Michigan QB Cade McNamara: 'I've earned the respect of my teammates and coaches'

Michigan redshirt freshman Cade McNamara won over the team’s starting quarterback position late in the 2020 season, and despite being pushed by freshman J.J. McCarthy and others in the offseason, never let it go.

Through 10 games, McNamara has had some ups and downs, good games and not so good, but the Wolverines are the nation’s No. 6 team and 9-1, with a real shot at winning multiple championships in the weeks ahead.

There has been criticism from a loud faction of the fan base and some of the media on everything from his arm strength and accuracy to his speed and athleticism. While simultaneously ignoring and quieting the noise over the last few weeks, though, he has proved he’s the man for the job — at least for this season.

“Something I’ve learned over the course of the last two years is a neutral mindset — just being really factually based and trying to stay as present as I possibly can,” McNamara said, explaining that he got some practice at that during his high school days. “It’s something that has helped me, as well as dealing with the emotion of the game and dealing with the highs and lows. That mindset has helped me a lot.”

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Now, many more outsiders feel the same way about McNamara, who threw three touchdowns, including the game-winner to sophomore tight end Erick All, in a 21-17 win over Penn State over the weekend, as the players and staff members inside Schembechler Hall have for a long time.

“I believe that I’ve earned the respect of my teammates and my coaches, and I’m doing my job at a high level,” McNamara, who’s completing 62.9 percent of his passes on the year, said. “I can’t do that without the help from my teammates.”

Junior defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, perhaps Michigan’s top overall player, patted McNamara on the shoulder pads a few times during the postgame press conference Saturday, declaring him as “my quarterback.” Signs like that, ones that the public doesn’t always see, are a glimpse into how much belief the Wolverines have in McNamara.

“I feel like I’ve really earned a voice on this team, especially on the offensive side of the ball,” he said. “When we’ve played in games, what I say, the guys respond to me.

“And it’s nothing about me trying to be the voice or … I think they know I truly care about winning. When guys like Aidan do something like that, it puts a smile on my face because I know that, as much as I care about these boys, they care about me as well.”

McNamara and Hutchinson are two of the numerous leaders that have stepped up for Michigan this season, after there was a void of player-led guidance a year ago.

“At the beginning of [winter] workouts, some of the leaders on this team, we started to establish ourselves,” McNamara said of how he and other veterans became more prominent leaders. “The guys who have been here the longest have seen the most, so as that started and as spring ball began, we started to do a lot of player-led stuff. As we started to organize player-led stuff, it just build to the camaraderie of the team as well.

“It’s pretty obvious how much this team cares about one another, and it’s something that has developed over time. Whether that’s us doing stuff together outside of football, whether that’s us holding each other accountable when we’re here, it’s definitely led to that.”

McNamara has made some big throws this season, including in Happy Valley last week. However, when asked what his personal highlight of the year has been, he declined to make it about himself, instead commending the team itself.

“The way this team has come together,” he responded. “A lot of pressure was put on us with how we’re going to deal with adversity at times and how this team would respond, and I think we’ve done nothing but respond well in those situations.

“Just going through gritty wins like we had last week and like Nebraska, even the experience at Michigan State — what I love about this team is how close we are together. That’s something I appreciate, and I know the boys do, too.”

After entering the season unranked and tabbed as a seven- or eight-win team, at best, Michigan has rolled through the first 10 games. The new ‘energy’ and ‘vibe’ in the building that frustrated fans didn’t want to hear about until they saw the results on the field, has turned into nine real victories, with more likely on the way.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday that the group has “championship qualities,” which bodes well, since they’re squarely in the Big Ten and national title hunts. McNamara once again pointed to the team’s ability to “handle adversity” as its top attribute.

“We definitely have enough talent,” he said. “And overall, our mentality as a team has shifted and this team is ready to finish this season. I think that by the end of it, we should be competing for a championship if we continue to do what we’re supposed to do.”

Being Better Under Pressure

Like most quarterbacks, McNamara has better numbers when he’s kept clean than he does when he’s hurried. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), he’s completing just 52.9 percent of his passes for 496 yards and three touchdowns while under pressure, versus a 66.3 completion percentage with 1,386 yards and nine scores when not facing heat.

While his numbers certainly aren’t as high with pass rushers in his face, he still is avoiding making mistakes, with both of his interceptions on the season coming with a clean pocket. Sometimes, making the simple play instead of taking a sack or forcing a ball down the field can pay off, and it has for McNamara and Michigan this year. He’s only gotten better in that aspect of his game.

“My ability to find my checkdowns when I’m under duress is something I’ve had to develop a feel for, in the pocket in a game scenario,” said McNamara, who has only started 11 career contests. “We try to simulate game situations as much as possible, but being a quarterback you’re never getting hit [in practice]. But finding the last moment I can stay in the pocket and still be able to find guys is something that I think I’ve developed a lot throughout the course of the season.”

He and offensive coordinator Josh Gattis are also becoming more and more comfortable with each other. Through 10 games, McNamara can predict what Gattis is going to call, and Gattis knows what McNamara wants to run. After the Wolverines’ huge win over Penn State, the two shared a special moment on the field.

“Me and Coach Gattis’ relationship has done nothing but grow over the course of this year, and it’s something really beneficial for me and for him,” McNamara said. “Just our chemistry of knowing what the next play call is going to be, knowing what to expect from one another.

“Over the course of the time I’ve been here, we’ve been through our ups and downs; we’ve had some honest conversations with each other. And I think when things start to come together as an offense and for us to pull our gritty wins like that — in a place that he’s been, too — he’s a very positive coach. He shows that to us, and our relationship means a lot to me.”