Category: Football

8/29/22 Week 1 Press Conference

Harbaugh:
I’d like to congratulate Carol Hutchins on her amazing her career, her retirement. I think the winningest softball coach in the entire world. It’s great that her legacy is going to continue under Bonnie and her team and great to have another Michigan alum coaching a Michigan team, can’t talk enough about Carol. Winningest coach in history, 22 Big 10 championships, on and on, but I know she’s gonna be still around, she’s a great colleague and we love her, Go Blue!

Camp has been good. We’re excited to start the season. Camps over, it’s now game week. I really give a lot of credit to our players, the kind of shape they came in, the way our coaches developed, strength coaches, assistant coaches. Very, very, very healthy roster as well, and excited to let them have at it this week.

We’ve named the starting quarterback…Cade McNamara will start the first game. JJ McCarthy will start the second. We’ve also posted the depth chart at the other positions as well.

Q:
You’ve explained the quarterback arrangement, but how long are you going to let that go? Are you determined to have starter by week three?

Harbaugh:
I mean, it’s a process…no person, that’s biblical…knows what the future holds and it’s a process and it’ll be based on performance. But we’re not gonna withhold, you know, any, any good. Both both have been tremendous quarterbacks, we think that, that both are capable of leading our team to a championship. So that’s good. We’re gonna keep cultivating that…some people have asked…how’d you come to that decision? It wasn’t based on some kind of NFL model. It’s really based biblical- Solomon- he was known for being a pretty wise person.

Q:
Eyabi Anoma. What was the process for bringing him in? What what did you see in him? And what have you seen from him so far?

Harbaugh:
Really good, graduate transfer Eyabi Anoma has been practicing with the team for about 10-12 days, or something like that and he’s been really good. He’s been a great teammate, and I look forward to seeing when he can do this coming season, but I think he’ll hopefully playing right away in the first game, and showing some some outstanding assets that you can bring to the team.

Q:
Jim, as pleased as you seem to be with both quarterbacks, do you wish one had separated? Are you fine with it being so even- is that a good or a bad thing?

Harbaugh:
I can’t see it other than a good thing…They’re actually both playing their best football since they’ve been here. Cade is arguably one of the most improved players on the team and he’s playing his best football. JJ did not have spring practice but he’s ascended to where he’s at, based on his performance. So, yeah, that’s a really, really good thing…I mean, there’s no demotion for Cade McNamara….he’s playing his best football. It is a promotion for JJ, based on what he’s been able to do as well.

Q:
Jim, would you anticipate playing both quarterbacks in the opener as well?

Harbaugh:
Yes, we’re not gonna withhold something good that can could help the football team so yes, I can see that.

Q:
The backup offensive lineman you mentioned Greg Crippen and Karsen Barnhart, who are some of the other guys that are pushing for playing time?

Harbaugh:
Jeffrey Persi at left tackle…Giovanni El-Hadi is doing some really good things. Reece Atteberry would be another that’s right there in the two deep, doing a good job and Raheem Anderson would be next. I feel like those would be the top 11 right now. Ryan Hayes, Trevor Keegan, Olusegun Oluwatimi, Zak Zinner, Trente Jones, Karsen Barnhart, Reese Atteberry, Jeff Persi, Gio, Greg Crippen, and Raheem Anderson.

Q:
Jim, following up on that question about Eyabi. What was sort of the vetting process for someone with his off-the-field issues and what made you feel comfortable bringing in a guy that has run into some problems at other programs?

Harbaugh:
Eyabi graduated from Tennessee Martin…a very easy process in talking to his former teammates that are on our team…Eyabi is somebody we recruited right out of high school and always felt like we finished, maybe second in that. I’ve always really, really enjoyed being around the Eyabi and not aware of the the vague off-field issues that you refer to. But as it stands now, he’s a college graduate, really vouched for by his teammates, and he’s just great guy to be around on a day-to-day basis. So no man who knows the future, but I think it looks very good and bright for Eyabi.

Q:
Jim, when you’re evaluating quarterbacks in the first two games is that something where you’ll put the numbers into a formula that gives you an answer? Or is that going to be more of a gut feel?

Harbaugh:
Based on performance I mean, there’s not one criteria that you could plug in and say, this will be the factor, that’ll be the factor. I want both the quarterbacks to keep playing their game and keep enhancing what they do really well, improving some of the things that they need to work on, but definitely not trying to play somebody else’s game or the other quarterbacks game or, you know, hit a metric or a number that is going to be the deciding factor because you know, there won’t be one other than we play the best players and based on performance and that’s the metric- meritocracy.

Q:
Jim, you mentioned Mason Grant as someone who could start as a freshman, what did he show in fall camp to deserve that?

Harbaugh:
Yeah, we’re thinking that in the base package that Mason right now is top of the depth chart as a defensive tackle. The other player is Rayshaun Benny, who’s surging like you can’t imagine, both in the base and in sub fronts as well. But Mason from the day he got here has been a very solid player, you saw it in the spring game, he was really highly drafted in that spring game and played very well. So he’s played good, he’s earned it and count on him for for a lot of snaps in this first game.

Q:
When you have one quarterback starting one week and another starting another, how do you judge them differently with two different defenses that are going up against?

Harbaugh:
It’s not gonna be exactly the same, but where we’re at right now it’s practice versus games. We think we’ll have a better understanding after the two play in the games. We talked about earlier, this is this isn’t something we have to withhold, there’s a great chance that we can play both of the quarterbacks, you know, in this game, the next game and in the third game as well…You just don’t know, that’s that’s the point. I mean, you can speculate, you can predict, but no man knows the future.

Q:
Jim, I’m wondering if the current landscape of college football at all weighed into this just with more people transferring and moving? Because in years past, you tended to name a guy and sort of go with that. Does that play any factor? If you had these two quarterbacks maybe five to seven years ago would you have made the same decision?

Harbaugh:
Yeah, it’s just specific for this team and the way these two players are playing if you’re the question is speculating, no there’s no other intent, or motive other than what’s good for our football team.

I understand it, I understand the landscape- here’s what I do understand that if a coach gets up here and gives you the normal cliches, then you seem very offended as journalists, but also, when a coach, or person, gives you a really well thought out, in depth, honest, tells you the truth of where things stand, there’s a tendency to question motive, or question intent. I understand that. I’m going to keep doing it the way I’ve been doing it, which is to speak the absolute truth, as I know it and believe it to be.

Q:
Jim, you mentioned releasing the depth chart, that’s a departure from the past. Why are you sharing that now?

Harbaugh:
Just just felt…I guess, just for our team. So we’re doing that with our team and do that for everybody. A lot of times when you do that internally in a team, it has a way of getting out there. So just so why? Yes, sometimes it gets out there anyway, so we might as well release it.

Q:
Jim, two pronged question for you, I guess, just in generalities, with the success of last season in the Big 10 championship. What is the excitement level for your team going into week one of this season? And how are they motivated by not finishing the job last year in the college football playoffs?

Harbaugh:
The excitement is really high, guys can’t wait to play. I’m really looking forward to watching our guys compete and watching them play. Really looking forward to you know, how they’re gonna play, really feel like they can cut it loose, let it let it rip. I think they can play with hustle, constant hustle, hustle at all times. It’s one of the things I’d be looking for the most, guys running on defense, run to the ball. And, you know, offensively, also run to the ball. Trying to get that second block, if you don’t have the ball, then you become a blocker, no matter whether it is a run or pass. I think they’re ready to do that and prepared to do that, and highly motivated to play this game.

Q:
you guys do practice behind closed doors, and you like to keep things kind of, you know, in house, why did you want to make the Quarterback situation or, or bring public scrutiny to that? I mean, but playing out in these first two games.

Harbaugh:
So everybody knows exactly where it’s at, I think you know, inside of our team, you know, players. The coaches, reasonable people have seen a lot of football. I mean, they look at it as neck and neck. And that’s what it is.

We’re sharing, other players have shared that with, with the media. So yeah, it’s something that’s already out there and this is our approach, we feel like it’s the best way to go…It’s got to play out, it’s a process and be based on performance. It is what it is. And it’s a good thing. I think a lot of teams would like to have that, to be in that position.

I see the things written, you know, the adage, somebody in here, that if you have two quarterbacks, you don’t have any…I see some, some heads nodding, but is that true? Is that a fact? Is that a fact for anywhere? Is it a fact on this on this team? I don’t think it’s a proven fact.

Q:
Do you feel about the development of your safeties in particular and your defense overall coming into the first game?

Harbaugh:
Safeties? RJ Moten, Makari Paige, Rod Moore- those three safeties have been outstanding. Also, Caden Kolesar will be in a rotation but those first three I mentioned, there’ll be in depending on the package- dime, base, or nickel. Those three rule will be in the game rotating as starters.

Q:
People talking about the defense where a lot of more people are being plugged in. You mentioned before that you thought it was going to be better a lot of people thought.

Harbaugh:
I said I thought it had a chance to be…it has a chance to be based on the fact that like David Ojabo last year, you didn’t know that he was going to turn into the player that that he did. I see a lot of hungry guys at those positions.

The safety position in particular all four of those players have really been competing and battling for our football team same at outside backer, I see that taking place. Guys are hungry and want to play, based on that it has a chance to be. It has a license, the ability to be and now you go have at it and and see if it can be.

Q:
You mentioned how highly Mason Graham in spring practice, and in the spring game. Did he enter fall camp at the top or near the top of the depth chart or was that something that happened during fall camp?

Harbaugh:
Yeah, as it progressed. That’s where he moved in the base defense. He wasn’t starting, going in. Chris Jenkins was the starting defensive tackle going into fall camp. Now Chris Jenkins is the starting end, so he moved from tackle to end. And in the base package, based on a base front that’s what we think are the starters now- Mazi Smith, starting to nose and I mentioned the three edge guys in the interview the other day- Jalen Harrell, Taylor Upshaw, Mike Morris, all three of those we look at as a starting edges.

Q:
Jim, I’m not sure what Cade wants to do long term but he could come back next year, if he wanted to use his covid year and I think he can even come back again using his red shirt maybe from his freshman year. Given how highly you think of both quarterbacks to what extent do you think the competition will just kind of continue in perpetuity as long as they’re both on the same roster?

Harbaugh:
I don’t know…Nobody knows. I think somebody was trying to allude to that question. So I’ll just give you my thoughts on it.

I mean, you’re talking about two gritty competitors and fighters in Cade McNamara and JJ McCarthy. So to answer the question, did it factor in that that one would transfer or not? No, my thoughts are that they are both the kind of guys that don’t flinch, fold or quit at the slightest whiff of adverse circumstances or if something doesn’t go their way.

That’s not Cade McNamara, that’s not JJ McCarthy.

Q:
Could you speak to the camp JJ has had so far because as you said he didn’t practice in the spring?

Harbaugh:
Yeah, it’s been tremendous, he didn’t have spring ball but he’s continued to flourish getting better and better every day as I said, Cade’s done the same thing. They have both elevated their game accordingly, playing their game, what they’re really good at, and also working on the things that that they can they can improve. Cade’s been really much improved in just about every area, including managing the pocket and extending plays. That’s one of JJ’s forte as a player. I see JJ doing that really well and continuing to do that well, but also, you know, proving, going through the reads and taking what the defense gives them and protecting the football. So yeah, both of really had great camps.

Q:.
Jim, I know you’ve said this is a process, but if they keep playing, Cade and JJ at a high level, as you said, they’re playing now, how long are you willing to take the process? Do you have maybe a little bit of a timetable in your head when you’d like to settle this?

Harbaugh:
You just don’t know. I mean, one of the biggest factors of being I mean, probably, if it’s exactly as it is right now, today, coming out of practice, and it continues to be like that in the games then that’ll be up to us as coaches to be able to utilize both players, what they bring to our football team, you know, for the best of the football team. And that’s, that’s where it stands today.

Q:
So you can see playing both of them, like you did last year. I mean, you know, one’s a starter one comes in a lot like, like JJ did last year?

Harbaugh:
That’s absolutely a possibility.

Edits made for clarity.