Michigan Football: Three Questions Following Win Over ECU

Is J.J. McCarthy the real deal?

Quarterback JJ McCarthy was phenomenal in game one. McCarthy finished 26-30 for 280 yards and three touchdowns. One of those incompletions was a perfectly placed ball that was dropped. The question is, is this performance a fluke against poor competition, or is JJ McCarthy a Heisman-level quarterback?

To me, McCarthy looked like a future first-rounder. You can say whatever you want about the level of competition, but McCarthy was surgical. Yes, the coverage was subpar, but McCarthy’s throws and reads were right on the money.

He looks much more mature and confident than last season. He didn’t force anything and was patient in waiting for something to open up. His third touchdown to Roman Wilson was possibly the best pass McCarthy has made as a Michigan football player. He threaded the needle on that.

All offseason long I talked about how important it was going to be to get McCarthy going early in the season, and it looks like that’s what the staff is going to do. The run game wasn’t working since ECU devoted everything to stopping it, and instead of forcing it, they opted to air it out.

McCarthy has a chance to be a record-setter this season for Michigan football. With some more big games over the coming weeks, he should be well on his way to breaking the passing touchdown record (25) and possibly the passing yards record (3,331).  He’s on pace to set both, but we’ll see if he actually can. I’d bet on the touchdown record being more feasible.

Michigan’s offense was very balanced in week one. I’m looking for that to continue, because if it does, McCarthy will be heading to the record books.