able to audible out of all those crappy "WR screens" that never seem to do anything.
I'd like to see JJ use his legs in the early 4 games, only to setup play action. Put that on film, avoid the hits until the more difficult games on the schedule. We've got a bunch of playmakers who need the ball, whether it's RB's or TE's or WR's. Save JJ's legs on option plays for big games.
Where can I buy that hoodie? (so I can be cool like JJ)
So JJ will either have "it" or he won't. Everyone knows most of the beginning of the year will be JJ hitting some wide open play action passes downfield and see a lot of our short routes bust open for big plays because of the interior teams. Hell, he would have had a half dozen more TDs last year if he did t keep missing those wide open passes.Just like every other year under Harbaugh, we will find out that our receivers don't get great separation against good teams for whatever reason. We will still be able to play within the offense and JJ will be just a flashier Ruddock. JJ's chance to become a legend will be against OSU and whomever we are lucky enough to play in the playoffs. Can he make plays out of nothing, can he fit balls into spaces that aren't there and protect the ball.
Oddly we are so proficient at what we want to do on offense it doesn't get us ready for when we do get challenged It will solely rest on JJ in those moments to take the game over.
August 7th, 2023 at 10:37 PM ^
My heart tells me JJ is gonna set some records this year. My brain reminds me I read the diaries posted here and there's a ceiling on UofM QB play, and not much room for JJ to improve upon last year before he hits that ceiling.
August 7th, 2023 at 11:17 PM ^
I would actually get aggressive in the passing game with him in the first half. Base running plays with Corum and The Don. Play action off of that with the deep shots. No need to hide those plays, they will be the base for the offense all year. Plus it will give all defenses something to think about.
That will:
A) Get the passing game in sync early in the season, most important objective...
B) Get him out of the game early (same could be said for Blake and Don)...
C) Give all defenses something to think about (even though they will be heavy favorites for the first 9 games of the year)...
D) Open up the running game even further as defenses will not be able to stack the box, more 7 man boxes...
I feel the same way. My biggest fear for this year are critical injuries during those last 3 games. We need to protect Corum/Don/JJ as much as we can to reduce risk of injury.
August 8th, 2023 at 10:25 AM ^
Are you suggesting the coaching staff rotate in the "deeper" (there are ten other) RB's on the roster - so, they get game rep experience in the second half of the early games and reduce the wear and tear on Blake and the Don? If so, I agree 100%.
The schedule doesn't even come close to "being challenging" until game four when Rutgers comes to town. I've always been an advocate of early leads and players on the depth chart getting game reps as soon as they can. Hopefully, this is the case this season.