How Cade McNamara is taking on new leadership role as spring ball wraps up

Michigan football quarterback Cade McNamara got four series under his belt as the quarterback for both teams in Saturday’s spring game. The Blue team outlasted the Maize by a score of 20-12 before a crowd of about 15,000 in Ann Arbor.

The exhibition was not about him, but he is playing a large role in developing the identity of the 2022 Wolverines.

Everyone on this year’s squad is going to have to do a little bit more. Be a little bit more. That comes from focusing on the details. McNamara has taken that upon himself during Michigan’s 15 spring practice opportunities.

“I’ve been looking to work on my base and on footwork things to eliminate some false movements,” McNamara said after the game. “I’m building towards that still. I think overall, just what I’m doing for the team, as far as treating my leadership has changed. I think I have a new role this season even more. And also from a playing standpoint, we’re coming up with some concepts. Some new guys are gonna be filling different roles. And I think my chemistry has been building with those guys.”

There were plenty of leading voices in the room during last year’s run through the Big Ten and trip to the College Football Playoff. McNamara is one of the few left behind and is working on passing down what he learned to a team full of new contributors.

“Last year, I was one of a few really good leaders on the team,” McNamara said. “And this year, I feel like it’s my job as the top dog that I have to spread leadership amongst the team. I’m trying to create opportunities for other guys to be leaders.

“Not every leader has to be a captain in order for them to lead. Now that we’re done with spring, now we’re going into camp. More leadership needs to come. The more [leaders] the better. Having a really good spring, it’s gonna make guys more comfortable and confident in themselves.”

A bevy of Michigan playmakers

One of the strengths of Michigan’s offense this year is its talented and deep wide receiver room. They have a nice mixture of veterans and young guys that are long and athletic. That can help keep a defense off balance and find a matchup they like. McNamara says it has made everyone better this spring.

“Our defense does such a good job of mixing up the looks,” he said. “The defense is well aware of that too, that they’re trying to eliminate putting their guys in bad positions. With variations of coverage, our defense has been able to do a good job of defending us. But at the same time, especially once we start playing other teams, I’m going to have a lot of dudes to throw to. And as we go into camp, as we’re finishing up spring, it’s just about finding the best way we can get balls to those guys.”

McNamara taking a step forward can be helped by the playmaking he gets around him. There have been growing pains in the spring, but he likes how the sessions have served as a springboard into the Michigan offseason.

“We have so many players and so many guys with skill,” McNamara said. “I’m expecting us to be more dynamic. The mentality of this team is in a really good place. Over the course of spring, we’ve had some bumps and dips, but I think those have leveled out we’ve addressed them. We’re in a really good place going into the rest of the offseason.”

Relationships with Oluwatimi, new playcallers

McNamara and center Andrew Vastardis had a tight-knit relationship last season, but Vastardis is out the door. In steps Virginia transfer Olu Oluwatimi, a Rimington Award finalist that has hit the ground running at Michigan.

“We had a really good relationship,” McNamara said. “Olu and I, we’re starting to come closer. He’s an extremely smart player. I think him being able to come to a new school and already change what he’s changing as far as what he’s doing on the line of scrimmage this early is very, very impressive, let alone his talent. He’s strong. As we continue to work and continue talking, I think we’re gonna have a great relationship.”

There is also a new dynamic between McNamara and his play-callers. Sherrone Moore and Matt Weiss co-coordinate the offense this season and the early reviews have been positive.

“Between the two of them, I know exactly what I’m gonna get,” McNamara said. “I feel like our communication right now is really good as far as what Coach Weiss is going to bring to the offensive and what Coach Moore brings to the offense. Overall, the three of us have just had really good communication as far as what we want to do, how we want to attack the defense and what we need to get better at.”

Did we see the offense’s identity on Saturday?

At the end of the day, Saturday’s spring contest was an exhibition. Michigan was not giving away state secrets and instead opted to get other guys opportunities.

“Honestly, not really,” McNamara said. “The energy, the competitiveness that this team showed today, that’s that was on display. But as far as what schematically… everything kind of from a football standpoint, we’re not trying to show anything in this game. We’re just trying to get some other dudes reps. We’re trying to see what other guys can do. That’s it from that standpoint.”