Jim Harbaugh identifies major key for Michigan against MSU, assesses OL performance from Indiana win

Michigan Wolverines football saw 17 of its 32 rush attempts by running backs go for 3 or fewer yards against Indiana. Head coach Jim Harbaugh knows the efficiency has to improve this week ahead of his team’s showdown against Michigan State.

Michigan averaged 2.8 yards per carry on 22 first-down rushes against Indiana. That put the Wolverines off schedule a bit and set up some 3rd-and-long situations. Michigan averaged 6.7 yards to go on third down, converting 6 of 11 attempts.

“We got out-played at times up front, and we know it,” Harbaugh said on the ‘Inside Michigan Football’ radio show. “It’s going to have to be better if we’re going to have the run game that we’re gonna need to have as we get into this week against a really stout run defense — best third-down defense in all of football.”

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The Spartans rank third in the country in third-down defense, allowing opponents to convert on just 24.7 percent of their tries (19 of 77).

“The difference in the game … first half, we had too many 2nd and 10s, 2nd and 9s, 2nd and 8s, that turned into 3rd and 7s, 3rd and 8s, 3rd and 9s,” Harbaugh continued, speaking of Michigan’s 52-7 win over Indiana in which the offense started slow, with two three-and-outs. “Totally different in the second half. Now, we’re looking at 2nd and 1 and 2nd and 2. We’ve gotta play ahead of the sticks.

“Michigan State’s got the best third-down defense in all of college football, so gonna be important, our efficiency, especially in the run game and the pass game in keeping us ahead of the sticks.

“A couple of the running plays, we got split on double teams when guys were trying to get up to the second level too fast, not staying on the hip and waiting for that linebacker to come to them. In the second half, made the corrections. It was much better, a difference of two halves.”

Michigan junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy has been elite on third down. He’s 21-of-26 passing for 358 yards and 4 touchdowns on the all-important down this season. He’s also picked up 2 first downs with his legs.

“Even though in the first half we weren’t still getting the efficiency that we wanted on first down, we made some third downs and a key fourth down, down on the goal line, J.J. to [senior wide receiver] Roman Wilson and got up by seven,” the Michigan coach noted. “And then got another touchdown on a really good two-minute drive, a real good two-minute drive that scored the touchdown and left them no time on the clock and then we were [up] 21-7 at the half.”

Harbaugh said the turning point of the game for the offense was a McCarthy to sophomore tight end Colston Loveland on 3rd and 10 late in the first quarter. The signal-caller fit the ball into a tight window to move the chains. The group gained some momentum from there.

Jim Harbaugh assesses Michigan offensive line performance

McCarthy was pressured on 9 of his 24 dropbacks. He was sacked 4 times after taking only 3 sacks in the previous six outings. Frankly, he would have been taken down a few more times if he didn’t have the type of athleticism he possesses, which is a weapon for the Michigan offense.

Harbaugh was pleased with his offensive line but pointed out that there were plays they wish they could have back.

“The strain up front was tremendous,” Harbaugh said. “[Graduate center] Drake Nugent had one heck of a ball game in pass protection and run blocking. So did [senior right guard] Zak Zinter, his second consecutive game where he’s playing great. [Graduate left guard Trevor] Keegan played good, LD [graduate left tackle LaDarius Henderson] played good. [Graduate right tackle Karsen] Barnhart played good.

“Now, each of them … LD had a play where he and Keegs got split on a double team. Drake Nugent came off of a gap block too soon. Karsen gave up a couple edge pressures early, and kind of taking the turn that way. But you sure can’t argue about eight-straight scoring drives.”

Henderson and Barnhart each gave up 2 pressures, per PFF. Both of Barnhart’s were sacks.

The Michigan tight ends have blocked well all season long, and Harbaugh loved what he saw against the Hoosiers as well.

“[Junior] Max Bredeson had his best game, I thought — an elite level blocker. [Senior] AJ Barner had a catch along the sideline, contoted his body. I couldn’t see the numbers and I looked at it on film the first time and I said, ‘Oh, nice play by Colston.’ That looked exactly like Colston. So, AJ Barner, we’ve talked about what kind of elite blocker he is.”