Keys to the game, Michigan vs. UConn: Let J.J. sling it again

It’s the third of three clunkers when Michigan hosts UConn Saturday in Ann Arbor (Noon, ABC), arguably the worst non-conference slate we’ve seen for the Wolverines in the last four decades. In fairness, Hawai’i was a 10-win team in 2019, while Colorado State and UConn have at least had modest success in the last decade. Nobody could have known all three teams would be this bad in 2022. 

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Still, other than the obvious — playing time for several guys, resting those who might be banged up — it’s hard to find significant benefit in playing three of the worst teams in FBS. We still don’t know how good this Michigan team is as a result, and probably won’t for several weeks yet.

At least next week the Wolverines will face a Maryland team with some athletes and a gunslinger at quarterback, so we’ll know a little bit more.

But … you play who’s in front of you and try to get better each week doing it. Michigan is a 46-ish-point favorite in this one, and the Wolverines are going to win. U-M is averaging 53.5 points per game, second nationally, and is 11th in scoring defense (8.5 points per game). UConn is 104th in the FBS in total offense at 337.3 total yards per game on offense and 101st defensively, allowing 416.3 in three games. 

Yuck.

Here are keys not necessarily just to a win, but to getting better heading into the Big Ten slate:

Key No. 1: Dominate and get better up front offensively

The Michigan offensive line was supposed to challenge for the Joe Moore Award again this year after winning it last season. While it’s been good in opening holes for the backs — U-M is fourth nationally, averaging 6.88 yards per rush — frankly, the pass protection has been disappointing. 

Head coach Jim Harbaugh called it “leaky” last week, and that was against Hawai’i. There were three consecutive plays, in fact, in which veteran linemen were beaten. Two of them resulted in sacks on senior quarterback Cade McNamara, who had already been struggling with his confidence. 

These guys need to get better heading into Big Ten play. That means concentrating no matter what the score, who is behind center and whatever the situation. 

We expect they’ll be on their game this week heading toward the conference opener with Maryland next week.

Key No. 2: Let Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy sling it some more

Michigan senior Cade McNamara struggled mightily in his first two games while sophomore J.J. McCarthy played nearly flawless football. One signal caller looked like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, while the other was having fun and seemed to relish the moment. 

The quarterback competition effectively ended before halftime of last week’s blowout win over Hawai’i as a result. 

But there are bigger tests to come, obviously. These games have been like the first few questions on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” They’re lay-ups, but you’ve still got to make them. And no matter the competition, quarterback play is about putting the ball where it needs to be and making good decisions. 

The only way you do that is to continue to put your guy in those positions. 

Michigan could probably run every down and win Saturday, but the goal is to get McCarthy as many throws as possible to be ready for the bigger games on the schedule. He raises the team’s ceiling exponentially if he reaches his, and he’s made huge strides over the last month and appears to be well on his way. 

We’d love to see him throw 15 times or more in the first half, and for some of the younger, talented receivers to get more involved (hello, Andrel Anthony). Develop the timing now so it’s there when you’re playing teams with athletes who can keep up a bit more. 

Key No. 3: Stiffen against the run

The Michigan defense has been outstanding overall in two games, but the run defense could be better. The Wolverines rank 47th nationally in allowing 111 yards per game, and while a lot of that came against the backups — most, probably — there have been a few occasions in which they haven’t owned the line of scrimmage like they should. 

Defensive line coach Mike Elston said last week he wanted to see better block destruction and “get-off,” and that will likely be a point of emphasis this week. The Huskies are averaging 205.3 yards per game on the ground, 5.13 per carry in three games. Back Nate Carter ran for 190 yards and 9.5 per rush in a loss at Utah State. 

You can be certain the Huskies will try to test Michigan up front and shorten the game.

The Breakdown: Michigan vs. UConn

It doesn’t seem all that long ago that Randy Edsall built the Huskies into a respectable program, one that won eight or more games a year (six times in nine seasons between 2003-2010). That’s tough to do up there in Storrs, but he took the team to five bowl games in seven years after the Huskies joined the Big East. 

He might have a statue outside the stadium had he not come back for another stint from 2017-19 and gone 6-30. 

This is another game against a terribly overmatched opponent, one in which you try to get in and get out, take care of business without any injuries. 

Michigan will, and it probably won’t be pretty. You bettors, though, keep in mind that 46 is an awfully big number, especially with a coach like Harbaugh who will take his foot off the gas and play as many bodies as possible.