Joel Klatt: Karsen Barnhart 'is the most intriguing Michigan player' ahead of Ohio State game

Michigan Wolverines football ran 32 straight times to close out a 24-15 win over Penn State two weeks ago. The Maize and Blue used big runs to reach 227 yards on the ground and keep possession of the ball against the Nittany Lions, whose offense struggled to find success.

One of the main reasons why Michigan kept hammering away at the run game, though, was the early pass protection issues. Graduate right tackle Karsen Barnhart allowed 3 pressures, including a sack, and graduate left tackle LaDarius Henderson yielded a pressure as well.

Barnhart, especially, has struggled lately. He posted a 0.0 PFF pass-rushing grade against Penn State (almost unheard of) and has been below 50 the last three games overall. He’s allowed a total of 11 pressures on just 70 pass-blocking snaps during that span.

Appearing on ‘Andy Staples On3’ this week, FOX analyst Joek Klatt was asked if Michigan’s pass-protection issues will continue to hinder its ability to use its entire offense, including the aerial attack, against Ohio State at The Big House this weekend.

“It’s a huge question,” Klatt said. “Karsen Barnhart is now, for me, the most intriguing Michigan player. He’s the other tackle. He’s the tackle that was at right for the majority of the season, then he moved over to left tackle to fill in for LaDarius Henderson [after senior Myles Hinton went down with his own injury] last week.

“Now, early in the game against Penn State, first it was Dani Dennis-Sutton, a former five-star guy, then it was Adisa Isaac, then it was Chop Robinson. They beat Karsen Barnhart fast in the first two series. It was so obvious. I looked at [play-by-play commentator] Gus [Johnson] in the break, and I said, ‘Michigan’s in trouble.’

“But they went to the seven offensive linemen. They just started grinding it out. Yes, you can say, ‘Well we went back to our roots and we got tough.’ They did that because they had to, because they couldn’t protect the passer.

“And then last week, in the most critical series, when Barnhart had to go over to left tackle after the backup to LaDarius Henderson, Myles Hinton, got hurt, he got beat the same way — it was the same speed rush.”

Klatt noted that Michigan will now be tasked with taking on a duo of formidable Ohio State edge rushers.

“And now you’re going to face a couple of guys — Jack Sawyer, who’s playing his best football, J.T. Tuimoloau, who we know at the top end can take over a game like he did a year ago at Penn State,” the analyst explained.

“And that’s why I think people are confident with Ohio State, because Michigan, for the first time all year, has had to come up with answers and abandon points of their offense. The one credit that you would give them is that they have the ability to do it. Some teams can’t, and they would still have to throw the football and they would get beat because of it. At least Michigan has an answer to the places that they were struggling with.”

Staples pointed out that Michigan will need its pass protection to improve even beyond the Ohio State game, if it’s fortunate enough to avoid being upset by the Buckeyes this Saturday.

“The thing is, they’ve gotta be able to do this against Ohio State, because if they do beat Ohio State, they’re still going to need this,” Staples said. “Against Iowa, even, in the Big Ten championship game. Against whoever you find in the playoff, you’re going to need that. So, Henderson playing seems to be pretty critical.”

“And I think he will — I think Henderson will play — but remember, Barnhart is going to play on the right side,” Klatt said. “He’s been the right tackle. So, that issue remains, even if Henderson is back, which is fascinating.”

Michigan junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy was a bit off last week, hobbled due to getting hurt in the second half of the Penn State game the week prior. He said he’s feeling better this week. Ailment or not, McCarthy still made some questionable decisions against Maryland, including on his first interception of the Big Ten slate.

“J.J. is going to have to play better,” Klatt continued. “I know he’s not 100 percent. His mobility was not 100 percent against Maryland, and it showed. He panicked a couple of times and made some poor decisions. And we’ll see.”

Another top storyline Klatt is tracking: Michigan senior running back Blake Corum‘s first time healthy and as the feature back against the Buckeyes.

“Blake Corum hasn’t really had a chance to play against Ohio State,” Klatt said. “It was the Hassan Haskins game two years ago, 2021. And last year, he had the knee injury against Illinois and didn’t play, and it was [junior] Donovan Edwards‘ game.

“So, for a guy that’s scored over 50 touchdowns in his Michigan career, you can imagine … he comes back in a year in which we didn’t expect him to be here. This is the game he’s wanted. And Blake Corum and the way he plays — at home in his last game in The Big House — that’s going to be something that I’m going to be paying very close attention to.”