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.