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Joel Klatt identifies biggest X factor in The Game
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Joel Klatt thinks there’s a “giant key” in Saturday’s contest between No. 3 Michigan and No. 2 Ohio State.
On The Herd with Colin Cowherd, the Fox college football analyst questioned how the Wolverines will protect junior quarterback JJ McCarthy against the Buckeyes.
In the 24-15 win over Penn State earlier in the year, Michigan ran the ball 32 straight times in the second half. McCarthy, who finished with 7-of-8 completions for 60 yards, didn’t throw a single pass in the final half.
“Everyone, including me, was probably thinking ‘Man, that was impressive,'” Klatt said. “They imposed their will on the opposition.”
Klatt, however, noted that the Wolverines ran an overwhelming amount since they “could not protect” McCarthy.
Michigan right tackle Karsen Barnhart “was getting beat badly” by Penn State’s speed rushers, Klatt said. The Wolverines were also playing without offensive lineman LaDarius Henderson and could be without Myle Hinton this weekend.
“They could not block those guys, and they abandoned it,” Klatt said.
Klatt said that Michigan now goes into a game against the Buckeyes where they have “some of the best pass rushers” in the country.
“Against this Ohio State defense, as veteran as it is, as sound as it is, as quality as they have been against the run, you can’t do what you’ve done the past couple of years and just run the football in the second half,” Klatt said. “You can’t do what you did to Penn State and just run it 32 straight times. So that’s going to be, I think, the biggest factor in The Game is will Michigan be able to throw the ball?”
The Wolverines and Buckeyes square off at noon Saturday on Fox.