Former NFL Head Coach On JJ McCarthy: 'I Had Quarterbacks In The NFL That Couldn't Do That'

Two weeks into the 2023 season, JJ McCarthy's performance has been impressive to say the least.

There's no doubt that Michigan's JJ McCarthy is having as good of a start as fans could have hoped for to open the 2023 season. Through the first two weeks, McCarthy is 48-of-55 for 558 yards, 5 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. He's been damn near perfect through two weeks, and the improvement from 2022 is certainly noticeable. In instances where McCarthy would typically tuck and run last season, the junior quarterback has kept his eyes down the field, shown elite movement within the pocket, and has been deadly accurate with his ball placement. 

His performance has been so impressive that former NFL head coach Dave Wannstedt said he had quarterbacks in the NFL that couldn't do what McCarthy is doing right now. 

"JJ McCarthy...it's really ridiculous," said Wannstedt. "I mean the guy, 85 percent completion rate, I mean how do you do that? I had quarterbacks in the NFL and we couldn't do that against air, with no defense. The guy is off to a great start, they're doing a great job of coaching him." 

"I had quarterbacks in the NFL that we couldn't do that against air."

Like so many around the nation, Dave Wannstedt can't believe how accurate @UMichFootball's J.J. McCarthy has been to start the season.#B1Gtoday pic.twitter.com/37l6bO87Cc

— Michigan On BTN (@MichiganOnBTN) September 12, 2023

Meeting with the media on Monday, head coach Jim Harbaugh also made it clear that he was impressed with what he's seeing from his junior quarterback so far. 

"The kind of throws he's making, too, they're NFL-caliber throws, into tight windows."

Jim Harbaugh discusses @UMichFootball QB @jjmccarthy09's historic passing to open the season. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/TrTFpjN2tW

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 11, 2023

"The passing game is just lights out," said Harbaugh. "JJ McCarthy...phenomenal, phenomenal, game. The accuracy is off the charts. He's so locked in. The enemy. In practice, he’s seeing everything. I mean, it's really slowed down for him. Making pro throws from the pocket. We tell him, ‘Give the guy a runner's ball who's moving on a crossing route or a dig route. JJ, we’d like it six inches in front of his front number.’ And darn if he doesn't put it six inches right in front of the front number And the throw to Roman, that must have been in the air for 30, 35 yards. It's about six inches in front of the front number. Never broke stride and right up the sideline."

Although there's still a long way to go, and the competition will certainly get tougher along the way, McCarthy is displaying all of the traits you look for in a future first-round NFL Draft pick - which would be Michigan's first at the quarterback position since Jim Harbaugh was selected in the first round (26th overall) in 1987 by the Chicago Bears.