Northwestern Snowflakes: The Offense
October 23rd, 2021 at 3:26 PM ^
Beat Spart-ee.
October 23rd, 2021 at 3:26 PM ^
This passing game needs a spark. I really like our running game, and it is certainly a plus. However, I dont see how we beat MSU without some chunk plays through the passing.
October 23rd, 2021 at 3:40 PM ^
My only perspective is watching on television, 2000 miles away, but it seems that greater than 90% of our passes are to well covered receivers.
Are other receivers open yet go unrecognized by McNamara? Is it a fault of play design?
Is it due to lack of receiving talent?
Thanks
October 23rd, 2021 at 4:10 PM ^
I was going to make a new post of this exact point. WRs not getting separation. Or WRs not running good routes. Or McNamara not finding the (more) open WRs.
October 23rd, 2021 at 4:50 PM ^
Also: WRs need to get better at catching passes in traffic. When’s the last time one of our WRs outfought the DB for the ball?
October 23rd, 2021 at 7:35 PM ^
Cornelius Johnson has done this a couple of times, but we don’t have anyone I trust to do it consistently.
October 23rd, 2021 at 4:44 PM ^
Klatt hit on this a bit in the broadcast, and hopefully Devin Gardner will hit on this as well this week with Sam Webb. Klatt pointed out that Cade was throwing his receivers into the defenders instead of throwing into wide open spaces the receivers had safe and easy access to. At least two easy bombs would have been complete if Cade threw into a sea of open space away from defenders that our receiver could have easily run into under the ball. Add 80 yards to Cade's totals today, and it looks pretty fine. Alas, not this game.
So, the design of the offense is probably good, and Cade is having trouble anticipating and seeing it real time. Hoping he'll be better prepared for these open spaces to appear next week.
October 23rd, 2021 at 5:30 PM ^
This is wat I thought too. Receivers are definitely getting open but then they have to slow or run back to the ball. Everyone around me was complaining that Cade was putting it in the wrong place but I see a guy whose arm strength is being stretched to its limit when he goes downfield, and his accuracy drops off on mid to long range passes.
I understand that QB is as much a brain position as a physical one, and that putting a freshman in there isn't as easy as some fans seem to think, but it feels like McCarthy gives you an extra player. His running is a threat, and presumably he can throw down field. I don't see the harm in playing him at this point.
October 24th, 2021 at 9:54 AM ^
At least twice, I noticed Cade locking onto and throwing to a receiver along the sideline to whom the defense was flowing, while a different receiver was crossing the field in the other direction, wide-open. I'm sure the coaches will point that out.
I expect that they'll give JJ more RPO opportunities this week. A running QB isn't as effective if every time he comes into the game, a run is called. Play-action or RPO should work well with JJ. Hell, they'd work with Cade!
October 24th, 2021 at 10:34 AM ^
I've been wondering about arm-strength too. When guys get more than twenty yards downfield, Cade looks as if he has to load up and chuck it, instead of the flick one might see from a stronger arm. Presumablu, an elite QB would have the arm strength to lay a long ball in with touch, leading a receiver into open space, without having to throw out his arm. I suppose the question is whether this team needs an elite QB (and also whether JJ could become that QB).
October 23rd, 2021 at 9:09 PM ^
Give 8-0 Cade the benefit of doubt over Gardner the pundit. And yes, Gardner tried hard for us and played well.
October 23rd, 2021 at 11:35 PM ^
Agreed, Gardner tried hard, played well, and seems like a good guy, but I question what 'expert qualifications' allows him to critique Cade and to be held as an expert by Sam. His season 4 and 5 stats reveal him to have had TD/INT/YPA of 31/26!/7.7/60% respectively. Undrafted, never even played a preseason game in the NFL or CFL, and led his Japanese X-League team to a 3rd place finish. This board would be shittin' their pants if Cade had those interception numbers. After having been named the Rivals #1 Dual Threat QB/5* and receiving the benefit of various summer QB tutors while here (the Manning camp?), he underachieved. Cade's receivers without Bell are underwhelming, so the comparison that Gardner had no help doesn't work. Finally, Gardner was Milton's QB coach during the summer before his Heisman season, and we know how that worked out (also working with the kid at King-result TBD).
Sure, Cade lacks the elite arm strength, size, and speed that Devin had, but has made the best of what he has so far and we are 7-0 with some hope. BTW, most of those long passes are thrown before the receivers have their final direction/position established, and are not really open.
October 24th, 2021 at 7:48 AM ^
I sure hope you watched his show to call out DG. Many of his analysis has been repeated other experts in other podcasts.
I think you answered your own question. Cade is risk averse and not always go for it, which has worked for us because we have a well balanced team. Don't forget DG's performance against OSU. I am sorry to say that I don't see Cade has the ability to have a game like that.
I whined in another post about wishing to see DG with Harbaugh. DG took risks but also had the talent to make something happen out of nothing. What we want is someone like DG with Cade's patience. Is that JJ? Don't know.
Earlier in the year, Cade hit some long passes in stride and receivers had separation. Somehow that has not happened in the last few games. Probably the competition got better and neither the receivers nor the QB has adjusted well. We are 7-0 despite being handicapped in our passing game. Cade sure moves the chain and he did well in 3rd downs yesterday. I sure hope that is enough next Saturday.
October 24th, 2021 at 10:18 AM ^
I'd argue that Gardner's performance against Ohio in 2013 was among the greatest games ever played by a Michigan QB, if not the greatest (hard to say that about a game eventually lost though). He had his struggles, and for stretches (especially in 2014) played very poorly, but he also did more than just play well. At his best he was an absolute gamebreaker.
October 24th, 2021 at 6:46 AM ^
Cades short passes are confident and he moves the chains, albeit not when there’s any hint of pressure. Since he was hit at Rutgers it’s been obvious he doesn’t like contact. Having a skittish qb who has to stand in the pocket with pose and make a throw knowing he’s gonna get rocked is essential. Cades not that guy and there in lies the problem. For example, the one play he took off and slid. I have no issues with a qb not wanting to be decapitated, Cade however slid 5 yds before if not more. We can hope for Mccarthey all we want, but barring injury it’s not happening. Here’s to hoping that he miraculously turns into Tom Brady next week because spartys taking away the short pass and loading the box. If Cade can’t connect on a few deep shots and our O line doesn’t dominate at least a little we will probably lose. Penn state is less scary of a game than it was 2 weeks ago and OSU is a game I don’t think I wanna even watch. We have receivers who can be much better than what we’ve seen but Cades really limited them with inaccurate throws, mostly anything farther than 20 yds. We have a qb who could give OSU fits but may also drive our fan base nuts and put the D in bad spots. You spot OSU field position a few times and your fuked.
October 23rd, 2021 at 4:58 PM ^
We seem to have only one viable route on play action, and I think teams have gotten pretty wise to it. Hopefully we have some more plays that punish the intermediate zones LBs are vacating off of run action.
October 23rd, 2021 at 7:37 PM ^
I want to believe the coaches are holding things back in preparation for Sparty.
October 24th, 2021 at 8:34 AM ^
Have we seen Harbaugh hold back the 'real offense' and unleash it in key games in prior years? No, we have not seen that. This is the offense.
October 24th, 2021 at 9:02 AM ^
We saw it just this year against Wisconsin, I think. Not a great deal of it, but it was certainly there.
October 24th, 2021 at 10:17 AM ^
Not. Our offense has been unleashed plenty. We’ve taken plenty of deep shots but very few connect, in turn makes us seem like we’re very conservative. Cade has had plenty of chances to throw further than his check down but panics and abandons other options if he feels like there’s pressure. 20 for 27 yesterday looks great on paper but 120yds passing is junior high numbers. Cade beat Wiscy passing because Wiscys O is trash. OSU Penn state and even Sparty have the ability to put up a lot of points that we’ll need to match. Can Cade do it when the better defenses take away the run? We shall see. If Cade starts panicking and gets happy feet next week and our run game is stuffed then it beer slamming time.
October 23rd, 2021 at 6:38 PM ^
Yes, the root cause.
October 24th, 2021 at 8:26 AM ^
Y'all may wish to watch Devin Gardner's MMQB break-down of the tape. Game after game, play after play there are WRs running WIDE open down the field...never to be seen/targeted!!! This is not a WR issue. Devin is as kind as he can be about this but he is more than exasperated here-and often the uncovered WR shows his deep frustration too-with "What the hell!!!" body language.
I have long been a Cade fan but watching JJ's electric talent in his brief and scattered snippets gives me great pause here.
October 24th, 2021 at 9:35 AM ^
Blue1792, this 100%. Watching other teams we solid passing attacks, there are at least 10-15 passes to wide open receivers.
Whereas for Michigan it seems each play is covered and requires a perfect pass in traffic.
it’s gotta be one of three things:
poorly designed plays
bad routes by the receiver/receiver just not quick enough
QB not leading the receivers into open space
October 23rd, 2021 at 7:08 PM ^
Michigan State is dead last in the big ten in passing defense.
Mcnamara needs to clean his game up to exploit it.
Mccarthy is better suited to beat sparty IMHO. A run threat and a more accurate passer.
October 23rd, 2021 at 7:28 PM ^
Then part-ee down?
October 23rd, 2021 at 8:19 PM ^
I guess you haven't watched msu play this year. Against the two teams that have somewhat average defenses.. Nebraska and Indiana, msu scored 13 pts and 18 pts respectively on offense..
We don't need a downfield attack to beat msu, but need to get some chunk plays
October 23rd, 2021 at 10:33 PM ^
Would love to see us try route trees that put the defense in more conflict based on numbers. That is a big reason why there is little separation. We are not forcing defenses to pick their poison. Of course none of this will matter if Cade does not throw his receivers open more often or if we continue to have the dropsies.
October 23rd, 2021 at 3:28 PM ^
Start JJ. Go for the playoffs and greatness.
Stop with the turtle shit.
October 23rd, 2021 at 3:32 PM ^
I don’t think it has anything to do with the QB. Still undefeated with Cade. The backup QB, the fan favorite of every football team.
October 23rd, 2021 at 3:35 PM ^
Cade cannot run the read option. Not one bit. He's so bad at it that it's led to us running no read, read option plays. It's going to bite us at some point.
October 23rd, 2021 at 3:37 PM ^
How did he get so much worse compared to the ease with which he ran it against Rutgers last year? Maybe there’s a different priority at work?
October 23rd, 2021 at 3:41 PM ^
He had 4 rushing attempts for 4 yards against Rutgers last year. So Randall Cunningham 2.0.
October 23rd, 2021 at 4:03 PM ^
The read option won’t get us to the playoffs.
October 23rd, 2021 at 9:17 PM ^
They haven't consistently run the read option since Gattis arrived across now 3 QBs, so at some point it's not on the QB. They let McCarthy do it because he's the backup and also isn't that great at throwing the ball, but if he became the starter I'm fairly certain he wouldn't be running the ball a ton. We can have a debate about why that's not a good fit for the offense (I honestly don't care that much about the read option if the team has solid RBs), but people keep acting like this is something new.
October 23rd, 2021 at 4:43 PM ^
I'm in Cade's corner as again he has not done anything wrong to get him pulled / replaced ...... but .... the thing I do see with JJ is he just moves better. They could do roll outs with him which I think could get WR's open easier as they have more time to move around. I also see a big difference in overall personality. JJ smiles a lot and shows a lot of emotion (which I think pumps teammate's up) where Cade is either highly serious or highly focused. All in all Cade is getting the job done but I do see differences in personality on the field and sidelines but also in how they each deliver the ball as well. On long balls JJ throws a high arc ball (which is better to drop down over the defender) where Cade does more of a "flick" and low arc which is easier for a defender to knock down. If we meet a team that really shuts down the run and we are forced to throw a lot more you are going to see what's what with this team as far as the passing offense. I am glad for the win and the 2nd half was far better. Looking forward to beating Sparty.
October 23rd, 2021 at 10:11 PM ^
^
Yep. I keep dreading the moment we play a genuinely excellent team (OSU) or a pathologically-motivated one (MSU) and our “good enough” QB play will be exposed for the huge weakness it truly is.
October 23rd, 2021 at 11:07 PM ^
Wisconsin was the number 1 rushing defense when we played them and definitely forced us to pass. We did, and are still undefeated. Cade leaves much to be desired, but insinuating he hasn't been forced to pass yet and that he will fold when he does, is ignoring the past two games before this one which he passed 30+ times as teams were focusing on keeping the run game under wraps and trying to make him hit passes.
October 24th, 2021 at 7:36 AM ^
Well said. JJ is a game changer, which may change things for the worst at times but electric as well. Cade is a game manager who at some point will bottom out on what he can do and cost us a close game. We won’t beat OSU without an equally talented QB. JJ has that talent but may cost us a game as well. You drive the Ferrari on the racetrack and the fuel efficient 4 banger on road trips. We have both.
October 23rd, 2021 at 8:57 PM ^
How many teams have a starter who isn’t a threat to run, has middling arm strength and throws for only 129 yards on 27 attempts, and a backup who’s a 5 Star recruit and has shown great flashes in with very limited playing time?
October 23rd, 2021 at 9:26 PM ^
Obviously, the emphasis is in defense, run game and no turnover. The one game we needed to score drive after drive against NEB, Cade came through. We will see what happens next week. I really hope Cade can shine in tough games.
October 24th, 2021 at 11:01 AM ^
I think this sums up the frustration with Cade better than most. Nobody would care about a middling QB on an undefeated team if that guy were not playing in front of one the program's biggest ever recruits. Michigan is the only team in the country in this place. Against my better judgement, I wonder what Saban or Meyer would do in this situation.
October 23rd, 2021 at 3:36 PM ^
You’ll get a couple big plays, less useable playbook, more incompletions, and more turnovers.
Michigan won’t be any more capable of intermediate passes than they have been since 2017.
October 23rd, 2021 at 3:42 PM ^
"Less useable"
What? Less useable than a guy who can't pass downfield?
I'm pretty sure JJ can hand the ball off.
October 23rd, 2021 at 3:46 PM ^
Why would you get less useable playbook? The fact is that Michigan is not really using a very extensive playbook with McNamara anyway. And with McNamara the read-option and many pass plays seem to be ruled out anyway.
October 23rd, 2021 at 3:47 PM ^
J.J. is more capable of making intermediate throws than Cade
October 23rd, 2021 at 6:20 PM ^
This.
Nine billion times...this.
J.J. can make passes beyond 15 yards. Cade...it looks like most of the time he just can't.
If they both play reasonably well...then the athlete who can make make the long, chunk plays...should be the starter.
If we beat State by 14 with Cade...I'll go to jail. I'll enjoy it. But if we start McCarthy...and Michigan wins comfortably...
Then....you, Lenny...will have saved the CFP dreams of millions of Michigan alumni.
October 23rd, 2021 at 11:55 PM ^
Wolvemarine- Hopefully you are preparing to bend over this time next week. ; )
October 23rd, 2021 at 3:49 PM ^
What are you watching? What part of Cade's game can't be replicated by JJ? Outside of interceptions, which Cade should have had 2 today anyway, there is nothing Cade does JJ can't do. On the flipside, with JJ read option opens up, intermediate passing game opens up, and based on what I have seen JJ even throws the better deep ball.
Having said all that, I don't think we should make the switch totally. I agree with Brian that we should make JJ the red zone qb.
October 23rd, 2021 at 3:56 PM ^
Based on what? Limited playing experience ? How many QBs do we have to do this for? I mean if we do it every time we’re bound to be correct eventually right?
October 23rd, 2021 at 5:50 PM ^
Yes, limited playing experience was enough to see arm talent and run ability. I acknowledge the risk is turnovers, I think it's worth the risk. We did it last year with Milton, were we right or not?