Joel Klatt: J.J. McCarthy is the perfect guy for Michigan

He’s not the flashiest or putting up the gaudiest stats, but Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy is a near perfect fit for how the Wolverines want to play. At least that is how Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt sees it.

As Michigan continues to be a run-first, point-of-attack offense that turns to McCarthy only as desired or needed, the quarterback hasn’t been burning down opposing defenses with his passing. And the fact he seems perfectly content to hand it off more than throwing is part of why Klatt loves the fit.

“Their quarterback seems to care this much — flashing a big zero — zero cares, zero cares about his stats. You see if they had a guy that went there and wanted more NIL dollars, wanted to throw for, you know, lead the country in passing. Wanted to throw 40 touchdown passes. It wouldn’t work. Because a player like that would be too selfish for Michigan,” Klatt said.

While McCarthy is by no means the main attraction in the Michigan offense, he’s shown he has more to offer in the passing game when the Wolverines let him drop back.

He’s No. 3 in the country in completion percentage, at 77.6% through six games. He’s also Top 10 in the country in yards per attempt. McCarthy has thrown 11 touchdowns to three interceptions — which all came in one clunker performance — and has three rushing touchdowns while averaging 6.7 yards per carry.

And as McCarthy has clicked along, so has the Michigan offense. And sitting at 6-0 without having to break much of a sweat due to the competition, it’s looking like a perfect symbiosis between team and quarterback.

“J.J. McCarthy, in a lot of ways, is the perfect guy, not just player, but guy for Michigan. Because he doesn’t care if throws it 18, 19, 20 times. Because he knows that’s why they win,” Klatt said.

Klatt has one big question left unanswered about Michigan

With two games left before the bye, Michigan has looked like one of the top teams in the country through six games. The Wolverines have dominated en route to a 6-0 record entering this week’s game against Indiana, making big plays in all three phases of the game.

Michigan has faced 52.3 plays per game this year, which leads the nation, while allowing just 233 yards per game. That’s been a winning formula for the Wolverines as they’ve turned around to average 414.8 yards per game on offense behind an efficient McCarthy at quarterback.

Still, FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt has one question about UM through the first half of the season.

“Here’s my only question with Michigan. … What happens when they get taken out of that blueprint, for whatever reason?” Klatt said on “The Joel Klatt Show.” “Whether it’s a couple of fluky turnovers, a special teams touchdown. Something happens like what happened against TCU, let’s face it, in the [CFP] semifinal. What happens when they get taken outside of their blueprint?” Klatt said. “I guess we don’t really know. That’s my only question with them.

“Defense had two pick-sixes, they allowed 169 total yards against Minnesota and they’ve got the No. 1 scoring defense in the country, giving up just over 6.5 points per game. Good luck with Michigan. My gosh. I keep saying that, but it’s true.”