The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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26 THE WOLVERINE ❱ NOVEMBER 2023 BY CHRIS BALAS M ichigan hasn't really been tested through seven games and might not be until late No- vember, but the Wolverines are doing everything they're supposed to in their quest for a third straight Big Ten title. They're annihilating teams on the road, taking care of business at home, and working toward games at Penn State and Maryland and home against Ohio State — the three games at the end of the season that will determine their fate — with methodical precision. Minne- sota coach P.J. Fleck likened it to a boa constrictor squeezing the life out of a team, calling U-M the best team he'd seen in his 11 years as a head coach af- ter the Wolverines thrashed his squad, 52-10. Head coach Jim Harbaugh wasn't sure how to respond to that other than "thank you" when it was brought up at a recent press conference. He also insisted he didn't have an opinion on Michigan's "easy" schedule. "We're just trying to get good at foot- ball. I don't really pay too much atten- tion to what's being said, good or bad," Harbaugh said. "It's just about us … leadership, character, that unyielding commitment to the basics and funda- mentals of Michigan football, and a faith in each other. "We'll continue to keep attack- ing. Whether it's the preparation, the meetings, the training, the practice, the games … just do the best we can. That's all we can ask of ourselves and our teammates." So far, they've done that at an ex- tremely high level. We grade them through seven games, position by posi- tion. QUARTERBACK — A Minus a three-interception game at Bowling Green in which his focus seemed to be a bit off, junior J.J. McCarthy has been nothing short of outstanding. He'd completed 111 of 142 passes (78 percent) for 1,512 yards with 14 touchdowns and 3 in- terceptions through seven games, and he'd become more of a weapon with his feet. He scored 2 touchdowns while keeping the ball at Minnesota, showing his speed in a 52-10 win, and has run for 160 yards. "There are a lot of great quarterbacks around the country, and everyone's talk- ing about how maybe this is one of the best quarterback drafts ever," Harbaugh said. "Sometimes they say that in Sep- tember, early October, but I know there are a lot of really good ones. "But there's nobody we'd rather have than J.J. McCarthy. I haven't watched all the guys — kind of started to watch some of the others — but play for play, J.J. McCarthy … maybe I'm a little biased, but I don't think so. I'm trying not to be. But I think he's the best one. There's no one we'd rather have. I'm just so proud of him." People underestimate his speed, Har- baugh added, noting he could run a 4.5 40-yard dash without stretching. It's his ability to escape and keep plays alive, too, that's taken a huge leap. He's finding team- mates when plays break down by keeping his eyes downfield while scrambling. "He's in total control when he's mak- ing those kinds of plays," Harbaugh said. "It might look kind of wild, but he just doesn't care … he's just got no conscience, you know? … The athleticism that it takes to do that is off the charts. He's great." OFFENSIVE LINE — B No, they're not as dominant up front as they've been the last few years, espe- cially in the run game. There's been some turnover, and offensive coordinator/line coach Sherrone Moore was still tinkering with the starting lineup heading into the Nebraska game. But, he seems to have found something with Arizona State transfer LaDarius Henderson at left tackle, moving veteran Karsen Barnhart back to right tackle in place of Myles Hinton. Hinton was playing OK, but the group seems to move people better with Henderson on the field. "I see just a lot of camaraderie — I see the glue starting to stick a little bit more," Moore said during Week 5. "Guys are starting to feel each other out … the inside three really, you can see that mesh. But MIDTERM GRADES Michigan Is 7-0 And Humming In Its Quest For A Third Straight Big Ten Title