View from the sidelines: This is what Michigan is capable of, and it has Shea Patterson to thank
[Fuller]
There’s always the caveat, and that has to come first.
Western Michigan was the victim of an onslaught Saturday afternoon. The Broncos are a middling team in a middling conference with a defense that, after two weeks, we can safely call outright bad, and an offense that never really stood a chance.
It was Chase Winovich who provided that caveat after the game, nearly teetering over the edge of PR-friendly quotes.
“This is my personal opinion, I thought they were pretty predictable in the stuff they did,” Winovich said. “Their offense, I think, going into the game — I’d have to go back and watch — but I felt like they came in and basically said, ‘Whatever happens, we’re just gonna try to not give up that many sacks.’ Lot of max protection, lot of chipping on both sides. That’s a way to play football. Just, obviously, you see the results. I think they had like 200-something yards of offense. I just think, they were, well, I’m gonna stop myself.”
Western Michigan is the kind of team that Michigan is supposed to beat down at home in September. But 49-3 is 49-3. And if you’re nitpicking, good luck finding something to nitpick.
Shea Patterson wasn’t the biggest part of this game, but he was far and away the most important — at least as far as looking ahead is concerned.
[After THE JUMP: Why this is the case]
Last Monday, when asked about Patterson’s performance at Notre Dame it took four sentences before Jim Harbaugh mentioned how well he managed the game. To be clear, the Wolverines would happily take a strong game manager after last season. On Saturday, despite a modest 12-of-17 for 125 yards, we saw so much more than that.
Patterson, running to his left, found Oliver Martin near the sideline and deposited the ball into his hands — the kind of throw you reflexively think is incomplete because it’s so tough. Later on, it was Donovan Peoples-Jones on the receiving end of a corner route in the end zone that required a perfectly placed ball with the exact right amount of arc.
“We worked on (the concept) all week,” Patterson said. “And we have a slant outside, under, Nico Collins, trying to create the corner from the back of the end zone. (Peoples-Jones) ran a heck of a route, stem inside and then get to the back pylon. … It was kind of a routine throw.”
No, it wasn’t. But Patterson seeing it that way tells you all you need to know.
Again, perspective matters here — this was against Western Michigan, and a loss at Notre Dame probably says more about Michigan, and Patterson, than a home win against a Group of Five team. That said, the last quarterback the Wolverines had who could do stuff like that was … Chad Henne?
“The throw to Donovan probably stands out in my mind as the one that really puts an exclamation point on it, because it looked like a zero blitz — the all-out blitz, man coverage, no free safety — to start the play,” Harbaugh said. “And we thought we had really the right play called, we were bringing Nico (Collins) in from the outside receiver position from the boundary. And thought that was gonna be where the ball would go.
“And, as the play developed, I saw a linebacker drop off into that space. For him to calculate that, and then change the channel — if I was playing quarterback, that’s where I’d have been going with the ball (to Collins), reading the initial coverage. To change the channel, and go to the corner, and throw it to Donovan — make that split-second decision and then make that accurate of a throw — I mean, you’re really seeing things well.”
That’s a whole lot more than someone who manages a game well.
There are other aspects of Michigan’s game worth lauding — its defense was typically great, Karan Higdon played one of those games that makes you think he might have a solid NFL career in front of him, the Wolverines’ offensive line was atypically solid.
But two of those elements have been there for a while now. The third probably won’t show up against better competition. As for Patterson?
“In terms of how our offense played, and how Shea looked, I’d say it’s as good as any quarterback I’ve seen (at Michigan), personally,” Winovich said. And it was rare, just being on the sideline, they’re just scoring touchdowns. ... I just remember (Josh Metellus) sitting there. He’s like, ‘Man, this is nice!’ And I think the feeling is mutual on my half.”
The Wolverines won’t play a game better than this, because it’s almost impossible to do so. Saturday was the 99th percentile — it’s irresponsible to come away thinking that’s indicative — or even close to indicative — of what Michigan, or Patterson, will be.
We did get a glimpse of what Patterson can be though — and not just when the Broncos were easily beatable, letting Nico Collins take the top off their defense like it was a tupperware container.
“Second week in a row, so thought he was more in the (groove), more in charge, and look to expand that next week,” Harbaugh said. “He’s ascending.”
September 9th, 2018 at 6:11 PM ^
Come on now. I’ll tale Shea 6 times a week and twice on Sunday over Dylan, right now. I think Dylan will develop and could be very good. Just needs to develop a little more. I like him though. Good number 2.
I’ll say it before you...I had a good number 2 today. Hahahahaha
September 9th, 2018 at 11:49 AM ^
People seem to be on the Caff and Milton train forreal. Shea is a gamer. It’s about time Michigan has a solid stable of QBs again.
September 9th, 2018 at 11:59 AM ^
I tend to agree but I always prefer a taller QB so I could be biased. It's great to have 2 quality QBs now after having virtually none since 2007.
September 9th, 2018 at 12:08 PM ^
Which taller QB would you have rather had than Drew Brees?
September 9th, 2018 at 2:24 PM ^
I get your point but to answer your question TB.
September 9th, 2018 at 3:10 PM ^
In college? Not sure why you'd want the inferior player.
September 9th, 2018 at 2:33 PM ^
Tom Brady.
September 9th, 2018 at 12:21 PM ^
Why do fans need to compare all the QBs so much? I’m just happy we seem to have quality depth for the first time in forever.
September 9th, 2018 at 3:30 PM ^
Comparisons are the thief of joy.
T. Roosevelt
September 9th, 2018 at 1:21 PM ^
Ive been very impressed with the little action I've seen from McCaffrey and agree with you. Shea has much potential as well and I've been very happy with his play
September 9th, 2018 at 1:50 PM ^
Appreciate your optimism about your kid, Mrs. McCaffrey.
September 9th, 2018 at 2:01 PM ^
"but Dylan McCaffrey is absolutely the future at QB and I think we'll severely out-perform Shea in college and the NFL."
I'm looking forward to my future NFL contract as I severely out-perform Shea in the NFL.
September 9th, 2018 at 2:13 PM ^
Watching McCaffrey reminds me a little bit of my first impressions of Brady back in '97 and '98. In both cases, nothing overwhelms you physically and arm strength appears to be average at best. However, like Brady, McCaffrey seems very in command and, most important, very accurate. I'm in no rush for McCaffrey to become the starter but, for now, I like the fact my mind is drawing this parallel.
September 9th, 2018 at 2:26 PM ^
If he has the mindset of Tom Brady and work ethic, we are in for a ride with the next set of Michigan QBs. Very exciting.
September 9th, 2018 at 2:49 PM ^
What did you see Tom Brady do in 1997? I don’t remember him getting a single snap.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:48 PM ^
He had some garbage time snaps in '97. I remember him looking very skinny. A quick Google check shows he played in four games and was 12 of 15 for 103 yards passing.
September 9th, 2018 at 5:30 PM ^
He got mop-up duty in a few games. Interestingly, he beat out Scott Driesbach for the #2 spot, even though Driesbach had been a starter.
September 9th, 2018 at 11:58 AM ^
Undoubtedly a small sample size, but thus far Shea appears to be the best thing to happen at Michigan QB since Chad Henne, who played his last game in an M uniform on New Year's Day 2008 (M 41, FL 35). A thought experiment: if Shea started at Michigan last year, he would have made the difference in two games: most definitely against Sparty (JOK's three INTs in the second, monsoon-soaked half, with Sparty held to 14 pts for the game), and to a lesser extent, Wisconsin. That was a 10-14 game when BP got cold-cocked. WI went on to score an easy TD immediately thereafter to make the score 21-10, but the Michigan D then held WI to only a 4th-quarter FG. Of course, with BP out, the M offense went into semi-suspended animation. Had Shea played in that game, the outcome could have been decidedly different.
PSU and tOSU maybe not so much; PSU had Cyborg Barkley (and I mean that in a good way), and a great game plan. tOSU? --- well, the final was 20-31, so who knows? Anyway, a regular season 10-2 sure would have beaten 8-4.
September 9th, 2018 at 12:02 PM ^
Agree and I have the same feeling if Peters started from Game 1 last year. Although I think he is not as good as Shea or Dylan, I think he would have gotten the offense rolling by midseason instead of struggling with 3 different QBs and multiple offensive approaches.
September 9th, 2018 at 12:10 PM ^
Shea could have beaten OSU too, hitting some of those key open throws that O'Korn missed/got picked.
That's why he's here.
September 9th, 2018 at 12:18 PM ^
Pretty sure he'd have whooped OSU. I'm not sure he wouldn't have beaten PSU, also. That game was close enough until JOK just couldn't keep up.
September 9th, 2018 at 12:19 PM ^
I'd switch Wisconsin and OSU (we had guys running wild in their secondary all day and could not hit them), but yes, Michigan's offense would have been dramatically better, and even functional against good defense, last year with Shea at QB. Possibly 11-1 and in the playoffs.
So who knows, maybe this year Shea can finally pay off M's consistent ability to out coach OSU. There's always a chance
September 9th, 2018 at 12:23 PM ^
The OSU game was 24-20 with 3 minutes left and we had the ball. Shea absolutely could have made a difference.
September 9th, 2018 at 2:43 PM ^
I work with a huge Buckeye fan and the following Monday after the Game last year, he comes in and says "If you had an accurate QB, we lose that game". So I think Penn State is the only game we don't win last year with Shea as QB and even that one we have a better shot at.
September 10th, 2018 at 7:37 AM ^
Shea definitely would've made a difference against OSU. We had receivers running wide open all over that field last year. Having a QB that could exploit that would've completely changed the complexion of that game. Shea Patterson on last season's team might have put us in Indianapolis.
September 10th, 2018 at 1:41 PM ^
I would pump the brakes on how well you assume Shea might have played against MSU. Has Shea ever played in weather that crappy? If not, we have no idea how well he throws a slippery, water-soaked ball. Just because he’s way been way better than O’Korn to this point doesn’t mean he’s going to fair any better in the rain and/or the cold for that matter.
September 11th, 2018 at 4:38 PM ^
But if we were winning by the time the monsoon showed up we would have won...
September 9th, 2018 at 12:23 PM ^
Shea hits open receivers... which is nice.
No matter who we are playing that's a thing we have to be happy about. We haven't had a QB who I was capital-C Confident would hit an open guy since Chad Henne. I'm excited.
September 9th, 2018 at 12:34 PM ^
This is a nicely put together piece of work. The focus of it is certainly on Shea Patterson and what he adds to M football from a technical perspective. I'd like to think the important point though is that the offense, led by Patterson, seems to be making everyone play better.
Teams, and that term applies to groups of people doing a lot of thing besides football, don't play beyond their capacity to perform when the team in general is struggling. My take is that has been a problem since 2006 when LC's team lost to Texas in the Rose and he lost his fire and the lights went out.
Confidence is a huge motivating factor and for M, there has been little of that for a looooong time. How many times, as a fan, have you thought pre-big game, a rivalry game, if the team could just, for once, play above it's head and win one? I know I have and then the inevitable soul crushing loss happens. It has to be destructive to the players and coaches and to those kinds of things we call intangibles or team chemistry.
So, beyond what Shea brings to the table as a very good QB, one M hasn't had since Chad Henne, it appears that he brings the potential to lift every player to play beyond what they thought they could do; make that one big play that turns the game or wins it.
September 9th, 2018 at 12:38 PM ^
For several years now my evaluation criteria for Michigan has been:
Decisively beat the teams they should beat, and play competitively against better teams.
Discarding the ND game (because we don't yet know what kind of team ND really is), the WMU game gives us a sense Michigan can accomplish the first part of the equation.
Next week with SMU definitely falls into the "decisively beat" category. It'll be interesting to see if the coaches can keep the team focused and hungry, and not get sloppy and stupid.
September 9th, 2018 at 2:48 PM ^
They're up to 8th in the AP poll, I think their performance against Ball is them coming out flat after the win over us.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:04 PM ^
I think their performance against Ball State was Wimbush reverting to his real level. 55% completion rate with 3 interceptions and no TDs against Ball State? Yuck. He threw for almost 300 yards but some of those incompletions weren't close. He also was not a rushing factor. Ball State did well to keep him in the pocket and make him throw to beat them, and he was barely able to do so. They are a good team, with a solid defense, but Stanford is going to whup them. Frankly, I think if we played them later in the year, we might whup them too.
September 9th, 2018 at 1:05 PM ^
I have MUCH more trouble taking the top off some tupperware containers that Nico Collins had taking the top off that defense. Those kinds with four flanges you have to pop up? I'm just saying...
September 9th, 2018 at 1:24 PM ^
Thanks!
Quality of throws is much more important than quantity; and, if you don't show you can complete them against lessor D's, you can't progress to doing it against the best.
The passing game is ascending.
September 9th, 2018 at 1:38 PM ^
"the last quarterback the Wolverines had who could do stuff like that was … " Jake Rudock.
September 9th, 2018 at 1:50 PM ^
My take: we need the run game to pop and that is exactly what happened with Karan Higdon taking off. The run game allows Shea to shine. Let's hope for good things again against SMU.
September 9th, 2018 at 2:11 PM ^
Could not agree more. Those two throws (to Martin on the sideline and the TD to DPJ) were accuracy we have not seen in a LOOOOONG time. In fact I invoked Henne to my two sons on both throws and I felt dirty doing it... Of course WMU caveats apply, but of note is that both those guys were well covered. The throw had to be perfect, and it was.
Not to mention that the routine throws in the flat or to the RB out of the backfield are gorgeous, in that he puts it right in EXACTLY the right spot to the receiver can get YAC. Completion % is one thing, but all caught balls are not created equal - - When you turn the reciever into a pretzel so he can get his hands on it vs hit him in stride so he can get 5 more yards or more, there is a world of difference.
I said it all last year - if we have even a serviceable quarterback against MSU or OSU we win both those games. Beginning to become optimistic, if not for this year than for next.
September 9th, 2018 at 2:39 PM ^
Agreed. Brian Greise's ability to hit Howard in stride out of the backfield was SO effective for the '97 championship run.
September 9th, 2018 at 2:21 PM ^
Watching his college film my concern with Patterson was that he has happy feet - bails to quickly. So far, I think his pocket presence has been very good and he's mitigated my primary concern with him. He's talented and is displaying a lot of polish.
The only gripe I have from yesterday's game was I thought that pass protection was suspect at best. The run blocking was very, very good though. In garbage time Wilson wasn't running through creases or holes, he was running through chasms.
September 9th, 2018 at 2:35 PM ^
Some great points made in this thread. Personally I think this team has a lot of potential, however the schedule is indeed MURDER. That said, I'm still confident that the OLine play will improve under Warriner, and if it does, anything can happen.
September 9th, 2018 at 3:36 PM ^
The potential is there, and two games in Shea is a huuuuge upgrade at QB over previous seasons already. I suspect, but cannot prove, that we have three guys that are all upgrades over anyone that played at any time last year.
But I’d like to see more of it. It’s hard to do, because pass pro appears to be a huge problem, but we dominated WMU mostly because our RBs were able to torch a bad MAC defense. I’d like to see us willfully approach 300 yards passing; Shea did everything asked of him exceptionally well, but that still only amounted to less than 150 yards.
Of course if it turns out we can beat teams like MSU and Wisconsin throwing that seldom, I’m all for it.
September 9th, 2018 at 6:26 PM ^
I agree about the QBs. As far as the WM defense being bad? How can someone disagree with that? But it's worth saying that Shea was accurate and that would have translated against other teams if he had the same throws to make and that he did it early to help several drives. As far as the OL, yeah, the jury is out. They looked more organized than last year and (understandably imo) at ND, but they have a lot to prove and they can do it only against better teams.
September 10th, 2018 at 2:14 AM ^
I knew a guy who actually shed tears when Brandon Graham graduated because he was upset with the state of the program and how much Graham's talent was wasted.
Shea is super-talented, and he's already making a difference. I just hope Michigan gets this o-line situation together to take advantage of his talent.
September 10th, 2018 at 7:27 AM ^
The DPJ out route for a TD was the play that got me up out of my seat. Western or not, Donovan was pretty well covered on that play and that was a tight window to squeeze that pass into. Really impressive ball by Shea.
September 12th, 2018 at 9:09 AM ^
I replayed that pass over and over on the DVR. Was a thing of beauty.
September 10th, 2018 at 10:13 AM ^
In a game where all we could do was hurt our perception, we definitively did not. Which is an improvement over last season.
September 11th, 2018 at 2:29 PM ^
Does anyone really care about wins vs JV squads? Did Shea look great against the M practice squad? Sure he did. But our OL still needs a lot of work; DB's need to cover better; etc. We're essentially in practice mode until Oct 13 vs Wisco; so W's will come and we'll be 5-1 going into the meat of our schedule. And then, unless something changes drastically between now and then, we'll go 0-4 vs Wisco, @MSU, PSU and @OSU. All this rah-rah talk is nice and all but it's expected; wins vs real B1G teams will show M's mettle.
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