If Michigan wants to defeat the Buckeyes for a third consecutive season, its quarterback will have to give it everything he has. J.J. McCarthy was one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, even though he didn’t play a complete game until game nine against Purdue. McCarthy was thought to be a top 10 choice in the NFL draft and a Heisman candidate based on his performance at Michigan in 2023.
But after the previous two weeks, McCarthy’s reputation might have fallen a little bit due to an apparent injury and the Wolverines returning to their traditional style of running the football. McCarthy deserves credit for his near-perfect performance against Penn State, going 7 for 8 for 60 yards.
However, during the game against Maryland last week, the junior gunslinger seemed a bit off. He only completed 52.2% of his throws for the season, but he did throw a key interception in the red zone, his first since Week 3 against Bowling Green. McCarthy also failed to stop Cornelius Johnson, who was wide open for a touchdown.
McCarthy told everyone that he feels great and that the therapies are helping, even though his ankle and leg remain a cause for concern. McCarthy called it “really good” on Monday. Yes, it was a bit of a hard week. However, I’m doing great at the moment. The care has been excellent. Yes, we’ll be prepared to go.
A week earlier, McCarthy lost Roman Wilson following the game’s second drive, but it is hoped that he will return for Ohio State. The junior thinks he only needs to find his rhythm again, but he has faith in his teammates’ and his own abilities to score touchdowns.
McCarthy stated, “Getting more into rhythm.” “I think that will be fantastic. I feel like I’ve been hoarding the touchdowns and everything else. We’re winning and scoring. And that is all that matters to me.”
McCarthy faced criticism at this time last year as well. Given how frequently Michigan ran the ball and McCarthy’s first-year status, nobody was sure if he could lead a team to victory in a major game.
McCarthy outran the Buckeyes’ defense in Columbus during The Game in 2022, throwing for 263 yards and three touchdowns. He mentioned how important it is to have a year of experience in this game. He believes that having learned to regulate his emotions will give him an advantage on Saturday.
“I think experience is one of the greatest edges you can have as a player,” Moore stated. “I’ve never felt anything like it before going into last year, that first drive, and all the feelings that were seeping in. It’s now predictable and therefore under control. I’ll be able to control my emotions and bring them under control. And yes, it certainly helps a lot.
A other apparent cause for McCarthy’s injury setbacks appears to be the fact that Michigan did not use McCarthy’s running abilities against Maryland one week ago. J.J. didn’t run against the Terps after Sherrone Moore called 32 straight run plays against Penn State, during which he ran the ball eight times for 34 yards.
However, as McCarthy stated on Monday, the Wolverines must exert maximum effort to defeat the Buckeyes. McCarthy has contributed significantly to the offense the entire season. Having relied on his arm to win games early in the season, Michigan began to add more firepower to its arsenal by using his legs.
McCarthy is prepared to go above and beyond to help the team win the game, even if he is unsure of what Coach Moore will require of him on Saturday.
McCarthy remarked, “Who knows what Coach Moore wants and expects out of me.” “I’m just going to say that we’re going to try everything in our power to win this football game, even me throwing the ball or running with it. Things seem to emerge from rushing and moving forward. But I’m simply going to go out there and perform whatever he asks of me.”
We asked Sherrone Moore, the interim head coach, about McCarthy’s lackluster performance against Maryland. He gave reporters his word that anything McCarthy did would not result in handcuffs.
“Let him be himself,” Moore added. “Leave him alone. You have to give a truly good player the opportunity to play; you can’t put him in handcuffs. Tell him that you [McCarthy] learned from his error and that you won’t make it again. We’ll need that greatly as we approach the finish line.
In addition to having the second-best defense in the nation, only behind Michigan, Ohio State boasts the best passing defense in the nation, allowing just 144 yards per contest. McCarthy’s A game will be necessary to defeat Ohio State’s improved defense, as the Wolverines will discover.
However, as Moore stated on Monday, Michigan is eager to take on the task. Regarding Ohio State’s defense, Moore remarked, “I mean, aside from our defense, I think it’s the best one.” “Obviously, I believe Purdue’s and Penn State were both in the running. But the numbers tell it like it is. And it’s captured on screen. They excel in every role. They are profound in every role. Therefore, we will need to mentally and physically prepare for it. Something we’re looking forward to.”