'Built to beat OSU’ Michigan offense still missing one thing

Michigan is headed for a colossal showdown with Ohio State Nov. 26, a likely battle of unbeatens reminiscent of the 1970s seasons. Back then, every game seemed like a warm-up while the two powers headed toward “The Game” that would decide the Big Ten championship. 

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This one will only decide the Big Ten East champion, but it seems a foregone conclusion the winner will beat whichever West team limps into the final. OSU and U-M are No. 2 and 3 in this week’s College Football Playoff standings — pretty much irrelevant since the two will figure it out on the field in a couple weeks. 

Earlier this year, Fox analyst Joel Klatt (while not necessarily predicting a Michigan win) said he felt Michigan had assembled a team built to beat the Buckeyes. And it does resemble last year’s squad, one that ran the ball down OSU’s throat in a 42-27 beating. 

Some have openly wondered why Michigan isn’t throwing the ball more this season. This could be one reason.

“That’s who we want to be, and that’s who we are. It’s an all-weather conference, and you’ve got to be able to run the ball late in the year,” Michigan co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss told Jon Jansen on the Inside Michigan radio show Tuesday. “That’s how we built the team; that’s how we built the offense. We make no apologies that that’s what we do.”

His vision is shared by head coach Jim Harbaugh, of course. But co-coordinator Sherrone Moore, the architect of one of the best run-blocking Michigan offensive lines we’ve seen in decades, also has his fingerprints all over it.

Weiss praised his prowess Wednesday, as well. 

“I couldn’t think of a better person to be partnered with, just in terms of our skill sets are very complementary,” Weiss added. “He’s an unbelievable leader. He’s an unbelievable, obviously, offensive line coach, but coach in general.

“Big picture — scheme, run game, pass game — there’s really nothing he can’t do, and he’s helped me in every single area. I just feel blessed to have the opportunity to coach with him, and there’s nobody I’d rather be doing this with than Sherrone.”

Michigan deep ball is holding the offense back

But that doesn’t mean everything is perfect. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy has been outstanding for the most part, completing 70.9 percent of his passes (sixth nationally). He’s 20th in pass efficiency and — most importantly — has led Michigan to a 9-0 record. 

Still — he hasn’t been able to hit the deep balls that change games. Michigan is much worse than a year ago on long throws that travel over 20 yards in the air, and while they’re close, they’re just not connecting.

Last week’s miss was a game-changer. Michigan was poised to go up 14-0 at Rutgers and probably enjoy a laugher from start to finish. Instead, a deep pass to sophomore Andrel Anthony went off the fingertips, Rutgers blocked a punt, and it was 7-7. 

“[That’s] the thing I would say, the certain area we’ve got to improve,” the Michigan O.C. said. “We’ve got to own that, no doubt about it. The thing we see in practice is we see those connections happening. As players, as coaches, we’re very confident that it’s going to show up in a game. 

“In a game you just have a limited number of reps, right? We’re here talking about one play where yeah, Andrel could have made an unbelievable catch and caught it, and he would tell you that. But if you talk to J.J., he would tell you he threw the ball a little bit with not enough air and a little bit too far up the field, made it a tough adjustment for [Anthony]. And he can throw a way better ball, especially for a guy that’s wide open.”

That’s part of the learning process for a young quarterback, Weiss added. Not every throw has to be right on the money, and there are different degrees of how open someone is. 

“Whether it has to be put right through a small loophole or, ‘Hey this guy’s wide open, let me just get him the ball,’” Weiss added. 

“We’d still like to keep building; we’d like to see us connect on some of those shots down the field. But again, we have an unbelievable foundation for a young quarterback that’s going to be a superstar. We’ve built the foundation. We don’t turn the ball over. He’s very efficient. He goes through reads; he makes checks. We’re just really excited about J.J. and the future, and where the offense is.”

Especially with junior Blake Corum at running back leading the way behind a dominant line. 

“With that run game, it’s just an unbelievable foundation to win games, but also to be able to build everything else off that,” Weiss said. 

With the hope and expectation that it will all be humming, pass and run, by the time the Wolverines and Buckeyes meet Nov. 26.