Doug touched on ...
• The impact junior transfer quarterback Shea Patterson can have on Michigan: "I thought the second half of Jake Rudock's year, we saw a guy delivering the football into tight windows, making plays. I thought Rudock was outstanding, the second half of the one year he had in Ann Arbor.
"But I think it's been a long time since we've seen elite Michigan quarterback play for an entire season. And I think the potential is there for that to be the norm, moving forward.
"The last time we talked, I talked about the health of the quarterback room. You have a junior eligible, you have a sophomore eligible, you have a [redshirt] freshman eligible, and you have an incoming freshman. That's the way you want it set up.
"Of course, it's going to be a crowded room, and in the end, there might be some attrition. Ohio State lost a guy this week. Alabama loses guys. When you have elites fighting it out, somebody may not like their chances to play and they may go elsewhere. That's fine. That's nothing anybody should ever lose sleep over.
"But somebody's going to get a crack at Notre Dame. Somebody's going to get that first snap. Somebody's going to win that competition. I think it's nothing but healthy, and if it's not Shea Patterson, what does that tell you about somebody else stepping up?
"This guy is proven, and has done it in the Southeastern Conference. Now, I like his skill set, in that he brings a mobility that can help make up for any challenges they may have up front, to make something happen when a play breaks down, or if receivers aren't getting open as much as they should. I think it's pretty clear that he is going to be the guy, come Notre Dame.
"I think [Jim] Harbaugh may hang onto that. We may not know, for sure, until they take the field in South Bend. But at this point, I would bet on it being Shea Patterson."
• Michigan having another quarterback with starting experience in redshirt sophomore Brandon Peters: "I'm going to connect some dots with Brandon Peters here, and draw a conclusion. I don't think not playing this year, if it's Shea Patterson, I don't think Brandon Peters is just going to up and leave.
"I'm connecting dots. I think Brandon Peters understands that many times you aren't ready to go when you first get to a college campus. I think Brandon Peters understands he has a lot to learn. I think Brandon Peters is comfortable with having a typical timeline. He doesn't need to be rushed to play.
"He played last year, but at one point, he was third on the depth chart. He didn't run from this, and I don't think he's going to run if Shea Patterson is the starter next year. What may persuade him, or any of the quarterbacks, is if Shea Patterson is a two-year starter.
"Let's face it. In this day and age of college football, you just don't what's going to happen, and will a guy go pro? Does Shea Patterson go pro after one year in Ann Arbor? Many mock drafts project him early as a first-rounder…
"Todd McShay, at one point, had Mitch Leidner from Minnesota as a first-rounder, immediately after one draft, projecting the next one. I think Mitch Leidner was an undrafted free agent. He wasn't a first-rounder, and wasn't anywhere close. The fact that people are saying Shea Patterson could be a first-rounder next year doesn't mean he is as good as gone.
"But if he's around for two years, some of these young guys might start to think. I don't think Brandon Peters leaves if he doesn't win this job. He would still have two years to start, if Patterson is only around for one year."
• Ways Michigan can get better on offense beyond the quarterback position: "I think [sophomore] Tarik Black has the potential to be the best receiver in the Big Ten. Tarik Black came in read to make an impact as a true freshman.
"[Receivers coach] Jim McElwain is going to be a great addition to the wide receiver room. There was a reason Nick Saban was making calls to Jim McElwain when he became available. That group has potential to be phenomenal, and scary for the rest of the Big Ten, moving forward.
"I've heard a lot about [redshirt freshman] Oliver Martin. We'll see. [Sophomore] Nico Collins really passes the look test. But Tarik Black looked like a seasoned college performer to me from day one, ready to go. Most freshmen aren't. He was…
"Trial by fire for [sophomore] Donovan Peoples-Jones. He needed to hit the weight room a little bit. Route running … he got bumped off routes. You talk about potential for the offense? I think this has elite wide receiver group written all over it."
Here is the full podcast: https://michigan.rivals.com/news/michigan-football-podcast-doug-karsch-with-john-borton-16
• The impact junior transfer quarterback Shea Patterson can have on Michigan: "I thought the second half of Jake Rudock's year, we saw a guy delivering the football into tight windows, making plays. I thought Rudock was outstanding, the second half of the one year he had in Ann Arbor.
"But I think it's been a long time since we've seen elite Michigan quarterback play for an entire season. And I think the potential is there for that to be the norm, moving forward.
"The last time we talked, I talked about the health of the quarterback room. You have a junior eligible, you have a sophomore eligible, you have a [redshirt] freshman eligible, and you have an incoming freshman. That's the way you want it set up.
"Of course, it's going to be a crowded room, and in the end, there might be some attrition. Ohio State lost a guy this week. Alabama loses guys. When you have elites fighting it out, somebody may not like their chances to play and they may go elsewhere. That's fine. That's nothing anybody should ever lose sleep over.
"But somebody's going to get a crack at Notre Dame. Somebody's going to get that first snap. Somebody's going to win that competition. I think it's nothing but healthy, and if it's not Shea Patterson, what does that tell you about somebody else stepping up?
"This guy is proven, and has done it in the Southeastern Conference. Now, I like his skill set, in that he brings a mobility that can help make up for any challenges they may have up front, to make something happen when a play breaks down, or if receivers aren't getting open as much as they should. I think it's pretty clear that he is going to be the guy, come Notre Dame.
"I think [Jim] Harbaugh may hang onto that. We may not know, for sure, until they take the field in South Bend. But at this point, I would bet on it being Shea Patterson."
• Michigan having another quarterback with starting experience in redshirt sophomore Brandon Peters: "I'm going to connect some dots with Brandon Peters here, and draw a conclusion. I don't think not playing this year, if it's Shea Patterson, I don't think Brandon Peters is just going to up and leave.
"I'm connecting dots. I think Brandon Peters understands that many times you aren't ready to go when you first get to a college campus. I think Brandon Peters understands he has a lot to learn. I think Brandon Peters is comfortable with having a typical timeline. He doesn't need to be rushed to play.
"He played last year, but at one point, he was third on the depth chart. He didn't run from this, and I don't think he's going to run if Shea Patterson is the starter next year. What may persuade him, or any of the quarterbacks, is if Shea Patterson is a two-year starter.
"Let's face it. In this day and age of college football, you just don't what's going to happen, and will a guy go pro? Does Shea Patterson go pro after one year in Ann Arbor? Many mock drafts project him early as a first-rounder…
"Todd McShay, at one point, had Mitch Leidner from Minnesota as a first-rounder, immediately after one draft, projecting the next one. I think Mitch Leidner was an undrafted free agent. He wasn't a first-rounder, and wasn't anywhere close. The fact that people are saying Shea Patterson could be a first-rounder next year doesn't mean he is as good as gone.
"But if he's around for two years, some of these young guys might start to think. I don't think Brandon Peters leaves if he doesn't win this job. He would still have two years to start, if Patterson is only around for one year."
• Ways Michigan can get better on offense beyond the quarterback position: "I think [sophomore] Tarik Black has the potential to be the best receiver in the Big Ten. Tarik Black came in read to make an impact as a true freshman.
"[Receivers coach] Jim McElwain is going to be a great addition to the wide receiver room. There was a reason Nick Saban was making calls to Jim McElwain when he became available. That group has potential to be phenomenal, and scary for the rest of the Big Ten, moving forward.
"I've heard a lot about [redshirt freshman] Oliver Martin. We'll see. [Sophomore] Nico Collins really passes the look test. But Tarik Black looked like a seasoned college performer to me from day one, ready to go. Most freshmen aren't. He was…
"Trial by fire for [sophomore] Donovan Peoples-Jones. He needed to hit the weight room a little bit. Route running … he got bumped off routes. You talk about potential for the offense? I think this has elite wide receiver group written all over it."
Here is the full podcast: https://michigan.rivals.com/news/michigan-football-podcast-doug-karsch-with-john-borton-16
