Joel Klatt reveals his only question remaining 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 J.J. 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.
Because the defense is holding opposing offenses to such few plays, Klatt wondered how Michigan would handle any surprises that come along. An example of that would be in last year’s pick-six in the early going of the Fiesta Bowl against TCU, which put the Horned Frogs ahead 7-0 on the game’s second drive.
If Michigan can respond to that kind of adversity, Klatt said the defense has shown it’s good enough to weather the storm.
“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.”
Last week against Minnesota, Michigan allowed 10 points in a game for the first time this season. But as Big Ten play gets going, the biggest criticism about the Wolverines has been the strength of schedule. Michigan enters Week 7 ranked No. 111 in strength of schedule, according to ESPN. In the next two weeks, the Wolverines will face two teams that are 0-2 in Big Ten play. Indiana awaits on Saturday and they’ll head to Michigan State next week.
Things will pick up after the off week, though. Penn State awaits Nov. 11, followed by Maryland Nov. 18 and The Game against Ohio State in the final game of the season Nov. 25.