Joel Klatt talks 'vintage' Michigan win over Nebraska, what Bryce Underwood needs to work on

“There was a dominant run performance from Michigan. Totally dominant, vintage in a lot of ways," said Klatt. "And not many people will mention this, but they did have two backup guards starting for them and they still went out there and ran for nearly 300 yards and over eight per carry. And it's the explosiveness that I think is so demoralizing for opponents.

"It doesn't matter who's carrying the football. Really, you know, Underwood, he's explosive right up the middle. That was a clear break in the defensive structure.

“Underwood had a couple of really nice runs. Then you've got Justice Haynes who like has the elite home run ability. Like this guy in the open field is gone. Marshall, same thing. Like I think he's got those elements of home run ability.

"It reminded me more of what I used to see out of Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards. It's like when they got a crease, they could take it the distance and really create those explosives. When Justice Haynes gets a step, it's done.”

Klatt clarifies what Bryce Underwood needs to work on

While the run game was dominant, Michigan threw for just 105 yards through the air. Drops hurt the Wolverines, but Underwood is in his fourth-ever start of his young career. Fox's Joel Klatt credits Underwood for the stage not being too big for him, but he talked about how the true freshman needs to learn to develop some touch on the ball.

“I think Bryce, his best trait so far is that he is clearly, clearly not overwhelmed by the stage," Klatt said. "And for an 18-year-old true freshman, that's something. And not every true freshman can go out there and even just handle it. He clearly is not sped up. He is built for the moment. So that's first and foremost, he's built for the moment.

“And I felt like he handled it really well. Now what he's going to learn and develop, here's his next stage. Bryce Underwood is going to go from a really talented quarterback and talented thrower to a great manager and a talented passer.

"I think those two things are totally different, being a talented thrower and a talented passer. Because being a passer means that you understand the proper pace and touch to put on the football at all times.”

Klatt talked about the difference between throwing a baseball and a football. He said if you're playing shortstop or third base, you need to rear back and throw the ball to first. But Underwood is playing football, and when it comes to the short-to-intermediate routes, he needs to add some touch to his throws.

“He throws too many fastballs and he hasn't learned how to change his pace and change his touch in order to create completions because we're not throwing the football here. We're passing the football," Klatt said.

"And those are different things. All right, so way too much heat on the throws, in particular in the short and intermediate routes. Now, if you want to rear back and throw something outside of the numbers, in particular to the field or to the wide side, and you need to really let it loose, man, let it loose. Cut it, rip and show us that incredible talent and arm talent."

But once Underwood develops that part of his game, he is going to be one special QB, Klatt believes. Plus, Michigan's schedule is more than favorable the rest of the way out. It's likely that the Wolverines could lose one more game and still be in the hunt for the College Football Playoff.

“And once he starts to understand and develop that, he's going to be really elite because you can see all the other things. The ability to play and pass with touch is what's up next for him. Schedule lines up for them, by the way, to make, I think, a run at the playoff," Klatt said of Michigan.

Michigan enters its bye week and will return in two weeks for a home game against Wisconsin.

More From Michigan On SI:

• Defensive report card: Jaishawn Barham bolsters grades through 4 weeks
• Offensive report card: How Michigan's Bryce Underwood grades through 4 weeks
• How Michigan plans to fix the drop issues hindering its offense
• Two Michigan commits named as flip watch candidates by Rivals