For a team that averaged over 238 yards per game rushing the ball last season, the expectations for the Michigan football ground attack were enormous coming into 2023.
Michigan football has two of the best running backs in the country, four returning starters along the offensive line, and three elite transfer offensive linemen.
With all this hype, so far this season the Michigan run game has seemed like a bit of a dud.
Michigan has only managed to run for just over 300 total yards through their first two games. Keep in mind this is against inferior competition. A year ago they had their way running the ball against some of the best defenses in the country.
This has left many Michigan fans confused and a little worried to start the year. However, it’s not quite time to hit the panic button just yet, and here’s why.
1. Opponent Strategy
Both ECU and UNLV came into their matchups against the Wolverines with one goal: stop the run. Each team stacked the box, outnumbering Michigan football at the line of scrimmage and taking away the Wolverines’ inside run game.
After really evolving the run game schematically from 2021 to 2022, so far Michigan has decided to use a lot of the same concepts they leaned on last season.
Both the Pirates and the Rebels wanted to keep Michigan from running between the tackles by using run blitzes that countered Michigan’s favorite run concepts from a year ago.
This opened up the secondary and helped J.J. McCarthy throw the ball downfield. Teams are going to have to start respecting the Wolverines passing attack and that’s going to open up the run game.
Additionally, with teams trying to shut down Michigan’s inside run game, the Wolverines are going to start running the ball to the outside with stretch plays and reverses.
This isn’t something that Michigan specializes in and we’ve seen that manifest itself in the first few games. The good news is that U-M has the talent to be successful — both along the line and with the ball carriers. They just need more reps to start executing these runs better.
2. Michigan football Needs Time
The run game was likely destined to get off to a slow start. I mentioned last week that Corum and Edwards are coming off of injuries and had limited contact through fall camp.
While both are at 100% physically, it takes time mentally to come back as well. Once they both get through a few games and take some hits they’ll find their mojo again and start making some of the big plays we’re used to.
The deep list of talent Michigan football has on the offensive line might be a contributing factor as well. After losing some pieces from last year’s line, guys were rotating around with heavy competition in Fall camp.
This took away reps from potential starters as Michigan just tried to figure out who those five were. Offensive line is very much a chemistry position and guys need time to play together to start playing effectively. It seems Michigan has settled on a starting five at least for now, so expect this group to develop chemistry and really get going.
Lastly, Michigan still has some work to do with the permitter blocking specifically from the wide receiver position.
With the increased frequency of the passing game, these guys likely didn’t spend as much time blocking in camp and just need more reps throughout the season to start holding onto blocks and open up some of the bigger runs to the outside.
3. JJ Has Taken a Huge Step Forward
It’s not like Michigan football is struggling to score points or move the ball in any of these opening games and while the running game on the surface doesn’t look as sharp, the passing game has taken a massive step forward.
JJ McCarthy looks vastly improved from last season and is playing like one of the top QBs in the country.
The result is Michigan isn’t running the ball quite as stubbornly as they did at times last season simply because they know they can trust JJ.
Michigan is still running a lot, but the offense is much more balanced and focused on taking what the defense gives them. The result is the run game looks average when teams sell out to stop it.
While this Michigan team hasn’t looked like the same team they were last year, it’s because this offense has taken a step forward and become far more versatile.
This run game will get going and it is still going to be a focal point of Michigan’s identity. It’s just going to take a few games until we really start to see it.