Michigan Football: Running game will be dynamic in 2021

Michigan football fans are wary of a running back rotation in 2021 but here’s why the Wolverines ground game will be dynamic. 

Jim Harbaugh and Michigan football players Josh Ross, Aidan Hutchinson, and Hassan Haskins all met with the media last week at Big Ten Media Days and they all offered some interesting nuggets about the roster looking ahead to the 2021 season.

One of the most notable things Jim Harbaugh said was that five-star freshman Donovan Edwards was going to see time at running back from day one. This was expected but still significant.

"“He’s’ going to be in the mix. You’ll be seeing Donovan Edwards game one. Hassan and Blake Corum, they’re kind of like running backs one and one. As we sit here today, those three are up there high to where it would be a three-back type of rotation.”"

Last season, the Wolverines also had a talented running back room with Haskins, Blake Corum, Zach Charbonnet, and Chris Evans. However, the running game was disastrous. Haskins was the best of the bunch and averaged 6.1 yards per attempt, but the rotation was weird and no one seemed able to find a rhythm.

There were also injuries along the offensive line and for many reasons, things didn’t go as planned. Yet, that’s not going to happen again this season.

For one, Edwards is transformational talent and Harbaugh alluded to the added dimension he can bring to Michigan football in 2021:

"“Donovan has the ability to really hit the big ones,” Harbaugh said. “So do Blake and Hassan, but Donovan, he’s got a vision of it being extremely good.”"

Michigan can make an RB rotation work

Haskins should get most of the carries. He’s one of the team leaders and has also been one of its most consistent performers the past two years. Haskins runs with fire and almost always finds a way to move the ball forward.

Corum also had some bright spots last season and looks like an absolute beast, Like Edwards, he’s also a threat as a receiver too, which is something the Wolverines need to take advantage of with both Edwards and Corum this season.

While I also believe the offensive line will be much improved if the guys can stay healthy, another reason for optimism were the additions of Mike Hart and Matt Weiss.

Hart has always done a good job of churning out productive running backs and with Weiss bringing over some of Baltimore’s run concepts, Michigan should be more creative and do a better job of getting the ball to its best players.

I understand why fans are wary of the rotation and truth be told, the coaches need to be a better job of riding the hot hand this year.

But at the same time, guys like Corum and Edwards are too talented to not see the ball at least 5-10 times per game, and ultimately, my prediction is a more effective run game this season.