Harbaugh says Michigan could play two QBs in every game

Michigan hasn’t fielded a two quarterback team since hiring Jim Harbaugh as head coach, but that could change when the 2019 season begins.

Harbaugh said that he is considering playing both starting quarterback Shea Patterson and backup Dylan McCaffrey in every game.

“Where it stands right now, and that could change later or not, is I see them both playing,” Harbaugh told the Detroit Free Press.

“Where it stands right now, I see it as maybe redefining what a starter is…. I’m really not talking about playing them both at the same time [on a single play], when I say both in games it’d be they’re both playing quarterback during the same game. And in the way it stands now, in every game.”

Patterson has been somewhat inconsistent since arriving in Ann Arbor as a transfer from Ole Miss, and McCaffrey, a former four star recruit in high school, is seen as the heir apparent.

In 13 starts last season, Patterson completed 64.6 percent of his pass attempts, threw for 2,600 yards, and scored 22 touchdowns against seven interceptions. McCaffrey, brother of current NFL running back Christian, won the backup job last year and played in six games, with two of his 15 passes going for touchdowns before breaking his collarbone in November.

Patterson and McCaffrey both fully participated in Michigan’s spring camp at starter and backup, respectively, with redshirt freshman Joe Milton also getting reps as the No. 3.