Wolverine TV: Jim Harbaugh talks Michigan run game, 'NFL-caliber' throws by J.J. McCarthy, more
Michigan Wolverines football head coach Jim Harbaugh met with the media ahead of U-M’s game against Bowling Green Saturday night at The Big House. Watch video from his press conference in the video player above.
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Harbaugh discussed his Michigan offense in a 35-7 win over UNLV last weekend. Harbaugh was suspended, with one more game that he’ll miss to go, but watched from his house (and has reviewed the film).
“The offense started extremely fast,” Harbaugh said. “Just loved the way we are starting these football games — long drives. So explosive in the passing game. [Junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy] is phenomenal. So on fire, so on point. The throws that he is making from the pocket, doing severe damage when he leaves the pocket — keeps his eyes down field — and is getting chunk plays and yardage. Receivers — the explosive plays, plus-15s, are just huge. The kind of throws he’s making, too, are NFL caliber throws into tight windows. The accuracy is off the charts. He’s putting balls six inches in front of the number. Even the throws that are covering 30, 40 yards, they’re right on the number — a real runner’s ball, where the receiver can catch and run like you saw on the 47-yarder to [senior wideout] Roman Wilson.”
The Michigan coach then discussed the run game. The Wolverines ran 33 times for 179 yards, averaging 5.4 yards per carry, but still weren’t where they want to be in that area.
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“Run game, the inefficient plays are out-numbering the efficient runs,” the Michigan head man pointed out. “The efficient runs, to me, are four to nine [yards]. Explosives are 10-plus and non-efficient runs are zero to three. We have far too many of those. It’s a combination of everybody. We’ve gotta block better on the perimeter. We’ve gotta get the safeties blocked better by our receivers. The tight ends are really blocking well. Offensive line — yeah, we’re missing a guy here, it’s one guy on a play. Guys are coming off the second level and making plays. And running backs — when I say a guy here, a guy there — it’s a missed cut here, a missed cut there.
“But it’s something we’re very focused on and emphasizing. Plus the big inefficient plays, where we don’t pick up a 4th and 2 and we have a tackle for a loss.”
