J.J. McCarthy raves about play of Michigan's offensive line

Michigan’s recipe to success in recent years has been simple: As the offensive line goes, the Wolverines go. And it’s been going to the tune of a 39-3 record since the 2021 season opener.

After Michigan picked up a first-ever win in the College Football Playoff on Monday in the Rose Bowl against Alabama, Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy wasn’t going to point to anything other than the offensive line as a main reason for victory.

“I mean, the offense doesn’t go unless those big boys go,” McCarthy said after a 27-20 overtime victory in which he was sacked just once. “That’s just been — Coach [Jim] Harbaugh mentioned it: This game was going to be won in the trenches. And I feel like they did a tremendous job taking out two great edge rushers, two great interior guys.”

Alabama did outrush Michigan, 172-130, but the 42-yard margin is due to volume. The teams were relatively even on the ground, as the Wolverines actually averaged 4.1 yards per rush to the Crimson Tide’s 4.0 per carry. But the difference showed up on passing downs.

Alabama gave up six sacks on the day and generally struggled to protect Milroe consistently, all while having snapping issues. While McCarthy did have to bail from the pocket at times and the Michigan coaching staff deployed a plan to avoid the likes of Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell, when it came down to it, the Wolverines won at the point of contact.

McCarthy lauded the starting five of Ladarius Henderson, Trevor Keegan, Drake Nugent, Karsen Barnhart and Trente Jones.

“I’ve had people reach out to me like Brad Nessler. Great guy. Love him. He said, watch out for 15 and 41. They’re coming for you. I never really felt them all game just because of the tremendous job LaDarius did and Trente did and Keegs, Nug, Karsen stepping up in a big time role,” McCarthy said.

Jones entered the starting lineup in the Big Ten Championship Game and remained there for the College Football Playoffs, as the Wolverines shuffled to replace All-American guard Zak Zinter. Zinter suffered a broken leg in the final game of the regular season.

But despite the opponent and injuries, the Michigan offensive line did on the biggest stage what it’s done so often in recent years: Paved the way to a win.

“Everything about that unit just meshes so well together through the adversity with Zak going down and just all the credit goes to them. That’s the heartbeat of our team. Blake would stand up here and say the same thing. Those big boys, we owe it all to them,” McCarthy said.