SPORTS 11

Thursday, July 25, 2019
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Harbaugh looking to play two quarterbacks each game this season

CHICAGO — The day he 
transferred to Michigan, many 
assumed that Shea Patterson 
would 
win 
the 
starting 
quarterback spot. And he did, 
starting every game in his first 
season for the Wolverines. 
Now, with a full season under 
his belt in addition to another 
offseason 
to 
understand 
the 
offense and develop chemistry 
with 
the 
receiving 
corps, 
Patterson seems primed to evolve 
into the quarterback pundits 
expected him to be when he came 
out of high school as a five-star 
recruit. 
But 
Michigan 
coach 
Jim 
Harbaugh threw a curveball at 
the Big Ten Media Day on Friday.
“Yes, 
I 
do 
(see 
Dylan 
McCaffrey playing in addition to 
Patterson) where it stands right 
now,” Harbaugh said. “That could 
change later or not, as I seem them 
both playing possibly. Where it 
stands right now, I see it as maybe 
redefining what a starter is.

“I’m really not talking about 
playing them both at the same 
time when I say that I’m going 
to play them both in games. It’s 
really going to be they’re both 
playing quarterback during the 
same game, and where it stands 
now, in every game.” 
This is drastically different 
from what Harbaugh has done 
in the past, though, especially in 
his initial years as 
head coach when 
the 
quarterback 
situation 
was 
more in flux. But 
with perhaps his 
most 
talented 
quarterback 
during his tenure 
as head coach in 
Ann Arbor, why 
would Harbaugh 
introduce another 
man into a position race that 
seemed set?
The answer lies in the offensive 
scheme 
the 
Wolverines 
are 
progressively growing towards — 
the spread offense.
With new coordinator Josh 

Gattis at the helm of an offense 
that returns nine of its 11 starters 
and a spread philosophy based 
on his “speed in space” motto, 
Michigan has not one but two 
quarterbacks it feels confident 
playing at anchor of the offense.
“As I said, not only Shea 
and Dylan are really good and 
suited for (the spread offense),” 
Harbaugh said, “but I’d say Joe 
Milton as well and 
Cade McNamara. 
And 
most 
quarterbacks are 
coming out of that 
type of system.” 
Running 
multiple 
quarterbacks 
in a game isn’t 
necessarily new to 
the college game 
— some of the 
decade’s most successful teams 
have put multiple guys under 
center in each game and found 
success. And with McCaffrey’s 
mobility as well as Patterson’s 
experience 
running 
run-pass 
options — a staple of the spread 

offense — the Wolverines’ feel 
comfortable 
approaching 
the 
season with this strategy.
“I trust both of them with 
the ball,” said senior guard 
Ben Bredeson. “They’re both 
extraordinary athletes, both of 
them can run the offense, both 
of them take care of the football 

really well. So I would have no 
problem with those guys, either 
both being back there, one or the 
other being back there, I trust 
them both.
“ I’m sure whatever situation 
they’re presented, they’re going 
to do well. They’re going to 
thrive.”

AKUL VIJAYVARGIYA
Summer Managing Sports Editor

ALEC COHEN/Daily
Senior quarterback Shea Patterson may split time as a starter this season.

Amid starting battle, depth at offensive line beginning to develop

CHICAGO — At the start of 
the 2018 season, the depth at 
offensive line was an area of 
question.
There was no clear starter 
at either tackle position, and 
Michigan was coming off a 
season in which it allowed the 
second-most sacks in the Big Ten. 
But over the course of the season, 
the offensive line developed and 
finished tied for the third-fewest 
sacks allowed in the conference.
Fast forward to the present. 
The Wolverines are returning 
four of last year’s five starters, 
with the only question being 
who will win the battle for the 
starting right tackle position.
“I think the way things stand 
right now, our offensive line is 
pretty darn good,” said Michigan 
coach Jim Harbaugh. “Maybe as 
good as we’ve had.”
Unlike the questions that faced 
the offensive line last season — 
which were more of a concern — 
the question this year is more of 

a testament to the depth that has 
finally developed up front for the 
Wolverines.
Senior guard Ben Bredeson is 
a part of that slew of returning 
lineman. 
He 
believes 
the 
competition for the final tackle 
position 
between 
redshirt 
freshman 
Jalen 
Mayfield 
and 
junior 
Andrew 
Stueber 
couldn’t 
be any closer. 
“It’s 
very 
close,” 
Bredeson 
said. “And that’s 
just not me trying 
to hide anything. 
It’s 
genuinely 
something that’s 
going to get solved 
in camp between 
(Mayfield) and Stueber. Once 
that happens then we’ll know 
from there. But not even anybody 
in the building knows right now.”
Last 
season, 
Mayfield 
appeared in three games while 
Stueber 
appeared 
in 
all 
14 
games and started one. Stueber 
established himself as a solid 

option to be a starter this season, 
while 
Mayfield 
continues 
to 
impress with his development.
“I think Jalen’s going to get a lot 
of significant time whether that 
be a starter or whether that be 
a backup,” Bredeson said. “He’ll 
play a lot. He’s a tremendous 
athlete — a great 
athlete 
as 
an 
offensive lineman. 
He’s very mobile, 
he’s 
quick, 
he’s 
strong. 
He’s 
working 
on 
his 
technique 
every 
single day. He’s 
a guy that when 
we line up next to 
each other it’s not 
like I look over 
there and worry. 
Jalen is going to be fine. He does 
a great job and he’s only getting 
better.” 
Harbaugh was also quick to 
praise Mayfield and added that 
every time he watches film, he 
notices “No. 73.” 
Regardless 
of 
who 
wins 
the job, both Harbaugh and 

Bredeson had high praise for the 
development of the offensive line 
and the work that offensive line 
coach Ed Warinner has done.
“Ed 
Warinner, 
he 
did 
a 
great job for us last year as the 
offensive line coach,” Harbaugh 
said. “Our run game improved. 

Our pass protection is better. We 
gave up less sacks. We saw the 
players improve a lot individually 
and collectively.”
What was once seen as a 
gaping hole on the depth chart is 
now becoming one of Michigan’s 
strong suits.

JORGE CAZARES
Summer Managing Sports Editor

CARTER FOX/Daily
Senior guard Ben Bredeson will anchor a deep offensive line unit this season.

I see it as 
maybe 
redefining what 
a starter is.

Right now, our 
offensive line 
is pretty darn 
good.

