Jim Harbaugh: 'Seeing the same confidence as I feel inside of me' to start OSU week
Michigan football has its work cut out for it in Saturday’s game against Ohio State, but preparation has to start somewhere. According to head coach Jim Harbaugh, the locker room has already gotten off to a good start this week.
Speaking to host Jon Jansen on this week’s Inside Michigan Football radio show, Harbaugh sees shades of himself in this group. They will play for the right to go to the Big Ten Championship game in Indianapolis.
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“I see it in their eyes. I hear it in their voices. We’re all feeding off of each other like that,” he said. “I look at them, it feels like I’m looking in the mirror. I’m seeing the same confidence in them as I feel inside of me.”
Michigan coaches will be burning the candle at both ends this week putting a game plan together. Harbaugh shared what he sees from the Buckeyes defense so far on film.
“It’s really good. Long, athletic, run extremely well. Defensive ends and tackles, they’re tough to block. They can move and redirect,” Harbaugh said. “Fight off blocks and they’re really long once they get off a block. They can cover a lot of ground, close holes fast and have the reach and length to get people on the ground.”
Offensively, the Buckeyes bring a trio of star wide receivers into the game in Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and Jaxson Smith-Njigba. Michigan feels it has the wideouts to keep up in this game, too.
“They’re really good getting separation and maintaining,” Harbaugh said. “Creating more separation. Catching the football. Really good and really fantastic. I also look at a guy like Roman Wilson, who…the play he made in the endzone against Maryland. That type of play, that’s what it looks like. He’s just as capable as anyone on the field of doing that. Cornelius Johnson is having a heck of a good season and is a good player. Mikey Sairistil, amazing catch. One of those kinds of things. Donovan, Andrel Anthony…we’ll be talking like Andrel Anthony like that as well. Talented guys who are really good at what they’re doing. Would say that about both of the receiving groups on each team.”
Michigan knows it has to play a clean and mistake-free game to beat Ohio State on Saturday. Harbaugh boils it down to individuals on the team taking care of their business in one-on-ones.
“We’re going to have to play really good as a team,” he said. “It’s going to come down to individuals knowing their roles and starring in their roles. Back to playing really well as a team. We do that and we have a good chance to win the game. We don’t, you have a really good chance to not win the game.”
Having The Game take place during Thanksgiving will not affect Michigan football’s plans for the week. They will move practice up on Thursday so that players can be with their families the rest of the day, but it will be business as usual from there.
Harbaugh shared what he is thankful for ahead of the holiday.
“I’m thankful for all the new people in our program,” he said. “Coaches who brought so much talent and energy to our football team. Thankful for those guys who were here last year and the year before that. They didn’t quit or give up. They went right back to work. I’d call them the grittiest of anyone on our team. They’re the foundation of our football team.
“Also thankful for the seniors. They’re the ones. Without them, there is no way we are where we are today. The holiest of the holy guys, the Hutchinsons, the Ross’, Hassan Haskins, Vastardis, Hawkins, Robbins, Moody. Those, and many more, those seniors I’m most thankful for them.”
Harbaugh and Michigan hope to give thanks to a job well-done on Saturday when the clocks hit zero against the Buckeyes. The kickoff for that game is scheduled for 12 p.m. and will be broadcast via FOX.
