The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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26 THE WOLVERINE OCTOBER 2022 ference slate, McCarthy has now hit on 30 of 34 passes for 473 yards and 3 touch- downs. He has connected at a remarkable 88.2-percent clip, while also running for 73 yards and 1 touchdown on 7 carries. While McCarthy's modest average of 157.7 yards passing per game only ranked 98th nationally through three games, the Wolverines were the No. 1 scoring offense in the land with 55.3 points per game. HARBAUGH: STILL TWO STRONG QUARTERBACKS The sudden change had to be devas- tating for McNamara, who continually expressed confidence heading into this season. He noted in Indianapolis at the Big Ten football meetings he felt like this was his team. A little over a month later, he found himself going 13-for-24 in the opening two weeks, posting a 54.2 completion percentage compared to McCarthy's ri- diculous 93.8 percent. McNamara wasn't enamored about the decision to split starts in the opening two games, and al- lowed it to show following the season opener. "I would definitely say it's pretty un- usual," McNamara commented. "It was kind of a thing I wasn't expecting. By the end of camp, I thought I had my best camp and put myself in a good position." One week later, everything changed. The head coach wants nothing to change in the way McNamara approaches the game. He's still a captain, still a valu- able piece of Michigan's 2022 puzzle, and he's one play away at any given moment from retaking the position he held all of last year. "There are things that happen in foot- ball," Harbaugh said. "It doesn't always go the way you want or hoped it would, even when you're putting in all the work and doing everything you possibly can. Doing a heck of a job. If really seen the right way, there's a burden there, laid on you, and you treat it like ankle weights. "It's not always going to go every time being 12-for-12 in a game, either. It's the nature of the business, playing football and quarterback. I know the competitor Cade is, and he's got gravel in his gut and he'll be ready for his next opportunity. That's what I predict." Some of the rain-soaked faithful in- side Michigan Stadium for Hawai'i didn't make it any easier on McNamara. They booed his effort, which wasn't enhanced by finding himself under heavy pressure from the pass rush. Harbaugh stressed all along his belief that Michigan possesses two strong quar- terbacks. He doubled down on that mes- sage in the wake of the change. "The coaches do, our players do, em- brace the fact that we have two really good quarterbacks," Harbaugh said. "You'd love for your fan base to be able to do that. "It's a big edge for our team to have two really good quarterbacks. We as a team embrace that. "Outside of that, [the booing] would be irrelevant." Karsch noted the importance of keep- ing McNamara competing at a high level, and perhaps bolstering his confidence following the change. "It doesn't hurt Michigan football at all to encourage the backup to push the starter," he said. "It was true last year, and it's true this year. The way football is played, now they should get about the business of building up the backup. "Especially with a quarterback that might run a lot, you might need the backup. We know the backup has engi- neered a team to a Big Ten championship. Get and keep that kid ready." Part of the readiness might involve portions of the home crowd demonstrat- ing more restraint and less frustration, Karsch stressed. "Cade seems like a kid who is tough, physically and mentally," he opined. "I thought that was on display this year. This is a different type of challenge to his toughness. "The boos don't help. Boos are one of McCarthy's speed makes him a dual threat as a runner and puts added pressure on defenses. Through the first 3 games, he was averaging 10.4 yards per carry with 1 rushing touchdown and had completed 30 of 34 passes for 473 yards and 3 touchdowns. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN