J.J. McCarthys senior season began with a bang..
Michigan footballs star quarterback devote led IMG Academy to a 49-13 win over Venice High School on Friday night, completing 23 of 37 passes for 333 yards and 5 goals..
Versus an overmatched challenger, McCarthy finished a variety of fast passes and screens, struck on a couple big plays and even converted a pair of third downs with his legs.
It was a solid debut for McCarthy, who as just recently as this spring was preparing to play his senior season in La Grange Park, Illinois..
In a normal year, the coda to McCarthys high school career wouldve happened at Nazareth Academy, where he won a state championship and reached three title video games in as many years. Instead, because of uncertainty of the Illinois high school football season during the COVID-19 pandemic, McCarthy packed his bags and transferred to IMG, the popular football powerhouse in Bradenton, Florida..
Despite the reasonably quick turnaround in between his transfer and the start of the season, McCarthy was in complete command of his offense. He hardly ever seemed to make the incorrect decision.
Thanks to IMGs frustrating talent benefit, the gameplan didnt ask McCarthy to do too much, and for the most part, he played within the framework of the offense, striking receivers on stick paths, screens and swing loses consciousness of the backfield.
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IMG was content to get the ball to its playmakers in space, and while these were easy throws, McCarthy put the ball in an area where his colleagues might turn upfield and choose up yards after the catch.
Beyond that, there were a handful of plays in which McCarthy pressed the ball downfield and flaunted the talent that made him dozens of scholarship deals and a lofty ranking from hiring sites..
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McCarthy should not be puzzled with somebody like Justin Fields or Kyler Murray, star quarterbacks who might get pieces of yardage on the ground, but he has great movement. He got two crucial third downs using his legs, consisting of a third-and-7 conversion in which he planted his leg and juked a defensive back.
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McCarthys mobility was also on display throughout his 3rd and 4th goal passes of the night. Facing a third-and-20 on IMGs first ownership of the second half, McCarthy shuffled to his right, reset his feet and provided a strike to his tight end down the seam for a long goal.
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On his next score, McCarthy moved up in the pocket to prevent the rush, presented to his right and threw a dart to his receiver in the middle of the end zone in what was his most excellent play of the night.
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These are the type of plays that make McCarthy a top-level prospect. He possesses the arm skill to make difficult throws, however also has the presence of mind to keep his eyes downfield when the play or his pass security break down.
In college, McCarthy most likely will not be asked to be a big contributor in the run game. However he has the capability to keep the ball on a couple of read-option plays per game– which Michigan has integrated within the offense over the past 2 seasons– and more significantly, he has enough mobility to buy time as he tries to make huge plays in the death game.
As for McCarthys misses out on, there were a couple of inexpedient tosses. Throughout one 3rd down, he looked down his slot receiver and nearly threw an interception while attempting to complete a slant across the middle. On another incompletion, he attempted to fit the ball into tight protection on the sideline (the play was safeguarded well by Michigan State cornerback dedication Charles Brantley)..
A couple other incompletions, however, still featured strong decision-making from McCarthy..
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In one of the uncommon circumstances in which he might not connect with receiver Jacorey Brooks, a first-class prospect committed to Alabama, McCarthy hung in the pocket and took a hit while still providing an overrule the middle to an open Brooks, who was not able to capture the ball for a goal.
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There are certainly some throws McCarthy would like to have back. However it was still a strong efficiency in his very first video game of the season– and it promises that McCarthy will only grow more comfortable with his brand-new colleagues as the season continues. Already, he has a connection with quick slot receiver Ari Allen, who caught McCarthys final and 5th touchdown pass of the night.
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Saturday will be an agonizing day for Michigan fans, considering it was expected to be the start of the now-postponed 2020 season.
However McCarthys performance Friday night might provide some alleviation– and is maybe a sign of much better quarterback play ahead for the Wolverines.
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Throughout one third down, he gazed down his slot receiver and nearly tossed an interception while trying to complete a slant throughout the middle. There are undoubtedly some throws McCarthy would like to have back. It was still a strong efficiency in his very first game of the season– and it seems most likely that McCarthy will just grow more comfy with his brand-new teammates as the season continues. Already, he has a connection with fast slot receiver Ari Allen, who caught McCarthys final and 5th goal pass of the night.
