OT: MIchigan Sports Thread: UM wins Natty Championship

[jaster]

Missed my edit. Again they had hope for 45 seconds after that late second half score. Then he threw the terrible pick to begin the half make it 20-10 and I never felt threatened again.

They pulled within 7 at one point, nothing compared to the Alabama anxiety.

For a Michigan game, it was relatively low on the anxiety scale, I agree, although the stakes compounded it. And having been hurt in big games so many times over the past 20 years, I couldn't help but brace for what felt might be coming. Kudos to you for not feeling all that though lol.

 

[Ezekial]

For a Michigan game, it was relatively low on the anxiety scale, I agree, although the stakes compounded it. And having been hurt in big games so many times over the past 20 years, I couldn't help but brace for what felt might be coming. Kudos to you for not feeling all that though lol.

Idk they never really had that moment to make me worry like watching them muff kicks or miss xps/fgs. No turnovers, no bad penalties, no dumb trick plays gone awry. They didn't convert on a few drives, that's it, it's football in a national championship game against a really good team - stalled drives happen. The biggest complaint is their 3rd down efficiency.

 

[Frk It]

Fields might be available...

I wouldn't be opposed to that. I thought really highly of him coming out as a prospect.

 

[Winger98]

I wouldn't be opposed to that. I thought really highly of him coming out as a prospect.

Too bad the bears got a hold of him.

 

[Axel Sandy Pelikan]

Idk they never really had that moment to make me worry like watching them muff kicks or miss xps/fgs. No turnovers, no bad penalties, no dumb trick plays gone awry. They didn't convert on a few drives, that's it, it's football in a national championship game against a really good team - stalled drives happen. The biggest complaint is their 3rd down efficiency.

Odunze running wild on two long passes, one where Penix missed him by like six inches to tie the game and the other where they got a weak hold to nullify a gain that would put them in the red zone didn't do anything for you?

Alabama wasn't anxiety. Alabama was abject horror.

 

[Ezekial]

Odunze running wild on two long passes, one where Penix missed him by like six inches to tie the game and the other where they got a weak hold to nullify a gain that would put them in the red zone didn't do anything for you?

Alabama wasn't anxiety. Alabama was abject horror.

Alabama was typical of this team and what I've watched them do in big games since my childhood idol Charles Woodson left. (except for the actually winning part)
Sure there were moments in time during the game like those couple big plays but they never really actually came close to tying the game so there was never the "we're going to blow this" feeling so familiar to me. Penix looked off the entire night compared to before.

 

[Bench]

I wouldn't be opposed to that. I thought really highly of him coming out as a prospect.

You should be opposed. Fields holds the ball forever hoping to run instead of pass. He takes so many sacks because of that. He's not a good QB when it comes to things like... Reading defenses, making quick throws, avoiding turnovers. He's an okay running back.

Any team that uses him needs to build the offense around him from the ground up and then pray he doesn't get hurt trying to rip off 100 yards rushing a game.

It's not just "lol Bears ruined him." His tape and reads are rough as hell and that's something that hasn't improved this year.

 

[SpookyTsuki]

Wolverines had more rushing yards than Washington had total yards

 

[Winger98]

You should be opposed. Fields holds the ball forever hoping to run instead of pass. He takes so many sacks because of that. He's not a good QB when it comes to things like... Reading defenses, making quick throws, avoiding turnovers. He's an okay running back.

Any team that uses him needs to build the offense around him from the ground up and then pray he doesn't get hurt trying to rip off 100 yards rushing a game.

It's not just "lol Bears ruined him." His tape and reads are rough as hell and that's something that hasn't improved this year.

when you have to go back to the 1940s to find a legitimately good quarterback I'm not sure I'd give them a pass on the (lack of) development of any QB coming through their ranks.

edit: not that I disagree with the assessment of where Fields stands now. I just don't think the Bears deserve any sort of pass for it.

 

[Bench]

when you have to go back to the 1940s to find a legitimately good quarterback I'm not sure I'd give them a pass on the (lack of) development of any QB coming through their ranks.

edit: not that I disagree with the assessment of where Fields stands now. I just don't think the Bears deserve any sort of pass for it.

Well, the Bears still drafted him and he didn't have help until this year. So they have some responsibility, of course. But the way he plays at this stage of his development is far behind his peers like Love and that was obvious watching that final game of the year.

Fields is a discount Lamar and I don't think that's who anyone should hitch their wagon to if they are serious about winning.

All of this said, the Bears were so smart trading that #1 overall pick last year and now they have massive draft capital to get an even better QB (they need to get Williams). I'm actually kinda scared that the Bears will finally draft a great QB, as I think they can in a few months, and their defense should be really good with the moves they made.

The Fields experiment is over and that's exactly what I don't want to hear as a division rival. Because their next moves are probably all going to be straight upgrades and that team isn't as far away as people think from being a threat.

If they play their cards right in two years the Bears could be competing for the division again.

And I just want to put a little edit in here so people don't think I'm being a hater to Fields. Like he seems like a cool guy and I love his attitude out there, but the numbers are just... they ain't it. Here's an excerpt from an Athletic article I saw earlier.

Among qualified quarterbacks, Fields finished this season 24th in QBR, 22nd in passer rating, 29th in completion percentage, 23rd in passing yards per game and 26th in adjusted net yards per attempt. Fields’ EPA per pass play this season puts him in the same conversation as Kenny Pickett and Zach Wilson.​

 

[jaster]

I live in Chicago, I hear enough about the Bears, this discussion is exasperating, I’m blocking all of you.

 

[StreetHawk]

Wolverines had more rushing yards than Washington had total yards

McCarthy should return to college to get more reps and hopefully for him, show that he can throw the football. He's best case a day 2 guy and we've seen over the past 2-3 drafts, 2nd rounder Trask not start a game in 3 years, Willis, didn't look ready and Ten drafts another QB, Corral never suits up as a backup due to injury in CAR and they trade up for Young. Bottom line, if you are not a first rounder, you better be ready to hit the ground running when your opportunity comes around. It may be in your rookie year like O'Connell in LV, or in year 2 like Howell and Ridder and both those guys likely get replaced in 2024. AOC likely as well.

Way too easy for teams to move off a QB that they didn't spend a high pick on. Thus, onus is on the QB to get himself as ready as can be coming out. May not be Purdy ready, but do what you can in case you are lucky enough to land on a good team and due to injury, you get tapped to play, like Prescott for Romo and Purdy for Jimmy.

 

[jaster]

McCarthy should return to college to get more reps and hopefully for him, show that he can throw the football. He's best case a day 2 guy and we've seen over the past 2-3 drafts, 2nd rounder Trask not start a game in 3 years, Willis, didn't look ready and Ten drafts another QB, Corral never suits up as a backup due to injury in CAR and they trade up for Young. Bottom line, if you are not a first rounder, you better be ready to hit the ground running when your opportunity comes around. It may be in your rookie year like O'Connell in LV, or in year 2 like Howell and Ridder and both those guys likely get replaced in 2024. AOC likely as well.

Way too easy for teams to move off a QB that they didn't spend a high pick on. Thus, onus is on the QB to get himself as ready as can be coming out. May not be Purdy ready, but do what you can in case you are lucky enough to land on a good team and due to injury, you get tapped to play, like Prescott for Romo and Purdy for Jimmy.

I think the requisite talent is there with McCarthy, but I agree, he's an incomplete QB at the moment. I think if he enters the draft this year he'll be closer to a complete dud in the NFL than he will be to a starting QB. He needs to refine his accuracy for one, especially on deep balls.

 

[Winger98]

Well, the Bears still drafted him and he didn't have help until this year. So they have some responsibility, of course. But the way he plays at this stage of his development is far behind his peers like Love and that was obvious watching that final game of the year.

Fields is a discount Lamar and I don't think that's who anyone should hitch their wagon to if they are serious about winning.

All of this said, the Bears were so smart trading that #1 overall pick last year and now they have massive draft capital to get an even better QB (they need to get Williams). I'm actually kinda scared that the Bears will finally draft a great QB, as I think they can in a few months, and their defense should be really good with the moves they made.

The Fields experiment is over and that's exactly what I don't want to hear as a division rival. Because their next moves are probably all going to be straight upgrades and that team isn't as far away as people think from being a threat.

If they play their cards right in two years the Bears could be competing for the division again.

Well, the Bears still drafted him and he didn't have help until this year. So they have some responsibility, of course. But the way he plays at this stage of his development is far behind his peers like Love and that was obvious watching that final game of the year.

Fields is a discount Lamar and I don't think that's who anyone should hitch their wagon to if they are serious about winning.

All of this said, the Bears were so smart trading that #1 overall pick last year and now they have massive draft capital to get an even better QB (they need to get Williams). I'm actually kinda scared that the Bears will finally draft a great QB, as I think they can in a few months, and their defense should be really good with the moves they made.

The Fields experiment is over and that's exactly what I don't want to hear as a division rival. Because their next moves are probably all going to be straight upgrades and that team isn't as far away as people think from being a threat.

If they play their cards right in two years the Bears could be competing for the division again.

And I just want to put a little edit in here so people don't think I'm being a hater to Fields. Like he seems like a cool guy and I love his attitude out there, but the numbers are just... they ain't it. Here's an excerpt from an Athletic article I saw earlier.

Among qualified quarterbacks, Fields finished this season 24th in QBR, 22nd in passer rating, 29th in completion percentage, 23rd in passing yards per game and 26th in adjusted net yards per attempt. Fields’ EPA per pass play this season puts him in the same conversation as Kenny Pickett and Zach Wilson.​

Again, don't disagree. I just wouldn't worry about Chicago drafting and developing a QB regardless of who or where they pick him. I'd have more faith in them, picking Harrison, Jr., and finding the best vet qb they can elsewhere. Hell, sign Cousins away from the Vikings (sorry Frk),

 

[Bench]

I live in Chicago, I hear enough about the Bears, this discussion is exasperating, I’m blocking all of you.

If you're worn out now, you're in for a rough ride here, bucko. Draft talk won't even get really hot until after the playoffs.

 

[StreetHawk]

I think the requisite talent is there with McCarthy, but I agree, he's an incomplete QB at the moment. I think if he enters the draft this year he'll be closer to a complete dud in the NFL than he will be to a starting QB. He needs to refine his accuracy for one, especially on deep balls.

He won't have the same rope that a high pick would. I think Howell/AOC/Ridder had more throws in college coming into the NFL that what JJ has so far. I think none of these guys is a starter next season. Have to impress early.

What is special about JJ? He at least has to show something special to convince the staff to give him time to develop.

 

[jaster]

If you're worn out now, you're in for a rough ride here, bucko. Draft talk won't even get really hot until after the playoffs.

Ok, turns out I can't block mods. Fine. I'll just press this Lions stationary onto my screen and shift it around as necessary as I scroll.

 

[Bench]

Ok, turns out I can't block mods.

Even if you did, I'd call you for holding.

 

[Axel Sandy Pelikan]

Even if you did, I'd call you for holding.

Don't you mean.
* not completing the process of the catch
* facemask followed by a hail mary
* illegal use of hands, hands to the face
* illegal batting
* illegal touching by a guy who talked to the ref and illegal formation because for some reason the ref thought a guy lining up as a guard was the one reporting?

lol

 

[Bench]

Don't you mean.
* not completing the process of the catch
* facemask followed by a hail mary
* illegal use of hands, hands to the face
* illegal batting
* illegal touching by a guy who talked to the ref and illegal formation because for some reason the ref thought a guy lining up as a guard was the one reporting?

lol

Keep that list handy. I'm confident you'll have another martyr bullet point after this weekend. Win or lose.

 

[Frk It]

You should be opposed. Fields holds the ball forever hoping to run instead of pass. He takes so many sacks because of that. He's not a good QB when it comes to things like... Reading defenses, making quick throws, avoiding turnovers. He's an okay running back.

Any team that uses him needs to build the offense around him from the ground up and then pray he doesn't get hurt trying to rip off 100 yards rushing a game.

It's not just "lol Bears ruined him." His tape and reads are rough as hell and that's something that hasn't improved this year.

Let’s see him go somewhere with a better system and OC and HC and then see how he looks. I think he has some good tools to work with. I’d be curious to see what O’Connell could do with him, who I personally think pretty highly of.

Teams that aren’t picking high enough but want a young QB may turn to Kyler or Fields as a buy/low reclamation project. And I’m pretty interested to see how that goes. Personally I prefer fields of the two.

 

[Konnan511]

All of this said, the Bears were so smart trading that #1 overall pick last year and now they have massive draft capital to get an even better QB (they need to get Williams). I'm actually kinda scared that the Bears will finally draft a great QB, as I think they can in a few months, and their defense should be really good with the moves they made.

Do you really think Williams is the best QB of the bunch? I think his play this year down the stretch would give me great pause. I have Maye over Williams right now at this exact time (beginning of the season I had Williams).

McCarthy should return to college to get more reps and hopefully for him, show that he can throw the football. He's best case a day 2 guy and we've seen over the past 2-3 drafts, 2nd rounder Trask not start a game in 3 years, Willis, didn't look ready and Ten drafts another QB, Corral never suits up as a backup due to injury in CAR and they trade up for Young. Bottom line, if you are not a first rounder, you better be ready to hit the ground running when your opportunity comes around. It may be in your rookie year like O'Connell in LV, or in year 2 like Howell and Ridder and both those guys likely get replaced in 2024. AOC likely as well.

Way too easy for teams to move off a QB that they didn't spend a high pick on. Thus, onus is on the QB to get himself as ready as can be coming out. May not be Purdy ready, but do what you can in case you are lucky enough to land on a good team and due to injury, you get tapped to play, like Prescott for Romo and Purdy for Jimmy.

McCarthy needs to stay in college for as long as he can. Some Mock Drafts (USA Today) have him going 13th to the Raiders, that'd be a huge mistake. I don't see NFL Quartback when I see JJ play. I think he is a very good College QB, I don't see NFL QB in him though. Personally, my untrained eye, I didn't think he was super impressive down the stretch. He had a great QBR, but the competition he faced wasn't all that strong until the last4 games of the season, where he was above average in those games (minus the Alabama game, I thought he was really really good).

But again, that's all my opinions, I think JJ would benefit from one more year in College.

 

[Winger98]

Let’s see him go somewhere with a better system and OC and HC and then see how he looks. I think he has some good tools to work with. I’d be curious to see what O’Connell could do with him, who I personally think pretty highly of.

Teams that aren’t picking high enough but want a young QB may turn to Kyler or Fields as a buy/low reclamation project. And I’m pretty interested to see how that goes. Personally I prefer fields of the two.

Maybe, but that ship might have sailed. Also, for all of his physical gifts, he might just be lacking the intangibles a bit. That innate feeling of when to get rid of it, when to run, etc. I'm not saying he's dumb (but maybe he does just not think the game on a high enough level), but that he might just lack an innate feel for the position good NFL quarterbacks have.

I really like the kid. He seems to work hard and I'm not sure I've heard any of his teammates say a bad word about him. I'm just not sure he's ever going to be an NFL quarterback at this point outside of being a bit of a gimmick.

 

[StreetHawk]

Do you really think Williams is the best QB of the bunch? I think his play this year down the stretch would give me great pause. I have Maye over Williams right now at this exact time (beginning of the season I had Williams).



McCarthy needs to stay in college for as long as he can. Some Mock Drafts (USA Today) have him going 13th to the Raiders, that'd be a huge mistake. I don't see NFL Quartback when I see JJ play. I think he is a very good College QB, I don't see NFL QB in him though. Personally, my untrained eye, I didn't think he was super impressive down the stretch. He had a great QBR, but the competition he faced wasn't all that strong until the last4 games of the season, where he was above average in those games (minus the Alabama game, I thought he was really really good).

But again, that's all my opinions, I think JJ would benefit from one more year in College.

McCarthy is not ready to start in the NFL in 2024. Not by a longshot. And the NFL, they expect the QB that they tab to start to play well or at the very least flash the qualities that they showed in college. McCarthy is mobile, but we haven't seen him stretch the field. Does he have great accuracy, timing? McCarthy has 1 year of eligibility remaining, he should definitely use it.

One thing about QBs in college today is that fewer of them are taking a RS year. I mean, if you are QB3 on a roster, you should take a RS year. With NIL today, you can make some nice money utilizing that extra year of eligibility that you preserve, even if you are not an NFL QB, like most of these Super SR kids who are in the portal.

 

[newfy]

McCarthy is not ready to start in the NFL in 2024. Not by a longshot. And the NFL, they expect the QB that they tab to start to play well or at the very least flash the qualities that they showed in college. McCarthy is mobile, but we haven't seen him stretch the field. Does he have great accuracy, timing? McCarthy has 1 year of eligibility remaining, he should definitely use it.

One thing about QBs in college today is that fewer of them are taking a RS year. I mean, if you are QB3 on a roster, you should take a RS year. With NIL today, you can make some nice money utilizing that extra year of eligibility that you preserve, even if you are not an NFL QB, like most of these Super SR kids who are in the portal.

The other aspect of this is that in years prior, it would be like, go now JJ while youre projected in the first round so you actually get paid a lot while you can. Now? The way Michigan does NIL he'll probably make 2-3years worth of NFL salary by staying at Michigan.

Obviously theres a lot that goes into declaring or not, but with the number of QBs coming out this year and things like that, JJ staying seems like a no brainer with NIL