Long article on Cade McNamara
There are some interesting quotes about the QB competition last year. Also some stuff about tension between McNamara and McCarthy that I had not read before. Worth a read.
August 30th, 2023 at 11:53 AM ^
Gary McNamara sounds like a very stereotypical sports dad. Wanted his son to transfer after 2021 and said that Cade was one of the very few leaders that remained from that team (uhhh, Corum, Morris, Sainstril, All, Bell etc). Also didn't like how the Qb competition played out and thinks the reality was different than what was said publicly. Always coach speak in press conferences, but Gary might also want to think about how he was getting his info from his son, not an objective source.
August 30th, 2023 at 12:07 PM ^
Reasonable minds can disagree, but I also thought the "competition" last year to begin the season was lip service and that McCarthy was going to be starting by BIG play regardless. I did personally think it was a bit patronizing to McNamara.
August 30th, 2023 at 12:13 PM ^
He was given a start and it was decided on the field (Harbaugh way).
August 30th, 2023 at 12:16 PM ^
Like I said, reasonable minds can disagree.
August 30th, 2023 at 1:18 PM ^
Yes, reasonable minds can disagree, but Harbaugh gave Cade every opportunity to win the job. Cade performed poorly in his game. And then followed it up with another poor performance as the 2nd string in Game 2. Even when the home crowd gave him standing ovations showing their appreciation for what he accomplished.
Yet some how, it take some real mental gymnastics to look at the results between him and JJ and come out of there believing that he should still be the starter.
Being on a college team before (Swimming) I fully understand the dynamics of players competing for starting spots. FYI for those who might not understand, there are only 3 lanes which a team gets to fill with swimmers - and many more that want those lanes - not to mention competing to get on the 1st string relay team.
I am happy for Cade that he has come through all this and is in a good spot at Iowa. But the course he took to get there certainly will have an undertone impact if (When - I am calling that Iowa does win the West) they meet in the Big Ten Championship. Get your popcorn ready...
August 30th, 2023 at 1:33 PM ^
I don't think Cade should have been the starter. I just don't think he was ever going to be.
But none of this needs to be rehashed this much. The correct QB ended up playing. That can be the end of it.
August 30th, 2023 at 2:26 PM ^
In retrospect, it's obvious that he was not nearly as talented as JJ on the field, during games. Who knows what happened in practice though? It's quite an assumption to say that he didn't have a chance. Perhaps he went toe-to-toe in practice and then folded under pressure during the games.
August 30th, 2023 at 12:39 PM ^
I, too, am glad JJ got the position, but you'll never convince me that Cade actually got a fair shot in that "on the field" competition. It seemed like every time he fell back to pass some defensive lineman was in his face immediately. I don't know if it was just coincidence, some purposeful playing by an offensive line that also wanted JJ to be the starter, or some whispers in their ears by the coaching staff, but ... damn, it was actively strange how much Cade always seemed to be running for his life immediately after the snap on passing plays.
August 30th, 2023 at 1:33 PM ^
If the entire OLs conspired against him, wonder who is to blame?
August 30th, 2023 at 1:47 PM ^
I dont think it was a conspiracy, but if you watch the clip of Jones allowing immediate pressure against Hawaii right after Brian mentions "OL wide conspiracy" it is pretty crazy how Cade avoids the pressure, gets the ball out to the RB, the pass hits him in the hands and he drops it.
August 30th, 2023 at 1:53 PM ^
I don't know if it was just coincidence, some purposeful playing by an offensive line that also wanted JJ to be the starter, or some whispers in their ears by the coaching staff
August 30th, 2023 at 2:26 PM ^
Look, I love a good conspiracy, but the fact is it's much easier to pass block for a statue than a running QB.
When Cade was in, the reason the OL "looked worse" was because the DL on the other team could pin their ears back an attack.
August 30th, 2023 at 3:45 PM ^
I won't agree or disagree, but the difference protection breakdowns between the two quarterbacks seemed pretty stark at the time. I don't know if this was a communication issue from the quarterback or a comfort level thing from the line.
I have trouble believing that an o-line coming off a Joe Moore award would intentionally let their QB take hits.
August 30th, 2023 at 3:47 PM ^
I don't know if it was just coincidence, some purposeful playing by an offensive line that also wanted JJ to be the starter, or some whispers in their ears by the coaching staff
There it is. The dumbest fucking thing I'll read all month.
August 30th, 2023 at 4:30 PM ^
This is literally one of the dumbest things I have ever read on this site, just pure and utter nonsense. No one intentionally did anything, and quite frankly even on cleaner pocket opportunities Cade just was not very good in his opportunities last year. JJ was clearly the better QB and won the job. Cade and his family honestly need to stop this whole pity party thing and just focus on being the starting QB for Iowa. This bitterness is a bad look for them.
August 30th, 2023 at 4:30 PM ^
This is literally one of the dumbest things I have ever read on this site, just pure and utter nonsense. No one intentionally did anything, and quite frankly even on cleaner pocket opportunities Cade just was not very good in his opportunities last year. JJ was clearly the better QB and won the job. Cade and his family honestly need to stop this whole pity party thing and just focus on being the starting QB for Iowa. This bitterness is a bad look for them.
August 30th, 2023 at 5:35 PM ^
So just to clarify what you and other posters are insinuating: the coaching staff and/or the players conspired to let J.J. be the starter by purposefully not trying, in front of 110,000 fans and millions more television viewers, so that Cade could be harassed, sacked, and injured. Yes, that is indeed one theory.
Of course, you would then have to assume that Harbaugh, for unknown reasons, must have been unable and/or unwilling to simply announce at a press conference that JJ earned the right in practice to be the starter. Please give me one reason how this could be possible, and how your theory makes any sense at all. Please. Yes, it's totally possible the players didn't play as well in front of Cade, but do you think it's even remotely possible this happened due to circumstances that aren't so covert and scheming?
I've often wondered around what year did conspiracy theories become so prevalent, and perhaps even more astounding, more accepted. Thinking it coincides quite well with greater Internet access. Occam's Razor, be damned. I'm going with the completely ludicrous option. And I'm going to share it publicly!
August 30th, 2023 at 12:36 PM ^
I think it was only lip service because JJ is/was clearly the superior Qb. Maybe it was patronizing to say it was an open competition when 90% of people knew the result beforehand, but would Cade and his family rather have JJ named the starter before the season?
August 30th, 2023 at 12:38 PM ^
Yes, I think they probably would have.
August 30th, 2023 at 1:09 PM ^
This isnt directed at you Goblu but in the history of histories has anyone second guessed a 12-0 coach this much before?
OOC games arent exciting enough, QB competition wasnt fair, didnt pass enough etc, etc.
Damn man 12-0
August 30th, 2023 at 1:25 PM ^
I was not second guessing how Harbaugh coached the team, I just did not like how this particular situation was handled. I think the existence of a "competition" between a returning starter and an upstart indicates that a decision had already been made. Cade did not play great in the game but Michigan beat Colorado State 51-7 in the opener where he played and lost the job. And it was never going to make sense that McCarthy was going to lose the competition after Michigan predictably murdered Hawaii. What could have transpired in that game that would have resulted in McCarthy not being the starter?
JJ had the job from the jump and I just think the coaches should have said so.
August 30th, 2023 at 7:32 PM ^
I think Harbaugh probably planned on JJ all along and IMO, that was absolutely the right call. Whether it happened this way or not, I suspect the Cade camp feels he was strung along as insurance in case JJ didn't pan out or shoulder didn't recover well. I can understand that....but stop bitching or at least wait until post-college.
August 30th, 2023 at 1:59 PM ^
It's easy to say in hindsight given what happened, but if you switched Cade and JJ's performances in those first two games, who do you think wins the starting job?
One guy was nearly perfect. The other had an interception and barely over 50% completion rate.
Maybe it's unfair because of how much more pressure Cade was compared to JJ (literally and figuratively), but if Cade was truly the man for the job in 2022 he would have at least made the competition more interesting and the decision much more difficult.
August 30th, 2023 at 11:53 AM ^
Most interesting to me was how cutthroat the QB room was when JJ arrived and the lengths the coaches went to address it. Makes me appreciate even more how they managed the 2021 season - must have been quite a challenge.
August 30th, 2023 at 12:14 PM ^
2020 was an absolute shit show. Someone smarter than me will have to explain why it took (after Minnesota) 3.5 games of UTTER ineptitude for Milton to be benched…and why Milton was starting in the first place. McCaffrey looked legit GOOD in 2019 as a backup. You’ll never convince me that there was anything remotely resembling a true QB competition that year.
Losing, and especially with players who shouldn’t be on the field, can lead to a toxic environment. In 2021, Cade was clearly the leader we needed…but only as long as he wasn’t losing snaps. Imagine if Denard had refused to mentor Gardner.
August 30th, 2023 at 12:29 PM ^
I think you’ve got it Pope Lando. Many here are saying it’s normal or expected for there to be tension and hurt feelings. Time will tell but Nugent/Crippen/Anderson don’t seem to have those issues.
If the McNamara family didn’t expect a competition each year, they must not have heard the essence of who the M coaching staff is and what it means to play in a big time program. Did they not see how Saban had Hurts and Tagovailoa? Can you imagine how many conversations were had throughout Cade’s recruitment and first years on the team? It seems somehow the McNamara family still didn’t get it.
August 30th, 2023 at 2:13 PM ^
I go by the unproven theory that McCaffrey was never the same after that dirty ass hit from Wisconsin. One that still annoys me to this day, especially because their were Wisco fans at the bar complaining that the defender got ejected.
August 30th, 2023 at 3:36 PM ^
DCaff's career after Michigan is bizarre, though. He looked good in *very limited time* but Dylan and Luke's career arcs are just plain strange and I think it's a family thing more than a Michigan thing.
August 30th, 2023 at 1:17 PM ^
I wonder how much of that personality managing can be traced to Biff Poggi. It never felt like that sort of thing was in Harbaugh's wheelhouse, so I imagine someone else was helping with that. Hopefully if it was Poggi, someone else took notes and can keep that going.
August 30th, 2023 at 11:54 AM ^
It couldn't be more transparent that Matt Weiss is the main source for this article.
August 30th, 2023 at 11:58 AM ^
Never heard of her
August 30th, 2023 at 11:58 AM ^
I hope Cade tears it up, throws for 80 bazillion yards and 9 billion touchdown passes and ends the year as a Heisman finalist. I also hope that Cade ends up in the B1G championship game against Michigan and his stat line is something like 5/37 61 yards 0TD 6INT 8 INTS 4 FUMBLES
August 30th, 2023 at 12:28 PM ^
I now realized I called for McNamara to throw 6 interceptions in the first half and 8 in the second half which is about how it should go down.
Love you Cade. Seriously thanks for 2021 and ending the streak against Ohio State. Good Luck
Now frigg off we got work to do
August 30th, 2023 at 12:33 PM ^
People have short and biased memories which is all good and fine.
Cade is one of the biggest reasons M has a team winning and poised to win championships. Harbaugh et al, JJ, and Cade did the best they could with a tough QB situation for 2 entire seasons. Cade was great working with JJ as he earned playing time.
Hoping JJ and team want to see Cade tear it up this year. I will watch Iowa games this year as they are the only team in the west that can beat us if they play, and because Cade is a VERY good QB who plays to win.
Go Blue!
August 30th, 2023 at 1:18 PM ^
Wisconsin is better. They have a better coach, equal QB, better running back by a mile, better Oline, better OC by a length of measurement that hasnt been invented yet.
Wisconsin will need time to gel but I think they will be a better offensive team than Penn State by years end. I think they will finish the year as the 3rd best team in the big ten.
August 30th, 2023 at 1:30 PM ^
You obviously glossed over the part where Cade 'ghosted' JJ upon his arrival to campus. That alone speaks volumes about Cade's personality and mindset. Full stop....
The fact that the coaches had to get involved to get the QB room in some form of harmony speaks volumes about the coaches not the players (Cade in particular). As well as the lack of maturity from Cade. He basically had to be told, "Play nice." Not really a stellar example of leadership.
Sure, as the starter, Cade was great. Michigan was winning, he was starting, he was getting the deserved credit. But true character show up during the tough times and his actions spoke of an entirely different person once the pressure was on to perform the following season.
Again, I fully expect Cade and Iowa to do well this season, but come the championship game, if you ask me who will break first and have a meltdown. Well it seems pretty obvious and it could get ugly...
August 30th, 2023 at 7:36 PM ^
If true, dick move by Cade and not a leader move. Wish the article had asked him directly about that.
August 30th, 2023 at 1:12 PM ^
You left out JJ sitting next to Cade in NYC when they announce McCarthy as the Heisman winner...
August 30th, 2023 at 12:05 PM ^
Can’t blame a guy for being salty when he loses his job. CAN blame a guy for refusing to mentor younger players until ordered to by the staff. I have no problem believing that Cade was BOTH a program-changing leader AND a cutthroat “can’t stand having to look over my shoulder” guy.
I’m one of the people who doubt that the QB competition was real. I don’t think that Dylan McCaffery had a legit shot, I’m happy that Milton transferred because I don’t think Cade would have started if he hadn’t, and I don’t think that Cade was going to end up as the starter last season without serious heroics on his side. Which he failed to deliver. And then, both by in-season reports and this article, he basically walked out on the team.
U of M’s medical department- to me- sounds extremely risk-averse. I sincerely doubt that they take the Head Coach’s preferences into account when making recommendations; that would be SERIOUSLY unethical.
And finally, none of this is to say that Cade isn’t good. He is. But high-floor players get replaced by high-ceiling players kinda all the time. And then they transfer. I wish him all the best at Iowa.
August 30th, 2023 at 12:53 PM ^
Agree with UM Med dept. comment and i suspect it may be the medical institute's philosophy. I have a few kids in high end sports and they’ve had injuries to be tended to. UM always went the non-surgery route first, and for us at least they’ve always been right.
August 30th, 2023 at 1:35 PM ^
I do think it is possilbe that the coaches knew from the Georgia game that JJ would be the starter for 2022, but he was hurt and the coaching staff did not want to go into the season with a lingering injury or the potential for another injury forcing them to play Bowman or Warren. In light of that, Cade may have been led on that he had a shot in order to bolster QB depth for the season. We've seen how risk adverse Harbaugh is with read options due to QB injury possibilities.
August 30th, 2023 at 7:38 PM ^
No chance the Med dept conspired with Harbaugh, whoever planted that seed in Cade (likely the CA surgeon) is a shitbag. Does not happen at M Medicine.
August 30th, 2023 at 12:06 PM ^
The article bears out the odd circumstances of Cade's departure without ever thanking U-M, the fans, etc. Cade is a fiery competitor and a hard worker but it seems like he may be more focused on individual accolades than the ideal "team player." Hope he succeeds at Iowa.
August 30th, 2023 at 12:07 PM ^
I stopped reading/skimming at this point: JJ reached out and said he wanted to learn from Cade when he got to campus, " And Cade ghosted him, wouldn't respond to him."
I really am sad, as a former Cade fan and defender, that he was this selfish. Seems like Cade and All are those the kind of guys who stop being good teammates once they've risen to be starters.
August 30th, 2023 at 12:10 PM ^
While understandable, the McNamara's come off a bit delusional. It took one series of the Hawaii game for any objective person to determine who should be the starter moving forward. Also, while the disappointment was understandable it doesn't excuse essentially bailing on the team you're a captain of.
August 30th, 2023 at 12:11 PM ^
I enjoy these longer form articles that offer some insight we may not be privy to as fans, such as dad McNamara's insistence on transferring after 2021 or the things the team did to try to make the QB battle more constructive. That said, does anyone else notice this kind of sports writing is often accompanied with just a little too much purple prose? Not anywhere near as much as a Mitch Albom article mind you, but just enough that you really start to notice it.
August 30th, 2023 at 12:18 PM ^
Honestly, Mr. McNamara seems like a pretty cool head. He evaluated the situation correctly, advised action that would have prevented a lot of his son’s angst, and, unlike another father we know, did it all without going on social media to insult people.
August 30th, 2023 at 1:33 PM ^
He didn't go on Twitter, he just had Don Thomas doing it nonstop.
August 30th, 2023 at 12:26 PM ^
If you don't want to compete for your job, Harbaugh isn't the coach for you.