How Michigan can accomplish ultimate goals during 2023 season

Michigan has taken a step forward as a program over the past two seasons. Beating Ohio State, winning the Big Ten, and making the College Football Playoff have been great accomplishments. However, it’s come time to once again move forward and be considered a serious threat to win a national championship.

In order to get there, On3’s J.D. PicKell believes the Michigan passing game needs to improve. He said it’s the “next evolution” for the Wolverines but the burden does not solely rest on the shoulders of quarterback JJ McCarthy. The skill position players need to make sure to elevate their game too.

“A lot of what they’re going to do this upcoming season, with achieving their goals, is going to be on the pass game,” PicKell said. “Notice what I did not say. I did not say it’s on JJ McCarthy… You got to have some receivers really step up here. Colston Loveland, I think he really needs to be a guy that jumps into a new gear as a sophomore.”

PicKell compares Michigan to a boxer who has a deadly right hook. Everyone knows it’s coming. Jim Harbaugh wants to run it down team’s throats with Donovan Edwards and Blake Corum. The plan has worked during the regular season too, especially behind the Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line.

But SEC defenses are not going to be afraid of any of their other moves. McCarthy threw for just 219 yards per game a season ago. Until he can strike some fear into defensive coordinators, the script will be a simple one against Michigan in the CFP.

“When you’re running for over 200, you’re probably not just airing it out,” PicKell said. “To me, it’s about having the ability to throw the ball deep, to keep the defense honest. When it comes to what Michigan is going to do and when they end up playing a Georgia or a Bama or a LSU, the trenches is what it comes down to. Can you keep a team stacking the box and when they do stack the box, can you make them pay?”

The goal in Ann Arbor is a simple one and one the entire program is aware of. Michigan is so close to being there, just missing that final piece. If McCarthy and his wide receivers are able to deliver, throw the Wolverines right up there with anyone in college football.