It always comes back to the quarterback
Covering this team is never boring, is it? The answer is a definite no! And this week is no different—we’ve got a new quarterback, folks, thanks to Cade McNamara’s struggles and possible injury. Naturally, he was the main topic at the press conference.
So, let’s dive into our new reality! Full transcript is here, with some snark to follow.
First up, let’s talk injuries:
KIRK FERENTZ: “Injury-wise, Cade McNamara won’t be playing. He’s not going to make it. Vander Zee, Ostrenga, and Nestor are also out, likely through the bye week.”
VANDER ZEE, NOOOO! Here’s hoping Seth Anderson steps up in his place. As for Cade… I don’t even know what to think. Is this a legitimate injury? A cover-up? Who knows at this point.
Back to Cade—he took a hard hit in the second quarter and is still feeling it. Sadly, he’s out, which is tough for him since it’s been a rough couple of years.
A tough shot to what exactly? The ego?
Q. You mentioned Cade McNamara took a tough shot. Does that mean he has a head injury, and can you comment on how serious it is?
KIRK FERENTZ: “Yes, it’s a concussion, so he’s been ruled out. He hasn’t been able to phase back in yet. That’s the first point. He’s also sore in other areas; he hit the turf hard. Playing that position is tough.
As for the severity, each case is different, and while I’m not a medical expert, I’ve listened to enough discussions to understand that. Hopefully, he’ll start turning the corner soon. I think he’s going to class today, which is a positive sign. We’ll see if he can be back next week.”
Alright, I’ll take this at face value, although I didn’t see the injury myself. It does feel a bit convenient.
Q. It looked like Cade took that hit on the 3rd and 10 during a roughing the passer call. Why did you decide to keep him in, and when did you realize you needed to pull him for a possible head injury?
KIRK FERENTZ: “He wasn’t feeling great, but he wasn’t incoherent either. We had already planned to rotate quarterbacks going into the game. Coincidentally, that’s when it happened, but we would have done it regardless, unless we were in a dire situation.
No significant symptoms presented themselves other than him being sore and shaken up. At halftime, they diagnosed the concussion, and it was clear he wasn’t fit to play.”
Hmm, interesting. Shall we learn more about our new quarterback?
Q. Can you share more about Brendan’s journey since he joined in June and what stood out to you about him when he was in the portal? He seems quiet but beloved by the team, and he showed fire on Saturday. How do you view his growth both personally and as a player?
KIRK FERENTZ: “During evaluations late in the spring, I noticed some good things in his tape. I remembered him from the Northwestern game last year, where he did a great job moving their team and was in a good rhythm. That game stood out to me.
When we finally met him, I was impressed. He arrived in June and learned quickly, which is a benefit of being an older player. He works hard and leads by example during summer workouts, pushing himself and others.
He might not be overly loud, but he commands respect through his performance. It’s clear the players really like him and support him, just as they did with Cade, who was also a captain. Now that Brendan has had a bigger opportunity, he performed well. Each week is a new challenge, but I’m confident he’ll do great.”
It’s interesting that Kirk referred to Cade as “was” a captain despite him still being listed as one—something to watch closely…
Brendan Sullivan had a shaky start in those first two possessions, but after that, he really won over his teammates and the fans. That block he made was incredible! I wanted to jump up and cheer, but I had to hold back since it was right before a wedding I was attending. Kirk’s long answer shows he’s invested in Brendan’s success, too.
Q: Backup quarterback is in the spotlight again. Is Marco Lainez available this week, or will it be Jackson Stratton? Is that the current pecking order?
KIRK FERENTZ: Yes, those are our only options left. We’re running low on players. James Resar has moved to receiver, and he unfortunately got hurt last week, so it’s ironic that we’re suddenly so thin. We’ll work with the players we have and figure it out.
Q: “We’re running low on players” doesn’t sound very supportive of Marco Lainez. Am I reading too much into this?
Q: What was your reaction to Brendan passing and then becoming one of the lead blockers?
KIRK FERENTZ: While it wasn’t an official race, you could say he’s probably faster than Pascuzzi. That’s the main takeaway. It also shows his personality; he wanted to help out with the play. He could have just stood there as a spectator, but instead, he threw the ball and then sprinted down the field. To me, that’s what being a good teammate is about. His block was decent, but his guy got away. Still, it showed his effort, which is who he is. He works hard, and that’s what I mentioned during the summer program. We need to see those guys compete during conditioning. He goes all out, one speed, acting like a true football player, not just a specialist.
Q: That play was electric! “His block was okay” — classic Kirk. This is a guy I would run through a wall for.
Q: With Cade out, the backup quarterback situation might not be ideal, and you’ve noted that Brendan plays at full speed. Do you feel you need to caution him this week, or let him play as he normally does?
KIRK FERENTZ: I’d prefer if he slides when he runs the ball. I’d say that no matter how many quarterbacks we have. There’s a distinction between running backs, fullbacks, and quarterbacks when it comes to running, and sometimes you have to do what you have to do, depending on the situation. So yes, I want him to be smart, but I don’t want to hold him back. Hopefully, he’s mature enough to make good decisions on when to take risks. You can’t play scared; you have to go out and play your game. We won’t be reckless with our play-calling, though. He won’t be running the ball 40 times — that’s not the plan.
Q: I’d let him carry the ball 100 times if it were up to me! I’m all in on the Sullivan train!
Q: What’s the relationship like between Cade and Brendan? What advice has Cade given Brendan? They seem close.
KIRK FERENTZ: I’m not aware of specific conversations, but all three of them have a good rapport and often joke around with each other. Cade tried to attend meetings yesterday but found it hard to focus, which is pretty normal. They all support one another and have done so throughout the season, even as Brendan started getting more time. The vibe among them is really positive. You hope for that kind of chemistry. I was listening on the way in about Russell Wilson and Fields and their chemistry. It was nice to hear that discussed on TV. That’s what good teams have: a desire to compete and win the job, which is what you want from your players. But typically, only one person wins the job. Some positions allow for rotation, but it’s essential for different groups within the team to get along. That’s a hallmark of a good team. It’s unrealistic to expect everyone to love each other, but respect and camaraderie are crucial. It’s great to see that kind of healthy competition in the quarterback room.
Q: I’m not sure what else Kirk could add here, but from what I’ve seen, this seems accurate. I’d be surprised if, once Sullivan is hopefully named the starter after Cade’s recovery, Cade doesn’t recognize he lost the job fairly and is genuinely happy for Sullivan.
Sullivan’s mobility alone is enough to keep defenses on their toes. Even if he’s not a deep threat, his running ability is valuable. Unless he’s turning the ball over constantly, there’s no reason to switch from Sullivan.
I believe Cade is a strong leader and respected enough in the locker room to handle being a captain without being the starter. He’s a great guy, but it’s clear his best days are behind him. It’s time to focus on Sullivan as our future starter.
Let’s wrap up with something unrelated to quarterbacks!
Q: It seemed like the secondary had a bounce-back day against Northwestern, especially after their performance against Michigan State. How was it to have Deshaun Lee back in the starting lineup and see the unit perform at its usual level?
KIRK FERENTZ: After the MSU game, I hoped that performance was uncharacteristic, but it’s just talk unless you can back it up. Based on what we saw last Saturday, we might be able to look back and confirm that it was an anomaly.
The team looked much improved; it seemed like they practiced well and were executing more fundamentally sound plays. We’ll struggle against any opponent if we can’t tackle effectively. I don’t want to take anything away from Michigan State; they played well. But it’s our responsibility to match their tempo, and if someone has the ball, we need to tackle them.
I’m definitely encouraged; it felt more like our typical performance. Our tempo was better, and players were in the right positions. I didn’t notice many players reaching or on the ground, which are usually bad signs for a defense.
Initially, I was a bit concerned about the defense, but I thought Lee performed solidly at cornerback, and I believe he’s the guy to stick with moving forward, unless something major happens. Let’s hope the MSU game was just an outlier.