Although confidence in the Michigan roster has certainly grown considerably this week, there seems to be a prevailing belief that the Wolverines still need to find a quarterback in the portal. In addition to the concern that comes with losing a QB like JJ McCarthy to the NFL, there’s a healthy amount of skepticism surrounding the current quarterback room in Ann Arbor. The primary reason for this is, of course, due to the lack of experience among the starting candidates.
Four of the five candidates fighting for the starting job – true freshman Jadyn Davis, juniors Alex Orji and Jayden Denegal, and senior Davis Warren, have a combined 24 games of colligate-level experience. The four quarterbacks are also a combined 11-of-22 for 144 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception throughout their careers.
The fifth candidate vying for the starting job is seventh year veteran, Jack Tuttle. By far the most experienced QB of the group, Tuttle has career numbers of 119-of-199 for 1,031 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions through his first six seasons as a colligate quarterback. Although he’s got the experience, it’s hard to say where Tuttle current fits into the battle for the QB1 spot at the moment, as he’s been recovering from injury for most of the spring.
On the surface, it would seem that some of the concern among the fans relating to the quarterback position at Michigan is justified – particularly with a massive Week 2 matchup against Texas in Ann Arbor looming. But the reality is that Michigan doesn’t need a guy like JJ McCarthy to be successful. Don’t get me wrong, you’d love to have a guy like that behind center, but Michigan’s style of play offensively doesn’t necessarily require it.
Case in point: Cade McNamara in 2021
By no means am I trying to degrade McNamara by making this point, but he certainly wasn’t a difference-maker at the QB position in 2021. He did, however, play his role well. He managed the game, often made plays through the air when he needed to, and avoided making too many costly mistakes. McNamara finished the 2021 season completing 210-of-327 for 2,576 yards, 15 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. The result was a 12-2 overall record that included a win over Ohio State, a Big Ten Championship, and a trip to the College Football Playoff.
It’s also worth noting that Michigan’s smash-mouth offensive philosophy works really well when the defensive side of the ball is elite. That was the case in 2021, and it certainly looks to be the case once again in 2024. With guys like Kenneth Grant, Mason Graham, Josaiah Stewart, and Derrick Moore up front, it’s going to be difficult for any opposing offense to move the chains. Add linebackers Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham into the mix, along with a loaded secondary featuring the nations best cornerback in Will Johnson, and there’s no question that Michigan’s defense is on par – or even better – than what the Wolverines had in 2021.
The bottom line is that Michigan’s success offensively in 2021 didn’t rely on having a hero at the quarterback position. Instead, the Wolverines achieved success by winning in the trenches and having a group of guys who played their roles well. If the Wolverines can continue that philosophy in 2024, they’ll be just fine with the current QB options available in Ann Arbor.
