Michigan Football: Final takeaways from spring ball

Running game is a strength

One of the most positive reports coming out of spring practices has to do with the running backs and the running game overall.

Haskins isn’t the kind of guy that gets talked about a ton during the offseason, but he’s a gamer. He will have a role this season. But Corum and Donovan Edwards are the two with star potential.

Corum flashed last season but the running game was a disaster. The offensive line struggled, the play-calling didn’t work and the running back rotation was awful.

Michigan football can’t afford to have that happen again. No. matter who winds up being the starting quarterback, he’s going to need a running game. It would also be nice for the defense to spend a little more time on the sidelines after being on the field seemingly forever last year.

It’s called complementary football and Michigan wasn’t very good at it in 2020. The offensive line emerged with the most common starting five of (left to right) Ryan Hayes, Trevor Keegan, Andrew Vastardis, Zak Zinter, and Andrew Stueber.

It seems to me that Vastardis is the most likely to lose his position. He’s a sixth-year veteran but Raheem Anderson and Greg Crippen are both getting snaps at center too. Willie Allen is also a guy to watch at tackle, as well as Karsen Barnhart at both tackle and guard.

There’s a lot to be settled at running back and offensive line, but there is enough there for Michigan to be good on the ground in 2021.