Michigan Football: Wolverines Keeping Mileage Low on Running Backs

Through half of the regular season, Michigan football is sitting at 6-0. The Wolverines have beaten each opponent by at least 24 points, and have been able to rest their starters during the second halves of each game.

There have been some questions about the offensive line and run game, but as the season has progressed, those concerns have become smaller and smaller. The staff seems to finally have found their starting unit, with Henderson and Barnhart at the tackle positions rather than Barnhart and Hinton.

In 2022, the Michigan football running game was characterized by huge plays. A lot of the time, however, huge plays aren’t based on one player’s talent. They’re based on a number of factors, including luck. The opposing player taking a bad angle, your linemen getting to the next level, etc… While the backs aren’t getting those huge plays as often as they were last season, they’re consistently getting the yardage they need to get.

The Wolverines have been excellent in short-yardage situations on the ground, and Blake Corum is averaging 6 yards per carry. That has room to increase with big plays, but is a great number.

While there are concerns about Donovan Edwards, he seems to be finding his groove, and the emergence of Kalel Mullings has mitigated many of those concerns.

The most important factor of the running game as the season progresses? The wear and tear on the backs.

Michigan football is being smart with its running backs

In 2022, Blake Corum suffered a season-ending injury when he took a helmet to the knee against Illinois. The play on which he got injured was his 20th touch of the game, with 18 carries and 2 catches. In the first half.

The first half against Illinois wasn’t close until Corum got hurt. Michigan football was able to drive the ball with relative ease and was about to score again until Corum’s injury. He didn’t need to be on pace for 40+ touches for Michigan to win that game.

Through 10.5 games last season, Blake Corum had 245 carries. That’s over 20 per game. Considering that Corum played in only two games that were decided by one possession, that’s ridiculous and irresponsible. He was due to get hurt at that pace, and it happened.

Well, it seems the coaches have learned from their mistakes. Through six games, Blake Corum has 83 carries, and Donovan Edwards has 51. At this time last season, Blake Corum had 118 carries, including 84 against the first three Big Ten opponents. That’s a massive difference and one that should pay dividends as the season goes on.

Michigan football is being smart with its running backs. It knows that to win a championship, it has to be able to run the ball effectively. When it gets to the end of the season and Michigan football needs to be playing at its best, the running backs are going to be ready to go.

Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards need to be healthy at the end of the season. Last year, both were hurt, and it deeply cost the Wolverines. This year has to be different, and the coaches know that. Go Blue!