M-Dog

September 6th, 2022 at 9:14 PM ^

parts of the offense that don't work with him in there

That was Seth's point with the cyan circle on Cade.  That the way he was playing was limiting what the offense was able to do, and he wasn't making up for it enough with the stuff he could do.

He worked that out, but now it seems he has to ramp back up again in 2022 which was not expected.  We seem to be looking at September 2021 Cade . . . in September 2022.

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257573

AC1997

September 6th, 2022 at 1:43 PM ^

I think Devin is a really entertaining listen.  His negativity toward Cade late last year when we were winning was a little much, but it wasn't over-the-top shock-jock bad.  I think he might get his point across more if he were to explain what Cade is trying to do rather than focus on what he isn't doing.  But in general, he's a good commentator and isn't overly homerish when talking about Michigan.  

Obviously Gardner had a different approach at QB and was much more athletic and aggressive.  It got him into trouble at times too.  I don't know how much that biases his takes on our QB situation though and the one thing Devin has that we as fans don't is access to the all-22 film.  

It can be frustrating feeling like we need to defend Cade when Devin and Al Borges are ragging on him, but it should also maybe tell us something that two independent football guys (both known to have their own limitations) are saying similar things.  

In the end, Cade didn't have a great game and JJ did fun running things.  My biggest concern with JJ is that I want to see him manage a game with his arm - not dinks and dunks, but smart & accurate throws without bad decisions, risky turnovers, etc.  Maybe we'll get that this week.

Joined: 09/19/2008

MGoPoints: 13858

bronxblue

September 6th, 2022 at 3:01 PM ^

I think Gardner is a good commentator overall but I also think he's had a blind spot with Cade for a while now and it's getting a bit tiring.  You can criticize someone for a bad game - everyone on this blog has basically acknowledged McNamara underwhelmed - but it's insane to say that you saw a rare "talent throw" from McNamara in this game (this pass to Ronnie Bell that he's made a number of times and also wasn't between levels and over a LB's head like Gardner inexplicably claimed) and then ragged on his throw to Erick All (which we can debate whether or not was a good decision because there was a WR open at the top of the formation but there was also a defender lurking nearby).

I do want to see if McCarthy can manage a full game - he's not been asked to do so yet and so it'll be interesting if he can.  

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 172099

BTB grad

September 6th, 2022 at 1:56 PM ^

Devin could’ve been viewed as being a bit harsh on Cade last year but he wasn’t wrong. He showed the film to demonstrate the reads he was missing. Al Borges echoed the same thing. I know people have strong opinions about Devin & Al but they’re certainly more qualified to talk football X’s and O’s than anyone on this site, including Brian or Seth. Devin’s thing even after wins at Wisconsin, Nebraska, and PSU was that we could not beat OSU by relying on this kind of QB play from Cade. And he was 100% right, we won it not by leaning on Cade’s QB play but by running for 297 yards to the tune of 7 yards per carry which opened up a few deep shots. Without Haskins and what appears to be an improved OSU run defense (they looked good against an unproven ND squad but there’s no way they’ll as bad as they were last year), we won’t win in Columbus if we get 2021 level starting QB play. 

Joined: 12/01/2015

MGoPoints: 23634

bronxblue

September 6th, 2022 at 2:42 PM ^

I've said my piece about Gardner but the fact he's been saying "you can't win with McNamara" despite ample evidence they could really limits the strength of his claims.  Yes, if you keep saying "I know he did well in X but when he loses again that'll prove my point" you'll likely be proven correct in the aggregate but that's a broken clock being right twice situation.  

But for fun, I pulled up the box score of the OSU and PSU games.  Cade completed nearly 67% of his throws in those two games, including 13/18 combined in the second half of those games.  Michigan only ran 24 plays in the second half against OSU because the Buckeyes couldn't stop them; regardless he was 3/3 and picked up a PI that got them down to the goal line.  He did what was asked of him and did it exceedingly well.

Yes, Michigan likely won't win in Columbus if they don't get great QB play; I push back against the idea that nearly 70% completion rate for 8.4 ypa wouldn't be good enough provided everyone else also plays at a high level.  If the offensive line doesn't improve as pass blockers, if the WRs don't get a bit better holding onto the ball, if the defensive ends struggle to get pressure against non-bad MWC teams, then it won't likely matter who's at QB.  And that's not even getting to the very real possibility that maybe McCarthy plays worse than Cade McNamara did against OSU, something that I know could never happen in college football.

 

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 172099

UM_Ftown

September 6th, 2022 at 2:10 PM ^

If I was Cade I’d just transfer. It’s like working for a company that doesn’t appreciate you, support you, and puts all the pressure on you but also doesn’t respect your accomplishments. 
 

Id be like byyye. 

Joined: 10/20/2018

MGoPoints: 7872

samsoccer7

September 6th, 2022 at 2:15 PM ^

Lol.  He's appreciated but you also have to keep performing.  Can't come in and play well and be a cog in a machine then not improve and wonder why you're getting passed up.  Nobody will deny his leadership on the team last year and where he helped take us but that's not enough THIS year.

Joined: 07/08/2008

MGoPoints: 11891

Panther72

September 6th, 2022 at 4:11 PM ^

DG is breaking down coverage, reads and ball placement. He isn’t making this stuff up. He is talking about his craft something arm chair QBs know little about.  I learn from his technical insights. I can tell zone and man obviously however the read details are very interesting. I have no doubt Cade fixated on targets and didnt see some open guys. No one is perfect but the opinion of an experienced QB is not subjective when it comes to reads. We all know Cade has been very good for Michigan. His play Saturday would not have been good against a strong Big team.  

Joined: 11/20/2018

MGoPoints: 7376

Double-D

September 7th, 2022 at 8:39 AM ^

DGs criticism and breakdowns are accurate.  I think if you dissect every QBs full game performance you can find missed open receivers in the progression.

He seemed to only clip bad plays weighted and not clip the good plays.  It was like choosing part of the narrative.

Joined: 12/21/2013

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