Kirk Campbell talks J.J. McCarthy biggest strength, 'best thing that happened' to the Michigan QB this season

There’s been an ongoing debate inside Schembechler Hall, Michigan Wolverines football’s facility, between head man Jim Harbaugh and quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell. Harbaugh believes junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy‘s biggest strength is his playmaking ability. Campbell, meanwhile, thinks it’s his processing of information on the fly — pre- and post-snap.

“That’s good that we’ve got a debate about that,” Harbaugh said on his radio show Monday evening.

Campbell agrees that it’s overwhelmingly positive that there are multiple strengths that could be considered the 6-3, 213-pound Michigan quarterback’s top attribute.

The position coach went in depth on what makes McCarthy’s information processing so sound.

“The processing information, he always saw the field well last year, but just giving him a pre-snap platform to execute tying his footwork and his platform, looking at the safeties, identifying coverage — one high, two high, man eyes, zone eyes — our whole platform we give him,” Campbell explained. “I think that’s an elite trait. Being able to do that as such a high level and so quickly … people can throw the football really well, and in my opinion, some people can run it really well. But to be able to do all three is amazing.

“To pick one elite trait of his is hard, but I just think seeing the field is something that you can help, you can give it tools —  but to be able to apply it on game day is such an important tool, and he’s exceptional at it. Hopefully, he continues to do that.”

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Campbell was asked how McCarthy has improved at it from his first year as Michigan’s starter last season to this fall.

“Just being able to rely on his pre-snap menu,” he responded. “That’s something that we really talk about — identifying coverage, whatever our tips, our test, key indicators are before the ball’s ever snapped. That gives you a great platform to execute once the ball’s snapped. Obviously, the picture changes and everything, but being able to do that has been a huge asset.”

Campbell declined to answer whether or not McCarthy can completely change the play at the line of scrimmage, but he did note that Michigan gives him “a large menu that he’s allowed to do a lot of different things.” At times, the Wolverines use a ‘check with me,’ where McCarthy and the offense simulate a cadence before looking over to the sideline and receiving adjustments from the coaching staff.

It’s impossible to measure exactly how good a quarterback is at the mental side of the game. However, how one performs against the blitz is one way to get a hint. McCarthy averages 12.5 yards per attempt against the blitz, compared to 8.9 when he’s not blitzed, this season. He’s been able to attack defenses where they’re vulnerable.

“That’s part of our pre-snap menu,” the Michigan assistant said of identifying blitzers. “I’m a firm believer that before you ever want to throw the ball as a quarterback, you’ve got to protect yourself. So him being able to identify coverage, rotation of safeties, linebackers, doing all that is extremely important. [Graduate center] Drake [Nugent] does a great job of that, as well, but J.J., we can help out in any standpoint with those key indicators is only going to help him throw the ball better and our team be better.”

McCarthy ranks third in the country with a 77.6 completion percentage. He’s thrown for 1,290 yards and 11 touchdowns with 3 interceptions, and has only attempted 3 passes in the fourth quarter of any game since the Wolverines have won so convincingly.

‘The best thing that happened’ to Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy this season

McCarthy had one of his most rough games of his career in Michigan’s Week 3 clash with Bowling Green. He threw a career-worst 3 interceptions in the 31-6 win. Weeks later, McCarthy said he put too much pressure on himself coming into the game. At that point, he had thrown 5 touchdowns and 7 incompletions. Harbaugh pointed out the following week that, at some point, comparing touchdowns to incompletions — not interceptions — would be impossible to keep up.

After that game, Campbell, Harbaugh and others had positive conversations with the Michigan signal-caller, McCarthy said. Campbell explained why the experience will benefit him in the long run.

“Nobody in life is ever going to be perfect. And we talk about chasing perfection every single day, we want to do that. But if you hold yourself to that elite standard and you’re so disappointed when you don’t achieve it, it can be a hindrance to your production on the field,” Campbell explained. “I just thought that he had so much pressure on himself that he was trying to just not throw an incompletion — never throw an incompletion.

“That it happened to him in that moment might have been the best thing that happened to him this season and going forward in his career — NFL, all that stuff. I just thought it was a great learning experience for him in that moment.”