LaDarius Henderson gives Michigan football its best O-line combination

It sounds like LaDarius Henderson will continue starting for Michigan football according to what Jim Harbaugh said on Monday. 

Over the last two weeks, Michigan football has started to find a rhythm running the football. There were a few sluggish moments during the first few weeks of the season.

But when the competition ramped up — with Rutgers and Nebraska — at least in terms of their run defenses, Michigan football proved it was up to the challenge.

Coming into their respective matchups, Rutgers was allowing 2.6 yards per rushing attempt. Nebraska was allowing just 1.8. However, the Wolverines went over 200 yards in both games. Michigan averaged 4.9 yards per attempt on Saturday and Blake Corum had three rushing scores in the two games.

The Wolverines have been going through a competition on the offensive line. But against Rutgers, LaDarius Henderson was inserted into the lineup due to the injury to Myles Hinton.

Henderson, like Hinton, was a Pac-12 transfer from Arizona State. Putting him in at left tackle allowed Karsen Barnhart to go back to the right side where he started last season.

And it seems like that five — Henderson, Trevor Keegan, Drake Nugent, Zak Zinter, and Karsen Barnhart is the best starting five.

Jim Harbaugh talked on Monday about wanting a “rally group” for the offensive line. He talked about Trente Jones deserving more time as he was really good as an extra tight end on Saturday against Nebraska.

Harbaugh also mentioned Hinton. Both players could get snaps as an extra tight end or just to give another player a rest. But in terms of the top five — it feels like Henderson and the rest are it.

Here’s what Harbaugh said on Monday:

"“Myles is working through something, and he’s showing to be a great player, a team player, an unselfish guy. But gosh, so is Trente Jones, Andrew Gentry, Jeff Persi. Just so many good guys in there. We want to see them out there. We do a thing with the defensive line, a rally group where maybe we haven’t really done anything on that on the O-line. But in spots perhaps, maybe a rally guy goes in. He’s fresh, and he’s good. Can we use that to our advantage? I think we really have to explore and look at that, especially with Trente. Myles would be the same.”"

If Myles is coming off the bench, it sounds like Henderson will remain as the starter and he should. Michigan’s offensive line has looked its best the past two weeks and if that combination — the one with Henderson at left tackle and Barnhart at right — is what works best, stick with it.

That appears to be what Jim Harbaugh is doing.