Sherrone Moore Shows Patience in Naming Starting Quarterback, But the Clock is Ticking

One of the burning questions for Michigan football fans is just who will be lining up under center in game 1 against Fresno State on August 31st at quarterback for the Wolverines.

At Big Ten Media Days, head coach Sherrone Moore slow-played that decision, stating that “The ideal timeline [to name a starter] is when we feel like we’ve got the guy who will help us win.”

With Alex Orji, Jack Tuttle, Davis Warren, and Jadyn Davis all bringing their own different elements to the quarterback battle, it’s understandable that Coach Moore is going to patiently evaluate the play of each of them prior to committing to naming a starter.

There is so much that goes into the evaluation and decision in finding the guy who can come in and fill in the shoes of JJ McCarthy. There are issues of timing, fit in the system, consistency, understanding the playbook and being able to put those things together and execute on the field. When a coach is taking all of these factors into account in practice, as opposed to seeing players in real-time game situations, taking adequate time to make the right decision after accumulating sufficient data and seeing all the reps just makes logical sense.

The clock is ticking for Michigan football

Still, the clock is ticking for that decision to be made. Unlike years prior, Michigan football has just one game against the Bulldogs to fine-tune any mistakes and formulate a plan to beat the Texas Longhorns when they visit Ann Arbor on September 7th.

That game will be one where there will hopefully be no question as to which quarterback gives the Wolverines the best chance to win an incredibly difficult game. The Longhorns have their own Heisman hopeful in Quinn Ewers and will be looking to make an early statement that they are National Championship contenders. They will be coming out firing on all cylinders and Michigan football will need all hands on deck and all pieces in place to get their own early season signature win.

Although a quarterback battle between JJ McCarthy and Cade McNamara was the crucible that produced a Michigan signal-caller that was of championship caliber, the Wolverines’ non-conference schedule in 2024 doesn’t allow for much time for a protracted battle at the position to decide who will be the man to lead this team’s offense.

That is why the matchup against Fresno State has a complexity and importance to it, unlike most recent Michigan football season openers that came before. In years past the Wolverines have had time to iron out their play on offense and get their quarterback, whether it be Cade McNamara or JJ McCarthy, comfortable in the offense and throwing the football.

Whoever is QB1 for Michigan football 2024 will not have that luxury. A lot of eyes will be on how well the team throws the ball against the Bulldogs in late August and how the passing game looks in terms of timing, efficiency, and reliability.

The projections and prognostications between weeks 1 and 2 will be coming in hot and heavy and it is what will make Michigan’s opener more important than in years past. Though Sherrone Moore is right to be patient in naming a starter at quarterback, when he does name one, the hope is that it will be all systems go for 2024 and there will be no looking back.