Michigan football: Jim Harbaugh discusses 'coming-out parties' from Indiana win, 'the journey to the promised land'

Michigan Wolverines football head coach Jim Harbaugh is on a mission to lead his 2022 squad to the “promised land.” The Maize and Blue won the Big Ten and made the College Football Playoff last season — now, they want to make it back and go even further. While last Saturday’s 31-10 win over Indiana wasn’t pretty — it was a 10-10 game at the half — the second half was an ‘A’ performance that was much-needed.

“I thought, once again, it was a great team win,” Harbaugh said on the Inside Michigan Football Radio show Monday night. “To have a big second half, to finish the game with those second-half moments that truly tell you about yourself and what you can be … that’s what I took away from it.

“The journey to the promised land, if there’s going to be a promised land, has those kind of second-half moments in them. There are a lot of things in that game that keep us humble that we have to work on, but at the same time, a glimpse of what we can be when we really play that Michigan football — tough brand of football, everybody playing together.”

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There was plenty of good in the victory. Michigan held Indiana scoreless and to 19 total yards in the second half, notched 7 sacks and 10 tackles for loss, and saw sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy throw for 304 yards, marking the first 300-yard game of his career.

“It was kind of a coming-out party for the pass rush,”. I thought that was outstanding. Thirty four pressures — I’ve never seen that in a game. Seven sacks, 10 TFLs.

“[Graduate tight end] Luke Schoonmaker — coming out party for him. And J.J. had that kind of game, the receivers — [graduate] Ronnie Bell, [senior] Cornelius Johnson — some of the plays they made.

“Offensive line protection, that’s something that hasn’t really been talked about, either, coming out of that game, but that was a heck of a game for the O-line. J.J. got hit one time on a miscommunication on the protection. [Senior right tackle] Karsen [Barnhart] stepped in, had a heck of a game.

“The defensive front — [junior defensive tackle] Kris Jenkins really played well, [senior nose guard] Mazi Smith was getting off blocks and making tackles, [freshman defensive tackle] Mason Graham had a very good game.

“[Freshman corner] Will Johnson is really getting comfortable out there and playing well. [Senior cornerback] DJ Turner played really good, and [graduate] Gemon Green … I can’t remember the last time somebody caught a ball on Gemon. [Sophomore safety] Rod Moore, a big interception.

“There were a lot of guys — [graduate EDGE] Eyabi [Okie]. Each one of those seven sacks was a different guy. [Senior EDGE] Mike Morris got the defensive game ball, but also special teams, got a block on the field goal.”

Those positives are nothing to scoff at. Michigan made the plays it needed to in the second half, dominated and got out with a three-score win.

“Just fighting, scratching … that first half was going back and forth, a dog fight in there. And there were some really good moments in the second half, and a finish that was tremendous,” Harbaugh noted.

“Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games. It’s very important, very important. There are so many of them. That’s what’s resonating with me. On the offensive side of the ball, the defensive side of the ball, in special teams. I said it a couple weeks ago, I feel like our guys really care about playing and winning for each other, and going out there and just letting it rip, giving it everything they have.”

Jim Harbaugh breaks down J.J. McCarthy

Harbaugh said after the game that Michigan put the game in McCarthy’s hands in the second half, after Indiana showed an ability to slow down the Wolverines’ run game. U-M has been hesitant to ask him to do too much, but each week he’s proving he can handle more and more.

“He’s been good. He’s shown no signs of going out there and being timid or not doing anything — he’s playing his game, which is exactly what we want him to do,” the Michigan coach said. “Just keep being him. His preparation has been right on the mark. He has great concentration and focus in meetings and in practices and in the games. He’s been really good.

“He understands that he’s got some real playmakers to get the ball to, but he’s a playmaker, too. He’s just been good, so just continue that, J.J.

“I don’t feel like the big stage is something that’s going to frighten him in any way, so just go out there and have at it. And that’s what we want him to do — go out there and compete, have at it, and play his game.”