Keys to the game: Michigan vs. Hawai'i — Let J.J. sling it

Michigan will face Hawai’i in a night game Saturday night in Ann Arbor at 8:00, a start time as perplexing as the decision to all of a sudden start adding the apostrophe to our 50th state.

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When did it go from Hawaii to Hawai’i. And why?

Either way, the Rainbow Warriors — well, aren’t really football warriors. This, in fact, might be the worst team in FBS (literally), having been trounced by Vanderbilt and Western Kentucky both in its first two games. This team gave up 63 points to the Commodores and 49 to the Hilltoppers at home, and Michigan is a different animal, obviously, than either of those two teams.

This is about as guaranteed a win as it gets. The only question is whether the team from our 50th state will cover the 50-point spread (it’s now up to 52 on some books). That’s the largest point spread in Michigan football history, and it’s only in doubt if head coach Jim Harbaugh calls off the dogs.

We literally fear for quarterback Joey Yellen’s safety in this one.

There shouldn’t be much to glean after this one, but there are still some objectives in this game. The key to a win, though, will pretty much be to show up. Our other goals for the Wolverines’ contest with the Rainbow Warriors:

Key No. 1: Stay healthy and play as many guys as possible

Michigan coaches played 84 Wolverines in the opener, a 51-7 drubbing of Colorado State. It’s likely to be much more than that Saturday night.

This game should be over by halftime, and while it will be good to get the starters some run, this game (and probably next week’s) is about rewarding the “other guys” with playing time before Big Ten season — the back-ups and scout team players who won’t see much action this season.

Grad student left tackle Ryan Hayes sat out last week’s game due to precautionary reasons. If he’s not 100 percent, we’d sit him again. He’s critical to the line’s success, and he was missed last week. Senior Karsen Barnhart won’t play (ankle), and guys like junior Nikhai Hill-Green, who missed last week’s game, should sit, too.

This non-conference schedule won’t help prepare Michigan for the tougher games to come in some ways. It will, however, limit the snap counts for many.

Just stay healthy and move on to next week’s blowout.

Key No. 2: Let Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy sling it

Michigan senior quarterback Cade McNamara didn’t play well in week one, and his body language indicated he was feeling the pressure of trying to keep his job. Such is life when you play for a program like U-M — and in a meritocracy. As Harbaugh said earlier this year, every position is “for rent,” and there are no guarantees … which is exactly the way it should be.

Enter sophomore J.J. McCarthy, who has the better physical skillset both as a passer and a runner. He showed some of those skills in the opener (especially with his feet) and the maturity to check down when receivers weren’t open downfield, leading to a few big plays.

Now, we want to see what that arm can do. That’s the area in which Michigan needs to improve — getting the receivers the ball downfield. There’s too much talent here to not get involved, and they have to be wondering when they get to eat.

Saturday night should be a luau. Turn McCarthy loose and see what he can do.

Key No. 3: Stop the run

No, Hawai’i isn’t the standard, but defensive line coach Mike Elston noted Wednesday the Rainbow Warriors would at least try to challenge Michigan in that respect. This is a different challenge than the air raid offense Colorado State tried to employ in week one.

“They don’t do a lot in the run game in terms of the different types of plays, but they’re really good at what they do,” Elston said. “I know their stats may not show that. But in terms of how feisty their O-line is, and the leverage they play with, it will be a bigger challenge this week for us in the run game.”

CSU got some push with its offensive line in the run game, at times. The Rams grossed 134 yards but averaged only 2.1 per carry due to sack yardage (50 total on quarterback Clay Millen).

Yeah, it’s nitpicking. But we want to see dominance here with a front seven that should be capable of providing it.

The Breakdown: Michigan vs. Hawai’i

This is a “name your score” kind of game, and it should be (had better be) over at halftime. It’s one of those games in which you work on what you want to improve and stick with it until it gets better.

We want to see a clean pocket for McCarthy and receivers running open. The passing game has seemed labored, at times — this crew is capable, and that should be on display Saturday.

The running backs will still get theirs, and we’d like to see some more explosive plays there, too. More than anything, however, protect the ball, get out healthy, and move on.