Michigan Football: Answering 5 key questions heading into 2019

What will the QB situation look like?

Another announcement from the Media Days that people are still failing to understand is what Jim said about the quarterbacks. Harbaugh told the media he plans to play both Dylan McCaffrey and Shea Patterson “either at the same time or separately,” and that he wants to begin “maybe redefining what a starter is.”

Wow.

Both are great athletes and both are great quarterbacks but let’s be real, Shea is the guy.

I see McCaffrey getting some notable snaps, some in garbage time and some out, but Patterson is going to be the stater in the normal or typical sense of the word. Dylan will see his time as he prepares to take the reins in 2020. And the same system will take place then with Dylan and Joe Milton.

Although, Gattis does know how to run a quasi two-quarterback system as he helped employ one last year with Alabama. But even then there was a clear starter and a clear backup man. When Tua Tagovailoa struggled, (like in the SEC Championship game against Georgia) Jalen Hurts came in and dominated. But that didn’t mean Jalen became the starter, in fact, he threw just one pass and rushed four times in the following game against Oklahoma.

To sum it all up, If Shea is struggling, Dylan will see the field contributing key minutes in this refurbished Wolverines offense. It’s another good problem to have especially since both of these quarterbacks were made for this system.

“What made me want to commit was really the quarterback position. Shea Patterson and Dylan McCaffrey, their explosive ability to throw and run,” Harbaugh said. “They’re used to that. Shea was used to that. Found that Shea was really better in the shotgun after being with him for the first season. We went more to it as the year went on last year. Also Dylan’s ability to just get out and go. To run. Tremendous running ability.

“They’re comfortable in this and this was driven by that. Joe Milton and Cade McNamara are suited for it as well. As are most quarterbacks who are coming out.”