Michigan’s running backs continue to be a work in progress, but assistant coach Jay Harbaugh believes the best is yet to come.
Junior Karan Higdon has elevated his game and become the No. 1 back.
“He’s running well, running hard, decisively … violent at times,” Harbaugh said. “You see at the second-level runs, particularly a couple against Indiana and a power play left against Penn State where he lowered his shoulder against the safety at the second level … that’s who he is.
“The world’s gotten to see a little bit more as the season has gone on. He’s still looking to improve other parts of his game.”
A 25-yard touchdown run in overtime to end the Indiana game was more evidence that he’s growing in being able to create for himself, the coach continued.
“There was a missed assignment in terms of the blocking scheme and a fairly tough defense to run the play against, not a desirable look,” Harbaugh said. “He kept his wits about him and ended up bouncing into a big-time play.”
They’ll continue to take a by-committee approach to the position. Fifth-year senior Ty Isaac and sophomore Chris Evans are still in the mix, and Harbaugh said redshirt freshman Kareem Walker would likely play more Saturday.
“You’re looking for reliability assignment-wise … running the plays where they’re supposed to be run, reading the runs the proper way,” he said. “Pass protection wise, being reliable, understanding where the protection is going, who they’re responsible for, then executing the actual physical part of the block. It’s not necessarily, ‘This guy practiced best so he’ll play the most’ … guys that practiced well, now these guys can play. Let’s figure out how to get them in situations where they can succeed.
“We’ll go as the week goes and have plays specific for certain guys. As the season has gone on, certain guys are more reliable and trustworthy on third down as protection backs or receiving backs.”
NOTES
• Harbaugh on Walker, who has four rushes for 14 yards in two games played: “Like everybody else, the amount a guy plays is going to be determined by the quality of his reps in practice or reliability in practice. Moving forward, all things are kind of on the table for him and the other three guys that did get more carries.
“He’s coming along and running the ball well. Like Karan, he runs hard; there’s very little indecision. Even if necessarily the ball doesn't go where it should, it goes there fast and goes there pretty aggressively, which a lot of time works out in his favor. He’s coming along, doing a lot of nice things, and I expect him to contribute on Saturday.
“If it’s not there, he doesn’t see it clearly, it doesn’t slow him down. He’ll cram his way into something and find tough yards.”
• Fifth-year senior fullback Henry Poggi was flagged for a chop block when he shouldn’t have been Saturday, negating a big play in the running game.
“He did not get a negative on that,” Harbaugh said. “I’m not sure … I’ve never officiated a game, and it seems like a tough thing to do, but I did not give him a negative.”
• Harbaugh is confident his group can improve in pass protection, and they’ll need to.
“They can definitely get there,” he said. “We still have a ways to go because they’re chasing perfection, when we can stack game after game where the quarterback isn’t getting touched, or he doesn’t get touched but we still weren’t perfect assignment-wise. We’ve still got to grow in terms of being disciplined with our reads, 100 percent perfect on assignments. The guys understand that’s what the standard is.
“They’re just grinding at that every single day. Will we ever get there … maybe not. If we get close to that and keep the quarterback clean, we’re going to be pretty good as an offense.”
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