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If there’s one thing Michigan seems to have heading into this weekend’s tilt against arch-rival Ohio State, it’s confidence.
Yes, the Wolverines have lost seven straight to the team to the south, but as the maize and blue have been coalescing on all fronts in recent weeks, unlike in previous years, Michigan is certainly not limping into The Game.
Speaking with WXYZ sports anchor Brad Galli, as he does every Monday as part of their ‘Inside the Huddle’ segment, Harbaugh shared that something about this team feels different than in previous iterations.
“I have no predictions, but I know today is going to be a great day of practice,” Harbaugh said. “You feel it around the team. The winning locker room in Indiana was different. There was a bounce in the step as you walk through the halls of Schembechler Hall. Looking forward to seeing that on the practice field as well.”
But one thing that’s existed every single year that Jim Harbaugh has been in Ann Arbor is the insistence that every single week is a championship game unto itself. No game down the line was given further precedence.
Last year, Michigan seemed to pay that price to a team that has something of a Pavlovian response to all things maize and blue.
So, Harbaugh & Co. made a lot of changes this offseason, including hiring Josh Gattis to coordinate a more diverse, modern offensive attack.
That said, how much has Harbaugh paid attention to what the Buckeyes are doing? Turns out, this year it isn’t just the week that The Game comes.
“On a weekly basis,” Harbaugh said. “Heckuva good football team in all areas. Defensively one of the best in the country, if not the best. Offensively, same can be said. They do a heckuva job in the kicking games as well.
“It’s a formidable opponent, and we’re very excited about it. Preparation has been underway for awhile now, and looking forward to practicing it this week and playing it on Saturday.”
Naturally, one of the big things that will need to happen is slowing down OSU’s offense — easier said than done.
It seems more high-flying this year than last, and in 2018, the Buckeyes scorched the usually-stout Wolverines defense, with 62 points and 567 yards total — nearly 200 more yards than Michigan had given up to that point.
That said, how confident is Harbaugh that defensive coordinator Don Brown will have a showing more like he did in 2016-17 against the Buckeyes than he did in 2018?
Again, there’s a lot of confidence.
“I know how great Don Brown is,” Harbaugh said. “I never coached with a better coach than Don Brown. He’s up and at it, too, as we all are. We’re all very excited for the ball game.”
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Watch the entire interview below:
Jim Harbaugh told me he keeps an eye on Ohio State on a weekly basis, and there's a different "bounce in the step" at Schembechler Hall this week. pic.twitter.com/mwoWtmy0Av
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) November 26, 2019
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