Michigan football News and Views: J.J. McCarthy's moment, Blake Corum, OSU defense, and more

Michigan faces Ohio State Saturday at noon in Columbus, and the Wolverines are significant underdogs. They’re also going to Columbus to win … no excuses.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh expressed great confidence in his team heading into the game. We address his comments in News and Views format.

RELATED: Monday Musings: Initial thoughts on ‘The Game’ — Can Michigan win in Columbus?

RELATED: Jim Harbaugh: ‘I think you’re going to find that we’re made of the right stuff’

NEWS: Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy hasn’t been at his best in recent weeks, but he made enough plays to help U-M pull out a 19-17 win over Illinois Saturday. 

JIM HARBAUGH: “[I’ll tell him to] have at it. It’s pretty cool coming off the game he had — fourth quarter comeback, win in the last minute, game winning drive. That doesn’t happen to quarterbacks that often. To be in that situation the first time and win it … he’s just got “it.” 

“I talk about turning water to wine. I think I made that comment back in the summer, that he had that ability. He shouldn’t have dropped the snap, but dropped the snap, goes down on a knee, has the presence before he touched the ball to lift his knee off the ground, pick it up, get out of the pocket, pick up a critical first down.”

VIEWS: He’s fiercely protective of the team, too, Harbaugh added, and never thinking about his own stats — a “tremendous teammate.” He could probably be somewhere averaging 300 yards passing per game, but he doesn’t complain — nor should he at 11-0. He just wants to win.

At the same time, they need a bit more from him and the rest of the passing game to beat Ohio State Saturday. He’s been off on some passes — twice missed frosh tight end Colston Loveland down the stretch — and he took off running too quickly other times. 

Strong opinion … they’re going to need his legs Saturday more than ever, and he’s going to have to have one of his most efficient passing games in Columbus, too, if the Wolverines are going to have a chance to win. If Blake Corum does play, it’s clear he won’t be 100 percent. We also don’t know what Donovan Edwards’ role will be, though he’ll play.

This is the game in which legends are made. It’s time to take another step. 

NEWS: Like last year, Michigan has done at least one thing to prepare for Ohio State every week. 

HARBAUGH: “[We’ve been] keeping track of them. Just things we do in practice to prepare for them. We know Ohio State’s our toughest competition. This will be our toughest test, to date.”

VIEWS: Especially if the Wolverines are down at some key positions, which it sounds like they might just be. Ohio State is banged up, too. But just like depth is what separates Michigan from the teams just behind them in the Big Ten, OSU has recruited better than all of them and has the edge. Their third stringers, for example, are All-Americans, too. The running back position is an example of that. 

We said before the season this could be the year Michigan ends the losing streak in Columbus that dates back to 2000. We think the Wolverines can control both lines of scrimmage, in which case they’ll have a very good chance to win with a good game plan. 

But even when you outplay them (2016), it sometimes takes breaks. The week didn’t start off well in that respect given what happened on the injury front Saturday. 

NEWS: Ohio State changed defensive coordinators after last year and has improved defensively — somewhat. 

HARBAUGH: “I see the defense is really good. They have 17 takeaways, 10 interceptions, six recovered fumbles, 16 forced fumbles, three defensive touchdowns. I think it’s a very strong team.”

VIEWS: The Illinois defense is better statistically and looks better many of the times we watch them. OSU is better this year defensively, but the Buckeyes still gave up nearly 500 yards at Penn State in a fourth quarter game. Northwestern ran on them, Maryland put up 402 yards and 22 first downs in outgaining them … in fact, the Buckeyes have been outgained in three of their last four games. 

Each game is different, of course, and we have no doubt OSU will have a great plan for the Wolverines. They’ve been pointing to this game all year. But when it comes down to the fourth quarter, it’s about toughness, wearing teams down, finishing, etc. And the Buckeyes are fallible. 

NEWS: Ryan Day said he was going to “hang 100 on Michigan” if he could. Jim Harbaugh said, “some guys are standing on third base and think they hit a triple, but they didn’t,” alluding to Day last year. 

Harbaugh was asked about the rhetoric Monday and if it was just typical back and forth between rivals.

HARBAUGH: “I guess. Kind of Irrelevant is what I think. I think it’s irrelevant.”

VIEWS: Yeah, there’s some bad blood. But unlike the Michigan State rivalry, this one was built on respect. Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes were friends, and they made sure of it. 

It’s been chippy recently, including the tunnel last year in which there was some jawing. Harbaugh, though, made it clear he expected none of that.

“There’s no need to hate, or anxiety, or anger, or anything … it’s about being grateful,” he said. “It’s Thanksgiving week. We’re grateful for this opportunity, the circumstances … grateful to be tested against this opponent at this time.”

That won’t stop the OSU crazies from hating, of course. But there’s no better feeling than shutting them up and watching them leave dejected.

It’s well past time we saw that again, and this team is capable.