JJ McCarthy on offense reaching potential: 'We shouldn't be stopped'

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh made a difficult decision earlier this season when he opted to bench starting quarterback Cade McNamara, who led the Wolverines to a Big Ten title and a College Football Playoff berth last season, for sophomore JJ McCarthy in search of greater upside.

The move has worked out just fine so far, with Michigan unbeaten and ranked No. 5 nationally. But McCarthy feels like the best is yet to come.

“I just feel like we should be not getting stopped offensively with the talent we have and the scheme that’s put in,” McCarthy said. “We shouldn’t be stopped.”

Frankly, it’s not like many teams have stopped Michigan early in the season.

The Wolverines have the nation’s No. 7 scoring offense, averaging 43.0 points per game. They’re putting up 458.7 total yards per game, good for 29th nationally. Running back Blake Corum has powered the nation’s No. 20 rushing offense to the tune of 212.3 yards per game.

If there is an area of the offense that can improve, it’s the passing game. The Wolverines have the nation’s 12th-most efficient passing attack, but it’s producing 246.3 yards per game, ranking 69th in the country.

At times the passing game has gotten a little out of sync, like in the first half of last weekend’s game against Indiana, which was tied 10-10 going into the locker room 30 minutes in.

“Just being able to find our groove like we did in the second half every single drive, with every single game, is going to be huge,” McCarthy said. “Once we do that then we’ll break through that surface for sure.”

JJ McCarthy a model of efficiency

Despite JJ McCarthy feeling like the Michigan passing game isn’t yet firing on all cylinders the Wolverines have been pretty darned efficient.

McCarthy’s 182.1 passing efficiency rating checks in at No. 5 nationally among all quarterbacks who have played in at least 75% of their team’s games, with a minimum of 15 passing attempts per game.

Not too shabby.

“It’s just when you talk about potential and you look at what we have as a group, you look at who we’re coached by and you look at what we’re doing on the field, it’s just not matching up with our potential and where we should be and where we’re going to be,” McCarthy explained. “I mean everything’s a process, and this entire season is just continual growth week to week.

There’s a clear goal in mind for McCarthy, who made some brief appearances as a freshman a year ago, watching McNamara guide Michigan to the playoffs.

He has every game he didn’t make a real impact in circled on the calender. One, in particular.

Until it arrives it’s all about ironing out every possible kink within the offense. That one game is not a forgiving one.

“It’s just building up that chemistry,” McCarthy said. “I mean this is our first year together. We’ve had six games, but I feel like as you can see through every week we’ve been growing in different areas as an offense. If we continue to be on this track to continually exponentially grow in the right direction, by the end of the year, by Ohio State, we’re going to be right where we want, for sure.”