Matt Weiss responds to criticism from Joel Klatt

Following the Michigan Wolverines’ hard-fought victory over the Maryland Terrapins on Saturday, FOX College Football analyst Joel Klatt was critical of Michigan’s offensive performance. More specifically, Klatt delivered criticism directed at whoever was the Wolverines’ offensive play caller on Saturday. It has been a few days since then, and Michigan’s co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss has responded to the criticism from Klatt.

“Joel is a really smart guy and knows football. He has playing experiences, a ton of experience. Every week studying the game and actually knows what he’s talking about,” said Weiss. “I guess, I think a lot of times when people see something new, hear something new, their first reaction is to say, ‘Look, I’m not used to that; so that can’t be a good way to do it.’

“I think it is a work of progress. It’s like everything in our offense, whether it’s the run game or pass game. The play calling, everything could be better. Everything is a work in progress. And if we were out of rhythm or whatever he said, then I can’t wait to see what we look like when we’re in rhythm. We all know we could be a lot better, but I think the system that we have in place is really good. I know Sherron helps me a ton. I think I help him a ton, and it’s really a great way to do it. We have a great rhythm. So far, the results have been good.”

CLICK HERE to subscribe for FREE to the On3 YouTube channel

The quality of defense Michigan has to face this week in the Iowa Hawkeyes is not one that their play callers can afford to miscalculate against. Iowa is consistently one of the better defenses in the Big Ten. If Weiss has a lapse in his play calling against them, they won’t hesitate to make him regret it.

Klatt’s critical take on Michigan’s offense

Like many other college football analysts, Klatt has high expectations for the Wolverines this season. And in Saturday’s game, it appeared as if their offense was a step behind the Terrapins’ defense. And he took some time to explain why that was the case.

“So did they adjust,” Klatt asked about the Wolverines’ offense responding to Maryland’s defense. “Yes, in the run game,” said Klatt. “Did they adjust well in the passing game? Not really, and I think that it was two-fold. You had youth in your quarterback, JJ McCarthy; really, the first time he had seen that as a starter. And you had youth in your play callers.”

The Wolverines are using a co-offensive coordinator setup and are splitting the playcalling duties between Weiss and Sherron Moore. But one of the things Michigan is not doing is revealing which of the two is calling what plays, something Klatt is not a fan of.

“I was critical of the play calling situation for Michigan and I stand by that,” Klatt said. “I think (Weiss and Moore) are both really smart guys, I loved meeting them on Friday, but I pressed them on who’s the play caller? I’m a firm believer that you’ve got to have a play caller when the rubber meets the road, when there’s big third downs. So I was critical of their play-calling situation because they wouldn’t tell me who calls the plays. Somebody’s got to be the play caller, and I think at some point this season that’s going to have to come to fruition.”