What will UM's 2-QB system look like?
It's not new information that Harbaugh wants Dylan "The Ostrich Heir" McCaffrey to play this year, but in the last 24 hours it got a bunch of headlines again. Orion Sang is pondering the situation the Freep.
Brian's preview said "Next up is getting a drive or two in most games and keeping the hype train rolling with 50 throws and 20 runs." Harbaugh's talk is making it sound like more than garbage time, though.
Personally, I'm a little nervous about shoehorning a backup QB into the game, for whatever the reasons are. If Shea is the man, let Shea lead the team with all the snaps he can take. Let Dylan get his reps in garbage time and then he can be the man next year.
If this really is just headed toward mop-up duty, I'm not sure why it keeps coming up.
Yes, my username checks out.
August 27th, 2019 at 1:46 PM ^
Me no like. Those pre-packaged plays become as easy to diagnose as the Pepcat after a couple of games. If you want more evidence, see: McDoom, Eddie.
Give McCaffrey the entire offense, or don't play him until next year. Or give him an entire series here and there, in different situations - early game 0-0, big leads, deficits, late game close calls...
Haa!! Like we'll ever see a score deficit this year!
August 27th, 2019 at 12:03 PM ^
I don't think this is what we'll do, but it's worth noting that Louisiana-Monroe ran a 2-QB system a few years ago with both QBs on the field at the same time:
https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2012/9/22/3372318/louisiana-monroe-two-qbs-offense-baylor
August 27th, 2019 at 12:25 PM ^
That just seems like doubling your injury risk profile.
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August 27th, 2019 at 12:11 PM ^
In the past, Harbaugh has chosen The Guy and stuck with him through thick and thin, with The Guy only coming out for injury or serious garbage time
There was that "Shane Morris package", but tbh I think that might have convinced Harbaugh to go with The Guy even more.
You can color me skeptical that Harbaugh would be willing to pull a struggling 1a and replace him with 1b.
Honestly, I really liked the Alabama version of two QBs: "hey, guy 1a doesn't have it today, let's finish out with guy 1b". Or even the Tate/Denard version of "hey, we're going to need a lot of passing done, let's go with the passing QB for the rest of the game."
August 27th, 2019 at 12:12 PM ^
Playing two quarterbacks means getting Dylan enough snaps throughout the year to both get him experience and keep him happy. Side benefit: save wear and tear on Shea.
August 27th, 2019 at 12:23 PM ^
This is entirely my take as well.
August 27th, 2019 at 2:11 PM ^
Indeed, this is college, not the pros. You only get these guys for a couple years and they will transfer at the drop of the hat. I don't blame them either. Look at Peters for example. He's got 2 years to (maybe) light it up and make millions. He would never have had that chance here.
Think about next year. Mgoblog rumors were Milton was already contemplating transferring last year. Can you imagine when he loses the job to McCaffery next year if he doesn't get more than mop-up duty? He will be gone.
August 27th, 2019 at 12:16 PM ^
It will look like an offense with two quarterbacks. Duh.
August 27th, 2019 at 12:23 PM ^
I expect it will be a "two-quarterback system" inasmuch as McCaffrey will have some packages designed for him that he might play in each game. What I read between the lines is: "We expect Dylan to be our starter next year, and we need him to have meaningful experience," without scaring Milton into the transfer portal, which may happen anyway.
August 27th, 2019 at 12:44 PM ^
This subject came up after Harbaugh's presser comment that was something to the effect of, "redefining what it means to be a 'starter'". I think it's abundantly clear that Harbaugh is high on DMac and very high on Shea. As such, I think it's got to be the case that DMac does at least something better than Shea. We know DMac is faster, and he might have a stronger arm. If DMac can be deployed in a dynamic manner that can help the team move the ball -- especially if it contributes to Gattis' goal of "putting the defense in conflict" -- why not us a playmaker?
What always amazes me is the rigidity with which football fan cling to position designations. What if every players was just called a "Football Player" who happens to be lined at X position on a particular play. There is some awesome wrinkles to be imagined in the RPO with 3-4 running threats and 2 legit passing threats from time to time. Whether they do that remains to be seen. But, automatically assuming it will be an abject disaster is kind of silly, especially if it turns out to be something different from what most are picturing.
August 27th, 2019 at 12:49 PM ^
If McCaffery is on the field for extended periods of time, I'm hoping its only for one of three reasons:
1) The game is already well in-hand.
2) Shea is injured. Not that I'm hoping for this but you know what I mean. Or lastly:
3) He is legitimately just better than Shea, and gives the team the best chance to win.
I'm all for getting McCaffery as many in-game as is reasonably possible, and I think most people can reasonably assume that this will be McCaffery's team the minute this season is over. But if Shea is your guy, then he needs to be your guy. I don't want to see him pulled in the middle of a tight game with ND or OSU just because Harbaugh wants to tinker around with a couple of other options in the playbook, or just to see if McCaffery might be able to do X or Y better than Shea.
August 27th, 2019 at 12:53 PM ^
Dylan is the man too !!
August 27th, 2019 at 1:01 PM ^
It will hopefully look like Patterson being the starter and McCaffrey coming off the bench when the game is in hand. I’ll be happy if garbage time comes sooner than the last drive of the game and if McCaffrey gets to lead some real drives and not just hand the ball off to backup RBs.
August 27th, 2019 at 1:06 PM ^
The new Gattis offense is introducing multiball play, duh.
August 27th, 2019 at 1:15 PM ^
I'm hoping it works a lot better for Jim Harbaugh than it did for John Cooper. Joe Germaine, Stanley Jackson, let's see how best we can lose to Michigan.
August 27th, 2019 at 1:16 PM ^
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Bama from last year.
Tua: 245 of 355 for 3966 yards passing, 57 carries for 190 rushing
Hurts: 51 of 70 for 765 passing, 36 for 167 rushing
Gattis might know a bit about this
August 27th, 2019 at 1:21 PM ^
Nah, probably not.
August 27th, 2019 at 1:28 PM ^
I thought Hurts did all that in garbage time...starting at halftime. If we're up 50-0 at half every week then I'm fine with it.
August 27th, 2019 at 2:12 PM ^
I think they made sure he got a first half drive almost every game, usually the first of the second.
He typically played the entire fourth, though yes, they were usually up by a lot by then. The goal was to keep Tua healthy, which worked until it didn’t.
August 27th, 2019 at 1:41 PM ^
Let's hope it looks like.....
August 27th, 2019 at 5:20 PM ^
that’s what i’m talking about
August 27th, 2019 at 2:21 PM ^
Just spitballing, of course, but I don't seem them platooning. I see The Ostrich coming in a little earlier than he might have last year, and now and then with a change-of-pace play for fun.
August 27th, 2019 at 3:17 PM ^
fwiw, fields is starting his first college game, all his snaps last year were as a back up.
real game experience is the goal, not a 2 QB system. Getting the back up enough snaps so he's ready to come in a play like a starter....
GO BLUE
August 27th, 2019 at 3:45 PM ^
If Harbaugh was serious about "redefining" what it means to be a starter, then I don't think McCaffrey is only getting mop up time.
I'm guessing they will have McCaffrey get a series in the 1st half (3rd of game, start of 2nd quarter--something like that), a series in the 2nd half, and early mop up duty.
Wild prediction based on coachspeak: McCaffrey starts a game this year despite Patterson being healthy.
August 27th, 2019 at 3:56 PM ^
This is what I think will happen. Against MTS, Army, Rutgers, Illinois, Maryland and Indiana he'll get a 2nd quarter series. Against MTS and Rutgers, if the lead is big enough, he'll start the second half and play the entire 3rd quarter. If the lead is still insurmountable, Milton will play the 4th. Any other games with substantial leads in the 4th garbage time will be split between McCaffrey and Milton and McNamara may see the field a bit in a couple of games, but they won't burn his redshirt.
As for Wisconsin, PSU, Iowa, ND, MSU and OSU he might come in for a play or two, or maybe even a series if the coaches feel he can do something more effectively than Patterson that might be able to better exploit a diagnosed weakness. But, I doubt it for those games unless we torch any of them like we did Wisconsin and PSU last year.
August 27th, 2019 at 4:07 PM ^
I'm just happy we have a number 2 QB we trust. Stay healthy, gentlemen!
August 27th, 2019 at 4:13 PM ^
Defenses rotate personnel all the time, and who plays the majority of snaps at certain positions changes game by game. We change LB based on playing against a spread or MSU. I don't see why we can't do the same with QB. McCaffrey is obviously good, and there are likely some things he does better than Patterson. Why not use him? Worst case he goes 3 and out on a drive and we wasted one - but that's nearly as likely with Patterson in (it's a team game after all). Best case he scores a touchdown.
I can envision some scenarios where it makes sense - a quick change after a turnover, Shea is a little banged up and McCaffrey is ready to go in and we have a plan quicker than we do for a "normal" backup, etc.