Jim Harbaugh reveals insight into quarterback evaluations

Jim Harbaugh spiced things up when he announced on Saturday that both of Michigan’s quarterbacks vying for the starting job — Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy — would get to start. McNamara will take the ball for Week 1 against Colorado State and McCarthy will run the show the next week against Hawai’i.

Harbaugh, speaking with former Michigan player and current radio analyst Jon Jansen in an episode of the In The Trenches podcast released on Friday, shared what he’s looking for out of his signal callers in a segment first highlighted by Michael Cohen of the Detroit Free Press.

“Who can make all the throws?,” Harbaugh said. “Both of them have the arm talent to make all the throws. Then it comes down to accuracy, timing, decision making, taking what the defense gives you as a passer. Cade’s a little bit ahead there, at this point. Then the next category is playmaker, the guy that can turn water into wine. Uses his athleticism, his speed, arm talent; runner, scrambler, plays smart, makes a play when there’s no play to be made running ability, moves the chains as a runner, augments the running game; the risk-reward, turn a one-yard loss into a positive play but doesn’t make the bad play worse, avoids the fumbles, the interceptions, the sacks. I have J.J. ahead in that category. And then field general, coach on the field, facilitator to the other playmakers and the offensive line. You trust him to handle the ball on every play. He’s a ball protector. He can fix the calls, the formations, the protections, get the checks right. lead the unit drive-by-drive and points per possession, really, is what you’re looking for. Lead is — they’re both pretty even there, in that category. Maybe Cade the slight advantage.”

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Both quarterbacks featured for Michigan last year, with McNamara as the clear starter and McCarthy spelling him in specific packages and looks. It ended up being an effective arrangement as the Wolverines went 12-2, won the Big Ten for the first time under Harbaugh and reached the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history.

And even though McNamara was technically the returning starter, Harbaugh let the two duke it out in fall camp, knowing both could seize the job. And right now, in a way, both of them have.

Harbaugh, seeing what both quarterbacks might offer — and with Michigan facing a very soft opening spate of games — is opting to carry the competition into the season and see how his two quarterbacks look in live action.

“But in totality, it’s neck and neck, you know, as far as what they’ve done in practice,” Harbaugh said. “So you need to see it in the game, because that’s where it really separates. Points per drive is the thing that you look the closest at. But the situations — red zone efficiency, two-minute efficiency, third down efficiency — that really needs, in my opinion, to be played out in the ball games for who the quarterback that’s going to give us the best opportunity by the time we get to that third game, fourth game.”

Many expected McCarthy — the more impressive physical talent, of the two — to overtake McNamara in the quarterback room at Michigan this offseason. Though it was always going to be a tall order unseating a returning starter, let alone one elected captain for this year and who led the team to a historic season in 2021.

It looks like McCarthy and McNamara are on pretty much equal footing, and what they do with their in-game opportunities will play a big role in who gets the nod for the rest of the year.

“Both are considered starters here, and that’s it. The only motive here, the intent, is what’s best for the 2022 Michigan football team,” Harbaugh said.