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Michigan Football: How will Wolverines use Dylan McCaffrey?

By Chris Peterson

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh reiterated that he would like to use both Shea Patterson and Dylan McCaffrey this season. The question is how?

At long last, Michigan football is just days away from its opening game against Middle Tennessee State and head coach Jim Harbaugh met the media Monday.

When it comes to Harbaugh, it just depends on who you get at the podium. Sometimes, he can be a wealth of information and others time he can button up and offer nothing.

Lately, he hasn’t been shy about offering his opinion and Monday, he announced Shea Patterson as Michigan football’s starting quarterback for the 2019 season. However, he also said he would still like to get Dylan McCaffrey on the field too.

“Shea Patterson will start Saturday,” Harbaugh said via the Detroit Free Press before adding:
God willing and the creek don’t rise.”

Of course, Harbaugh had to throw in one of his folksy sayings. He loves doing that. But that doesn’t change the fact that when the Wolverines open Saturday, Patterson will be the guy.

Yet, Harbaugh also addressed McCaffrey, the guy who is a solid No. 2 behind Patterson, a guy that Harbaugh also says could see the field.

“All options are open that way, in terms of that,” Harbaugh said. “Would like to definitely play both.”

As far as figuring out what that means, your guess is as good as mine. Does he mean that he would like to see McCaffrey play but only if the Wolverines dominate? Or is he simply hoping for the right situation to insert the redshirt sophomore?

With Harbaugh, you never can tell. But with McCaffrey’s ability to run and pass, Michigan football would be wasting his talents if it didn’t try to utilize him in some way.

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After all, he showed against Notre Dame, Wisconsin and Penn State that he could play a year ago. When he was throw in against the Irish, he didn’t flinch. He led Michigan to a field goal and kept the hopes of UM alive.

Some thought he showed more poise than Patterson, who was still getting familiar with Harbaugh and the rest of the Wolverines.

But now Patterson is the unquestioned starter of this team. That tends to happen when you win 10 games in a row then return for your senior season with the sole purpose of defeating your arch-rival.

That’s what Patterson did and Michigan football fans should love him for it. He could have been drafted and easily avoided all this pressure. But he seems to want this stage and doesn’t shy away from that moment.

That’s why I expect him to be lights out Saturday and throughout the 2019 season. Here’s what he had to say about sharing snaps:

“I’m not sure,” Patterson said. “I’m just gonna go out there as the quarterback, as the starting quarterback, I want to be out there every single play. That’s my job. I want to win every single game. I always want the ball in my hands. That’s up to Coach Harbaugh.”

Certainly, the ball will be in his hands. But there might be a play or two where McCaffrey borrows it to run or throw. He’s a weapon and he should be used. Plus, if he is part of the offense, maybe the Wolverines can avoid losing him as a transfer.

Maybe playing two quarterbacks as much as possible is the key to avoiding the fate so many others have fallen too, even such elite programs as Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State which all lost 5-star guys who didn’t want to be part of a QB battle.

It’s possible McCaffrey can be used as a runner and after all, he excelled in that role last season. But at the end of the day, whatever his role is, the fate of this team still lies in the hands of Patterson, who until proven otherwise, is the quarterback.

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And for now at least, when the game is on the line, he will be the one with the ball in his hands.

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