Michigan’s running game hasn’t been good enough through four games and will need to improve if the Wolverines are going to stay competitive in the big games. Whether it’s missed assignments, failing to hold blocks or missing holes, something has been off.
It’s been magnified when freshman Zach Charbonnet has been on the sidelines, which he has been for much of the last two games.
That needs to change Saturday. If Charbonnet is healthy enough to play — which position coach Jay Harbaugh confirmed he is this week — he needs to play, not just get a carry here and there. He looks healthy when he’s running, and while 33 carries against Army is too much, they need him out there. He’s by far U-M’s best back.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh, meanwhile, has challenged his group up front to be more physical to help the backs out. He was pleased with the way they responded in a 52-0 win over Rutgers, even though it was largely hit or miss.
“There was some really good, physical play on the offensive line. There were quite a few really good samples,” he said. “That's what we've been seeing in practice for a couple of months now … it was good to see that in the game.
“I thought [fifth-year senior left tackle] Jon Runyan played his best game. I thought he was back more to his capabilities. He was slowed the first couple of weeks, and he wasn't moving around as well. As athletic as he is, probably Thursday, you saw things that kind of looked more like Jon.
“On Saturday, it looked like he was close to 100 percent. I don't know if he's completely 100 percent, but he looked close to me. He had an outstanding game, our most outstanding lineman in the game.”
As it should have been against Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights haven’t been competitive this year, and they’ll be replaced Saturday by an Iowa team that will try to punch the Wolverines in the mouth early and doesn’t give up much against the run.
The Hawkeyes have allowed only 3.5 yards per carry this year (36th nationally), while U-M is only managing 130.5 yards per game on the ground (tied for 94th). Still, Harbaugh said he was good with the effort against the Scarlet Knights.
“I thought [redshirt freshman right tackle] Jalen Mayfield made strides [against Rutgers],” Harbaugh said. “Consistently good are [senior guards] Ben Bredeson and Mike Onwenu. They're working better in there together, that group of five that hasn't always been. Five guys practicing each week and five guys playing in the game each week is part of the equation.”
When they don’t, you get something like you saw in the first quarter of the game at Wisconsin — someone missing an assignment that leads to a big hit and a fumble. “New playbook” wasn’t an excuse on that one, offensive coordinator Josh Gattis said, given it was a play from last season they’d run well.
‘We showed them [film] — when we execute, this is how this play goes,” he said. “When we don’t, this is the result of it. For us, it’s a consistency deal. There hasn’t been a lot thrown at them they haven’t previously had experience with. There are some things still carried over from last year that were helpful and effective last year, running game schemes and that.
“That was a very similar type play they had success on last year, the same exact play. Ben [VanSumeren] is a tough kid and we love him, don’t fault him for any situation. He’s been getting those reps, been running the ball … probably hadn’t been in any as many live situations, but he’s got a number of counted reps as a runner carrying the football. It’s our job to help support him so he gets through the hole clean and nobody touches him. Collectively, everybody’s got to do their job, and part of my job is putting him in on plays he’s comfortable with.”
The mistakes have been uncharacteristic, Gattis said, given how they’ve performed in practice. It comes back to hard work, focus and performing under pressure, something many of the players on this year’s team have proven they can do.
They’ll need to be at their best Saturday to beat an Iowa team that’s typical of coach Kirk Ferentz — hard-nosed, tough and disciplined. A week later it’s off to Illinois before the tough part of the schedule kicks in, starting with a game at Penn State.
“A lot of us have been through this before,” Gattis said. “I told them the story how back in 2016, we [at Penn State] started the season 2-2, a little worse than now, lost 49-10 at Michigan and got embarrassed. The following week we played a 29-26 overtime game, then it clicked for the players and they went on to win the Big Ten championship.
“Sometimes adversity — though it’s something you never want to use to bond — brings guys together. Sometimes it forms a bond. When you go through pressure situations, it only makes you tighter.”
Michigan Redshirt Freshman QB Joe Milton Steps Up
Word had it redshirt freshman quarterback Joe Milton was at Schembechler Hall at 5:45 a.m. the Monday after the Wisconsin game, ready to prep for Rutgers. His extra effort has paid off — he looked the best he has in his young career in running for a touchdown and throwing for another last game.
“Joe was good. He's got to feel, coming out of the game, good about himself,” Harbaugh said. “We feel good about the way he played.
“He's had some consecutive good weeks of practice, had another good one today. I thought he played really well. The touchdown throw was really good. He and [freshman wideout] Giles Jackson made an adjustment during the play — that was not the design of the play to have Giles turn out. Some people were talking that they weren't doing what they were supposed to be doing, but I informed them of my policy of not getting upset about touchdowns.”
Jackson didn’t break on the route, the coach said. Milton just threw to the open area and Jackson adjusted.
“Joe made the adjustment and Giles adjusted his route to the throw, which was a plus by Joe, plus-plus by Giles. I thought that was really good,” Harbaugh noted.
One area in which Milton has improved — not trying to impale his receivers with every throw.
“He's worked on it, different ball flights, different appropriate throws,” Harbaugh said. “Not everything is a line-drive fastball. There's a lot of elevation. There's medium elevation, there's a shorter throwing motion for shorter throws to make a catchable ball for a runner. Joe has responded and really worked on it. It's not an easy thing to do.
"… He's working really hard at it and he's coming along really well. It's really important to him, which is a must. It has to be that way to really get better, better and better; realizing there's always something to work on and something to improve. He's approached that with a real great attitude in that way, as well. We love Joe and it's fun to watch him develop. Keep it rolling.”
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