29 days until Michigan football: Breaking down J.J. McCarthy as a runner
There’s much anticipation heading into the Michigan Wolverines football season, and TheWolverine.com is counting down the days until the Sept. 2 opener against East Carolina. We’ll discuss current Michigan events, the upcoming season and/or take a look at a significant number that correlates with how many days remain until kickoff, whether it be a player’s jersey number, a year, a date, a score, etc.
Michigan fans have been clamoring for junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy to be used more as a runner heading into the 2023 season. They saw how effective it was at Ohio State last November, particularly in the second half of the 45-23 win, and in the Fiesta Bowl against TCU, a 51-46 loss in which McCarthy brought the Maize and Blue back before they fell short of mounting the comeback win. He rushed for 27 yards and a touchdown and 52 yards and a score in those two games, respectively.
“Second half, it started, ‘Hey, let’s run J.J.’,” Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said following the win over Ohio State. “He was just on fire in every way — running the ball, throwing the ball. Just so focused and determined.”
McCarthy’s mobility helps Michigan in two ways: It buys him extra time in the pocket or as he scrambles (it can get him out of trouble), allowing receivers to break open down the field.
It also can ensure a play isn’t dead when nobody is open down field, and Michigan can also use him on designed runs.
McCarthy said last season that his speed improved mightily since arriving at Michigan. He was fast in high school, but not this fast.
“I feel right at home right now in just my comfortability but being able to utilize my legs more on those third downs whenever something’s not open,” McCarthy said after notching 300-plus passing yards for the first time in his career in a win at Indiana. “Being able to use that God-given ability. Consistently making the right decisions, consistently putting the ball where it needs to be and just commanding the field out there.”
McCarthy’s 306 rushing yards — 429 gained and 123 lost from sacks — were about split in terms of scrambles (194 yards) and designed runs (224), per PFF, which says he had 402 rushing yards gained, contrary to the official stat sheet.
McCarthy ran for 9 first downs on scrambles, with 5 runs of 10-plus yards and a 55-yard long. On designed runs, the Michigan quarterback had 5 first downs around the left end (2 touchdowns, 3 of 10-plus yards) and 7 around the right end (1 touchdown, 5 of 10-plus yards). On 2 quarterback sneaks, he picked up 1 first down.
Michigan football countdown to kickoff
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