Jim Harbaugh: ‘J.J. McCarthy on a path to be the best quarterback in Michigan history’
Jim Harbaugh might be the best quarterback in Michigan program history — he at least has an argument. But the head coach admitted Monday his current quarterback might be on pace to be that guy when he leaves, whether it’s after this season or next.
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Harbaugh said earlier this year J.J. McCarthy was a “generational” quarterback, insisting there was nobody else he’d rather have (though USC’s Caleb Williams “is good, too,” he said after watching the Trojans beat Colorado).
“I feel like I stand corrected from what I’ve been saying the last several months, which is I think J.J. is a once in a generation quarterback. J.J. has shown to be on path to be the best quarterback in Michigan history,” Harbaugh said at his Monday press conference. “The statistics I’m sure speak to that, and the statistic that speaks to it the most is amount of [successful drives. He’s had 213 drives. We’ve scored on 130 of those drives, and 96 have been touchdowns, 34 field goals, 61 percent. So, it’s really remarkable. There’s no stat that demonstrates the quality of quarterback play more than that statistic, in my mind.
“I think going forward, J.J. will be the quarterback that all future quarterbacks are compared to.”
He’s continuing to improve, too, Harbaugh said after McCarthy completed 14 of 17 passes for 222 yards and three scores in a 52-7 win over Indiana. At that point, he’d completed 111 of 142 passes for 1,512 yards through seven games (78 percent) with 14 touchdowns and 3 interceptions, and he’d become more of a weapon with his feet. He scored two touchdowns while keeping the ball at Minnesota, showing his speed in a 52-10 win, and has run for 160 yards.
Harbaugh showed no hesitation to go for 7 on fourth and 2 and the game tied 7-7 in the second quarter vs. Indiana knowing he had McCarthy to make a play. McCarthy found Michigan senior receiver Roman Wilson for a two-yard score. Michigan would score again to make it 21-7 at the break.
“So locked in at all times, like all the guys, really,” Harbaugh said. “Everybody on our team, they play for each other, and he certainly does. He’s willing to do anything for anybody on the team.
“It’s perfect when you’ve got a quarterback like that. Some people ask me fourth and two, tie ball game on the two-yard line, what goes into that decision? I know the ball’s going to be in No. 9’s hands. Or in Colston [Loveland]’s hands, or Roman [Wilson]’s. But mainly I know No. 9 is going to make it right. I just have a great confidence that the odds are in our favor. Tremendous job by him responding.”
It led to his first Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honor. McCarthy moved to 11th all-time in passing yards with 4,467 career passing yards at Michigan and it the first time the Wolverines have scored 50-plus points in back to back Big Ten games since 1975, the first time in program history with 10 straight games with 30-plus points.
