Broncos Need to Pay Attention to What J.J. McCarthy’s QB Coach Just Told Them

 

 

The Denver Broncos are expected to be “aggressive” in pursuit of a first-round quarterback.

It’s true that Michigan belongs in the same category as Nix. If they end up in the right position, there’s a chance that both quarterbacks will excel at the next level.

Both McCarthy and Nix are gifted with arm strength and play-extending abilities comparable to that of an NFL player. In a straight comparison, McCarthy’s resume boasting the coveted National Championship and his nearly four-year junior status may give him an advantage over Nix.

Next Level Athletix owner Greg Holcomb, McCarthy’s personal throwing coach, prepared him for the professional ranks. Patrick Mahomes, the quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, was as a noteworthy case study for Holcomb as he shaped McCarthy into an NFL player.

McCarthy stated, “I take a lot of video,” about his methodology to Jori Parys of CBS News Chicago. “I’ll record a game like you know, Patrick Mahomes, for example, is kind of a like go-to —and then show our kids that, and then we try to like put a drill together around that, and J’J.was the kind of kid who would nail it on the first throw.”

Given Mahomes’ NFL achievements, it makes sense to use his game as motivation, but Holcomb also revealed the wide range of sources McCarthy uses to hone his ever improving passing abilities.

“He’s just so mature—I mean, you saw, like, he does his mental and all the things that he does before the game,” Holcomb stated. He reads books about meditation and Navy SEALS, for example. He is, in my opinion, the best quarterback to have come out of Michigan, and I believe he still has a ton of potential.”

Jim Harbaugh, McCarthy’s mentor at Michigan and the new head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, expressed his views regarding his protege’s readiness for the NFL, as we detailed just over two weeks ago.

Harbaugh stated, “I can’t lie and say I don’t think he’s NFL-ready.” “I firmly believe he’s ready for the NFL”

In addition to some of Holcomb’s glowing remarks, McCarthy’s 27-1 record as a starter will likely be boldly highlighted when NFL teams compile their mountains of data on him. “He’s so selfless,” Holcomb said of McCarthy. “There’s so many non-football things I could say about him, and so it’s just really special to see him do all that.” These are all background details that the Broncos should take into consideration, since it appears that a youth movement is underway in the Mile High City.

The way Payton mercilessly cut experienced edge rushers Frank Clark and Randy Gregory early in the 2023 season demonstrated his intention for the Broncos to get younger. The controversial choice to bench 35-year-old Russell Wilson with two games remaining came next.

Wilson’s situation would undoubtedly change if a rookie quarterback was chosen relatively early in the draft, but the Broncos are anticipated to decide on Wilson’s future well in advance of that. Regardless of how it turns out, choosing a passer like McCarthy, who is 21 years old, may be the logical progression of the young movement that Payton has ignited in Denver. It’s also bound to be the most dramatic decision he’s made thus far.