Michigan adjusts CFP prep, looking to avoid 'paralysis by overanalysis'
Michigan Wolverines football spent nearly the entire month of December preparing for TCU ahead of last year’s College Football Playoff semifinal. After a 51-45 loss and some lessons learned, head coach Jim Harbaugh and Co. have made some adjustments to the way they’re preparing for Alabama in this year’s national semifinal at the Rose Bowl.
Michigan had a week off following a 26-0 Big Ten championship game victory over Iowa, just like it did the previous two seasons ahead of the CFP, but the Wolverines have practiced with less contact than in the past.
“I just feel fresh mentally, physically and spiritually,” junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy said. “So, it’s been really good so far. … We haven’t been in full pads as much, so it’s been a little bit of a toll off our body.”
McCarthy said Harbaugh made the changes after speaking with other coaches from around the country “to figure out the best plan possible for us.”
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Last year, McCarthy spoke about Michigan’s starters opting out of pre-Fiesta Bowl activities like TopGolf so that they could prepare more. It seems that the Wolverines felt they may have over-prepared.
“I think that the last couple years, I felt like we fell victim to paralysis by overanalysis and just getting over-detailed with too many things and over-thinking things,” McCarthy said. “These first couple of weeks, we really just took things kinda light, easing into things and it’s been kind of fresh every single day. I think that’s going to be the biggest difference of keeping a balance.”
McCarthy added that he felt Michigan was “a little bit” fatigued heading into CFP losses to Georgia and TCU the last two seasons and that the Wolverines are looking to avoid “mental” exhaustion this time around.
Michigan senior defensive tackle Kris Jenkins has also felt the Wolverines’ approach this season has been a positive so far.
“We’ve definitely taken into account how beneficial it is preserving the legs as much as possible,” Jenkins, who’s racked up 32 tackles this season, said. “But at the same time, we’re not taking too much of a step off and really just trying to emphasize that mental game and get as much work as possible without diminishing our speed, our stamina, our legs.
“Just trying to limit as much full-blown contact as possible and just toning that down. Trying to eliminate as much tackling as possible, keeping that body fresh, keeping anybody from getting hurt before the game.”
Michigan hoping to seize the moment after year of hard work
There’s an increased level of motivation after having lost two-straight College Football Playoff games, too, Jenkins said.
“Obviously, you’re not going to want to lose three bowl games in a row,” the Michigan captain noted. “I don’t think anybody in this room has won a bowl game, so that’s definitely sitting at the front of our mind right now and that’s definitely giving us that extra motivation. We’re going to play the best game we can possibly play and leave it all out on the field. But that’s definitely driving us to come ready for this game.”
After the Georgia and TCU losses, McCarthy was photographed watching the opponent celebrate its bowl win and national championship game berth. Those mental snapshots have motivated him throughout the year.
“That was one of the most … both games were key lessons, life lessons,” the Michigan quarterback said. “Do you want to live with the pain of discipline or the pain of regret? I feel like last year there was a lot of regret, and I’ve made sure and worked exhaustively this offseason to make sure that we don’t have that regret this year.
“Two completely different experiences, [but] same outcome. But just more valuable lessons that were learned in both games that will help us win this one.”
