JUST IN: Michigan Football: ‘Out of Sync’ Big Ten coaches slam JJ McCarthy

One of the hottest Michigan football rumors—aside from the future of coach Jim Harbaugh, of course—is more of a mystery. It’s more troubling when that mystery is your star quarterback and team MVP. However, there is anxiety over Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy’s late-season collapse ahead of the Rose Bowl battle versus Alabama in the NCAA football playoffs.

And, this week in The Athletic, unidentified Big Ten coaches gave CFB reporter Bruce Feldman an earful on the Wolverines’ trembling quarterback. McCarthy was outstanding in the first nine games of the season, throwing for 18 touchdowns and three interceptions (all of which came in the victory over Bowling Green).

In those nine games, he averaged 237 yards passing. But look at JJ McCarthy’s numbers since then: 124 yards per game and one touchdown pass. He hasn’t been the same since. And Jim Harbaugh’s colleagues didn’t hold back.

“I’m not sure what’s making him hesitant and less decisive than he was earlier,” a Big Ten head coach who played Michigan said. “He seems out of sync lately.”

Did Sign-Stealing Affect JJ McCarthy at Michigan?
One of the oddities, or perhaps not so unusual, of McCarthy’s late-season collapse is that it corresponded with the departure of Conor Stalions, the assistant at the core of the Wolverines’ sign-stealing “scandal.” McCarthy’s last big game was against Purdue on November 4, and the Stalions had left the day before.

“They’ve changed,” another Big Ten head coach told Feldman. “It makes a huge difference to know when blitzes are coming, so when you pick it up, you can really attack it.”

There has also been widespread talk in Michigan football that JJ McCarthy is playing with a foot injury sustained against Penn State. McCarthy only completed eight passes against the Nittany Lions on that particular day. McCarthy didn’t need to pass much with the UM running game annihilating Penn State (227 yards).

“It does make you wonder,” said one defensive analyst whose club faced Michigan in the season’s final month. “I thought he was one of the best in the country going into our game.” I didn’t feel the same way afterwards. After all of that, he just doesn’t look the same. I’m not sure if he’s harmed. I felt he was a Heisman Trophy contender. Heisman Trophy winners do not throw only eight passes in a game. I believe he was prepared and confident before.”

Even with the caliber of the Michigan offensive line, one issue that Michigan football will undoubtedly confront against Alabama is that the Crimson Tide defensive front will not be easily pushed around. But Michigan became accustomed to it in its final three games, and criticism of JJ McCarthy’s season-ending performance overlooks the fact that the NCAA’s top three defenses in yards allowed per play are Penn State (3.91), Iowa (3.99), and Ohio State (4.12).

Three of the Wolverines’ final four opponents are listed above. Alabama ranked 15th, allowing 4.94 yards per play. And keep in mind that Jim Harbaugh was suspended for three of those games.

Alabama isn’t reading too much into McCarthy’s late-season slump.

“Watching them, they’re like a really balanced team,” Alabama defensive back Malachi Moore said. “JJ McCarthy does a good job of managing their offense and setting up the offense, changing the look if you give away a blitz or something like that, checking the calls and putting his team in the best situation to win.”