2022 Michigan Offseason Thread

[SuperMario]

Good write up MDoT. Somehow I always forget about Erik All, which is crazy because he’s very talented. Hopefully Bell is fully healthy and his ceiling is still high. That was a huge loss last year.

I don’t think replacing Haskins is possible. He was arguably the toughest RB at Michigan in 20 years. That being said, maybe the drop off isn’t bad because of how talented the O-line is. I like Corum, but he’s certainly not the physical grinder that’s needed in the Big Ten, especially not in the later, colder months. Let’s see what we get with Edwards. 

The bigger concern for me is the defensive side of the ball. It’s tough to believe M does anything but step back there.

[Mdot21]

Harbaugh says former 5* DE/OLB transfer Eyabi Anoma will play in game one. Which is kinda crazy cause he just got there 2 weeks ago. Kid was the #3 player overall and #1 DE prospect in the entire nation in his class back when he signed with BAMA. Never been a talent issue with him, kid has 1st round NFL talent. It's always been the mental/off-field- hence him getting kicked out of two schools. If he's past all that shit- Michigan might've gotten a hidden gem they desperately need. Michigan lost quite a bit with that pass rush duo. They need every ounce of help they can get.

Despite losing Dax Hill, think their secondary is still going to be pretty good, maybe even better. Have heard nothing but great things about the rookies CB Will Johnson, Nickel Zeke Berry, and Safety Keon Sabb. All 3 of those guys will play a lot. Would put good money on Will Johnson winning the CB job opposite DJ Turner by mid-season and Zeke Berry taking over at nickel. It's early, but all 3 of those guys look like legit bonafide players.

[Mdot21]

Good write up MDoT. Somehow I always forget about Erik All, which is crazy because he’s very talented. Hopefully Bell is fully healthy and his ceiling is still high. That was a huge loss last year.

I don’t think replacing Haskins is possible. He was arguably the toughest RB at Michigan in 20 years. That being said, maybe the drop off isn’t bad because of how talented the O-line is. I like Corum, but he’s certainly not the physical grinder that’s needed in the Big Ten, especially not in the later, colder months. Let’s see what we get with Edwards.

The bigger concern for me is the defensive side of the ball. It’s tough to believe M does anything but step back there.

Yeah, I loved Haskins. Haskins was almost the perfect back. Such a tough runner. If he had the breakaway speed he'd have been a way higher draft pick. Kid had great size and strength, really good vision, great balance and feet- he's just pretty slow for a back. If he had the kind of speed Corum or Edwards have- he's probably a 1st or 2nd rd pick. 

[Mdot21]

Kind of get frustrated when people act like they won the B1G and made the playoff because of Cade. My guy was just along for the ride riding the back of an award winning OL, really good 1-2 RB punch, and a gnarly front 7 on defense which featured two 1st round NFL Draft pick edge rushers. Yeah, yeah Ojabo went 2nd round but we all know he's a top 20 pick bare minimum if he doesn't tear his achilles a few weeks before the draft. 

Cade stat line vs OSU/Iowa/Georgia: 

434 Yds, 1 TD vs 4 Int....COMBINED. That's an average of 144.6 Yards per game and .33 TD's and 1.33 INT's a game. Sure, Georgia had a whale of a defense but Ohio State and Iowa? Not so much.

Michigan passing game and QB has lot of improvement it can make. And with your #1 WR coming back healthy and Erik All having a true breakout season in 2021- plus some nice #2 guys at the position with guys like Cornelius Johnson and Roman Wilson plus all the young guys like Anthony and Edwards on the verge- there are some real weapons here to have a serious offense- PROVIDED the QB can get it done. I just don't believe Cade can get it done. Not a knock on him, think he's BY FAR the best QB that Michigan has had under Harbaugh- but that's still not good enough imo. Need someone who can make the other guys better and take it to the next level. 

[bayareabadger]

Harbaugh says former 5* DE/OLB transfer Eyabi Anoma will play in game one. Which is kinda crazy cause he just got there 2 weeks ago. 

On the one hand, that feels like a wait-and-see-if-he-plays kinda thing. Like, coaches lie all over. 

And if he does, well, not much upside in holding him back. 

[Mdot21]

13 mins of JJ McCarthy....kid just has every tool in the belt. Live arm? Check. Effortless, quick release? Check. Athletic? Check. Fast? Check. Can throw accurately on the run and off platform? Check. Good deep ball? Check. Dude is by far the most talented QB I have seen at Michigan since Drew Henson. He's not as massive as Henson and his arm probably isn't quite as strong- but he's big enough and his arm is strong enough.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVouqoyZEpA

[Mdot21]

that's pretty solid coverage....better throw by JJ. Perfect throw beats coverage every time though. This kids arm talent in special. He needs to start. You don't keep that kind of ability on the bench.


https://twitter.com/UMichFootball/status/1555924700492095489?s=20&t=ocBKLV_tnTM-ezUjUgiD8Q

[FearlessF]

unless he's turnover prone

[Temp430]

Hard to compare Cade McNamara and JJ McCarthy stat-wise since JJ was not on the field as much and when he was it was to potentially run the ball.  JJ presents a bigger problem for the defense given his dual-threat nature but McNamara has run the ball successfully when need be.  I guess I was hoping JJ would eventually over take Cade.  Maybe that will happen in September.  JJ's development was hampered by his injury during Spring.


2021 Stats

[847badgerfan]

um...not only far more athletic but also possessed a WAY bigger arm. Russell Wilson been throwing deep bomb dimes since day one. That ain't in Cade's wheelhouse.

Oh yeah. RW is probably in the team photo of the best QB's in the Big Ten all time. Wish he was there for 4 instead of one.

[SuperMario]

13 mins of JJ McCarthy....kid just has every tool in the belt. Live arm? Check. Effortless, quick release? Check. Athletic? Check. Fast? Check. Can throw accurately on the run and off platform? Check. Good deep ball? Check. Dude is by far the most talented QB I have seen at Michigan since Drew Henson. He's not as massive as Henson and his arm probably isn't quite as strong- but he's big enough and his arm is strong enough.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVouqoyZEpA

But none of that matters if decision making isn’t as good as all those qualities. There’s been plenty of QBs with incredible tools, but there still needs to be someone intelligent using them. Hopefully the football IQ is there and he’s a star.

[Honestbuckeye]

So true SM.  

I felt like McNamara was extremely solid in that area.  

Either way- just looking at UM on paper - they should be strong enough to beat or compete evenly with ANYONE on that schedule.   

[Cincydawg]

It's interesting when a team has a solid QB and a highly talented but slightly erratic QB and who they play.  I recall something akin to this last season.  (JT Daniels wasn't especially erratic, and he has tools, he'll do well at WVU.)

It's a bit different of course in that Stetson Bennett had better wheels and that was a clear factor, but Daniels is by most metrics the better QB.

[Mdot21]

But none of that matters if decision making isn’t as good as all those qualities. There’s been plenty of QBs with incredible tools, but there still needs to be someone intelligent using them. Hopefully the football IQ is there and he’s a star.

we just don't know yet with JJ, he wasn't given enough reps in live game action and taken enough bullets. He only attempted 59 passes and rushed the ball 27 times in 14 games last year. That's basically 6 touches a game. What you want to see is the flashes in that short period of time. And BOY did he flash, nearly every damn time he was touching the ball he did something great. That's REALY hard to do...especially for a true frosh and especially at that position on such limited reps. That's a position that takes repetition and easy throws to get into a rhythm to really be effective. Freaking kid would come off the bench cold and drop dimes make it look easy. It ain't easy. He's just an extremely naturally gifted thrower of the football. Very few QB's are. Cade for example is not. Most have to really work it. He makes it look easy. 

People tried to blame the lost fumble vs MSU on him. Wasn't his fault. Harbaugh, Corum, and Gattis ALL said it was Corum's fault. JJ did fumble the ball once in that game which actually was his fault- but the ball went out of bounds- luckily.