Jim Harbaugh: Bye week ‘all going to be Michigan State’

Michigan has had a tougher time than it should beating Michigan State recently, even when the Wolverines are clearly the better team. That was the case last year, when the breaks went against them and the Spartans took advantage of some defensive substitution lapses — and some crazy calls — to stun U-M in a come-from-behind win. 

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The rallying cry before the season, it seemed, was “enough is enough.” Head coach Jim Harbaugh and his players all spoke openly about beating MSU and Ohio State in the same year. It was clear they felt they deserved a better fate, and now they’re set to make up for it. 

They proved it to their coach after a 41-17 drubbing of Penn State.

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“The cool thing is coming up the tunnel, [Michigan junior running back] Blake [Corum] said it — ‘it’s on to Michigan State,’” head coach Jim Harbaugh said. “And the offensive line, I’m congratulating them on the game and it’s, “on to State, coach.’ 

“I like where their head’s at.”

So that’s where his head went, too, immediately after the game. They’ll have a chance to heal up during the bye week — the Spartans have one, too — and get some work for some who haven’t played much. 

But they’re also preparing for Michigan State now, anticipating their rival’s best shot.

“We’re regrouping. We want to refresh,” Harbaugh said. “But we’re going to practice four times in this week. It’s all going to be Michigan State, except the practices we do with the young guys. Also, we want to get those guys getting reps and playing football, getting good at football, doing that this week. All of it is going to be getting ready for that game.”

And they’ve got time. Some of the situations in which they’re rushed during the week — installing first, second, and third down plays, red zone situations, etc. — are that way because they’re changing every week, the Michigan coach said. Short yardage, goal line, 4-minute … 

“Every week it’s a different look. We have to adjust,” he said. “It’s a good chance on offense, special team, to hone in on situations you’d love to have more hours in the week to detail. Just preciseness in our splits, our formations, alignments … just making sure we’re really honed in on our assignments.

“Then, just different plays off things we’ve done well. To have completements to them, some play action for our really good run scheme …”

And, like, Saturday against Penn State, different plays out of familiar formations. 

That’s one area in which Harbaugh’s Michigan teams have often excelled in big games — changing things up to keep defenses off balance. If they play their game against an overmatched MSU team, they should be 8-0 headed into November, but they know better than to take it for granted.

J.J. McCarthy becoming the next great Michigan quarterback

Michigan sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy is improving weekly, adding to his arsenal with every game. Harbaugh sees a player who just wants to learn, and it’s evident every day.

“He’s just soaking it all in like a sponge. He really doesn’t make the same mistakes twice,” Harbaugh said. “You can make the case it’s all a learning experience when you’re starting for the first time, but he’s handling it extremely well. It’s been really accurate. 

“The thing that jumps out the most about the way he’s been playing and throwing the football … he studies the game, goes through his reads, progressions. He’s got a flair, too, and continues to grow. I’m super pleased with how he’s playing.”

His accuracy has been incredible. He’s leading the nation in completing over 77 percent of his passes, and Harbaugh sees the same in practice. 

“… He’s been phenomenal in the pocket, out of the pocket,” Harbaugh said of the Michigan sophomore. “He continues to add time on task every time he goes out there. He finds different ways to move the chains and get the team into end zone.”

His game is still evolving, too, Harbaugh said, and it will be a while before they know exactly what it is. Whatever it becomes should be special. 

“It’s going very, very well,” Harbaugh said.