6A — Thursday, October 26, 2017
Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Running backs carry the load for Michigan

After watching No. 2 Penn 

State’s running back — and 
Heisman 
Trophy 
contender 

— Saquon Barkley run right 
through 
Michigan’s 
then-top-

ranked defense to the tune of 
108 yards and two touchdowns, 
the Wolverines could have been 
swayed by the idea that one 
tailback is better than three.

In Michigan’s ground game, 

junior Karan Higdon, sophomore 
Chris Evans and fifth-year senior 
Ty Isaac all have a role to play. 
And as far as the Wolverines are 
concerned, they wouldn’t have it 
any other way.

It 
may 
have 
taken 
two 

players, but Michigan’s backfield 
managed to match Barkley’s 
performance with 103 yards and 
a pair of touchdowns of their 
own Saturday. They were the 
Wolverines’ only scores on the 
night.

Ever since redshirt junior 

quarterback 
Wilton 
Speight’s 

injury, reliance on rushing has 
become a common theme for 
Michigan. While the passing 
game has taken a sizable hit, the 
running game has emerged to 
take its place. 

“As a whole, we have to adapt 

and do what we’re capable of 
doing at a high level,” said running 
backs coach Jay Harbaugh. “… I 
think that’s in our nature because 
we’re built to do a lot of different 
things. So whether it’s run-heavy 
or pass-heavy, it’s just going to be 
week-by-week. And as the season 
goes, it just unfolds based on 
how certain position groups are 
playing.”

Some units may not have 

been ready to make that leap, 
but the Wolverines’ trio of backs 
have taken it upon themselves 
to dictate the direction of the 
offense. Each of them has put 
forth 
standout 
performances, 

from Isaac against Cincinnati to 
Evans against Purdue to Higdon 
against Indiana.

Higdon had the best outing of 

the bunch, posting a 200-yard, 
three-touchdown 
day 
which 

included a 59-yard score that 
could — and should — have iced 
the game against the Hoosiers. 
The burst through the middle 
displayed the techniques that 
Michigan has attempted to instill 
in its rotational backs.

“When 
a 
run 
is 
blocked 

properly, there should be one 
guy or two guys left unblocked 
that could potentially make the 
play,” Harbaugh said. “… The 
two safeties were unblocked, and 
Karan had the speed to split them 
right down the middle. That’s the 
kind of thing that your running 
has to take care of those extra one 
or two guys.”

Though Higdon has claimed 

the starting spot, Evans and 
Isaac still factor heavily in the 
Wolverines’ scheme. The matter 
of splitting carries can be tricky, 
but Michigan has formulated a 
method that works for it.

Harbaugh 
designs 
certain 

plays specifically for each of the 
three based on their particular 
strengths. In many cases, Isaac 
rushes behind the offensive line 
with his strength, Evans rushes 
to the outside with his speed and 
Hidgon rushes through the gaps 
with his power.

Their 
running 
ability 
is 

certainly 
important, 
but 
to 

Harbaugh, so is their blocking 
ability. In order to gain more 
playing time, it is necessary to 
possess both to be a complete 
back.

“You’re 
looking 
for 
just 

reliability 
assignment-wise, 

for one,” he said. “Running the 
plays the way they’re supposed 
to be run. Reading the runs the 
proper way. And pass protection-
wise, 
understanding 
where 

the protection is going, who 
they’re responsible for and then 
executing the physical part of the 
block. It’s not necessarily like, 
‘Hey, this guy practiced the best, 
so he’s going to play the most’ … 
(It’s) ‘let’s figure out a way to put 
them in situations where they can 
succeed.’

“… As the season has gone on, 

certain guys have emerged as 
being more reliable or trustworthy 
on third down, as protection backs 
or as receiving backs.”

Since 
fifth-year 
senior 

quarterback John O’Korn took 
over under center, pass protection 
has also been a major point of 
emphasis. While a large degree of 
that responsibility belongs on the 
shoulders of the offensive line, the 
running backs have obligations 
there as well.

In the Wolverines’ two losses, 

the highly-ranked defenses of 
No. 16 Michigan State and Penn 
State made that task harder than 
Michigan could handle. O’Korn 
was sacked four and seven times, 
respectively, 
which 
showed 

Harbaugh that there is still a long 
way to go in that phase of the 
game.

“We’re 
really 
chasing 

perfection, 
where 
we 
can 

stack 
game-after-game 
where 

the quarterback isn’t getting 
touched,” he said. “… We gotta 

continue to grow in terms of 
being disciplined with our eyes 
and being 100 percent perfect 
with 
assignments. 
The 
guys 

understand 
that 
that’s 
what 

the standard is and (we’re) just 
grinding at that every single day.

“Will you ever get there? 

Maybe, maybe not. But if you can 
get really close to it, and keep the 
quarterback clean, you’re going to 
be pretty good as an offense.”

Harbaugh is the first to admit 

that there is still room to grow for 
his unit, but it has been trending 
upward. Now, Michigan needs it 
to carry the load.

And that’s an encouraging sign 

for the first-time running backs 
coach.

“They work hard, they take a 

lot of pride in what they do, they 
really, really want to win and they 
approach a pretty selfish position 
unselfishly, and that’s huge,” 
Harbaugh said. “It makes it fun 
to have everyone be together and 
work together, and it gives you a 
better chance for success.”

‘M’ depends on youth

The Michigan basketball team 

will have eight new faces on the 
court this season. Five of them are 
freshmen, two are transfers, and 
it’s no secret that many of them 
will be expected to contribute at a 
high level. 

Wednesday, though, Michigan 

coach John Beilein started the 
team’s media day by outlining the 
problems presented by a young 
team.

“Now, the young kids are 

always the same. It’s always 
fundamentals, 
fundamentals,” 

Beilein said. “I’m talking about 
things that aren’t changing. I 
change like the wind in basketball. 
Are you in a stance? Are you 
talking? Are you catching the ball 
with two hands, two feet? Are 
you embracing physicality? That’s 
never gonna change. And getting 
the new guys to do that has been a 
bit of a challenge so far.”

For a few of the most recent 

additions, 
acclimating 
to 
the 

program is nothing new.

Junior 

guard 
Charles 

Matthews 
and 

sophomore center 
Austin 
Davis 

each 
redshirted 

last 
season, 

giving them an 
opportunity 
to 

focus 
on 
self-

improvement. 
According 
to 

Beilein, they took 
advantage of it.

“Especially on the scout team, 

they’re not as accountable. We’re 
watching the other guys.” Beilein 
said. “So, there’s Charles and 
Austin (that) could make big 
improvements, where they showed 
great flashes of talent last year.”

For the incoming freshmen, it’s 

a different story. Without a chance 
to go through drills last season, 
they are being thrown into the 
proverbial fire and will be expected 
to make the necessary adjustments 

to play collegiate basketball.

It’s hard to say how noteworthy 

this inexperience may be, as 
college basketball is known for 
young teams that perform at a 
high level. But to ease any potential 
issues the Wolverines may see, 
some of the more experienced 
players have taken matters into 
their own hands.

“That’s a part of the excitement 

and energy,” said fifth-year senior 
forward 
Duncan 
Robinson. 

“We’ve got so many guys who 
haven’t been through it before. 
Day-to-day, we’re learning new 
things about ourselves and each 
other, just trying to make the most 
and learn from the mistakes and 
the successes. It puts pressure on 
the guys who have been through it 
before to pick up where guys might 
lack in experience.”

Added junior forward Moritz 

Wagner: “That’s the beautiful 
thing about this offense: that when 
you play it, everybody has the same 
amount of chance to finish. I think 
it’s more on (the older players) to 
give the other players a chance to 
learn it and to communicate it and 

to teach it a little 
more, because it 
can’t only be the 
coach to teach 
that offense. It’s 
gotta be all of us, 
and 
especially 

the 
guys 
that 

are a little more 
experienced.”

It’s a challenge 

Beilein 
hasn’t 

encountered 

recently, and if his opening 
statements on Wednesday are 
any indication, it’s one he isn’t 
taking lightly. For the Wolverines 
themselves, though, it may be more 
about patience than anything.

“No team starts off at their 

peak offensively,” Matthews said. 
“Even like the NBA, like the Cavs 
right now. Everybody has to get 
familiar with one another. As we 
continue to play with one another, 
each and every one of us is going to 
be comfortable with each other.”

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Wolverines and Scarlet Knights 
share similar offensive strategy 

Michigan fans may not like 

to hear this, but the Wolverines’ 
offense isn’t that much different 
than Rutgers’. 

Each team’s passing game is 

practically non-existent, so both 
have been relying on the ground 
game to carry the offense.

Michigan (2-2 Big Ten, 5-2 

overall) 
has 
had 
quarterback 

problems since Wilton Speight 
went down with an injury. Fifth-
year senior quarterback John 
O’Korn hasn’t been as reliable, 
and he threw for a total of just 224 
yards in his last two games with a 
54 percent completion rate.

His 
counterpart, 
Rutgers 

quarterback Giovanni Rescigno, 
has thrown for just 176 yards and 
completed 50 percent of his throws 
in his last two games against 
Illinois and Purdue.

Regardless of the comparisons, 

neither team’s passing games 
are producing. Those struggles 
have kept Michigan out of playoff 
contention and kept Rutgers from 
even competing in the Big Ten.

That’s why both sides lean on 

their tailbacks.

The Wolverines ran the ball on 

64 percent of their plays against 
Indiana and Penn State. Rutgers 
was even more one dimensional in 
its last two games, running the ball 
73 percent of the time.

While the level of talent might 

differ, the strategies have been the 
same: Run. Run. Pass if needed. 
And then run more.

From a defensive perspective, 

that 
means 
the 
Wolverines’ 

linebackers can expect a bigger 
role.

“I relish any time you can have 

linebackers 
and 
guys 
playing 

downhill and tackling and hitting 
the football,” said linebackers 
coach Chris Partridge. “It’s a 
challenge now. We need to make 
sure we stop the run, because their 
running game is going to open up 
the pass.

“… It’s a challenge to stop their 

running game for sure. Their 
running backs are pretty good 
now. They’re downhill. They’re 
physical. We need to make sure we 
tackle and match their violence and 
intensity.”

Partridge 
complimented 

Rutgers’ 
group 
of 
tailbacks 

Wednesday. Similar to Michigan 
— again — the Scarlet Knights have 
three players who contribute most 
at the position.

Gus Edwards leads Rutgers 

with 487 yards and five rushing 
touchdowns, and splitting downs 
behind him are Robert Martin at 
278 yards and two touchdowns and 
Raheem Blackshear at 216 yards 
and three touchdowns.

Rushing defense duties fall 

mostly on Michigan’s linebackers: 
sophomore Devin Bush, sophomore 
Khaleke Hudson and fifth-year 
senior Mike McCray. The pair of 
sophomores are two of Michigan’s 
fastest defensive players, and it 
will be up to them to stuff the box 
when Rutgers runs up the middle 
and race to the sidelines when the 
Scarlet Knights try to beat them on 
the edge.

They’ll also have to spy on 

Rescigno. 
While 
he’s 
been 

ineffective connecting with his 
receivers, the Michigan native 
poses a threat as a runner as well. 
Rescigno took over the starting job 
at Rutgers a few weeks ago after 
Kyle Bolin threw for just 56 yards 
against Ohio State.

“(Rescigno has) got some legs, 

and he can run a little bit,” Partridge 
said. “I know he’s a Michigan guy, 
so he’s going to be all fired up to 
come here and play here.”

If Rescigno decides to take 

off on the run, Bush and Hudson 
will have to chase him, but when 
he stays in the pocket, it’s on 
Michigan’s defensive line to keep 
him contained.

New Jersey native Rashan Gary 

— like the rest of teammates — has 
been watching film of Rutgers this 
week. The sophomore defensive 
end also said that nothing in 
particular stood out because of how 
much it mirrors the Wolverines’ 
offense.

“It’s an offense that we see 

almost every day in practice,” Gary 
said. “It’s kind of similar to it, not 
much that we see differently.”

Rutgers may be a different 

opponent, but its offense has a 
familiar feel. That should put 
Michigan at an advantage heading 
into this weekend.

Michigan testing new frontcourt

With junior Moritz Wagner 

locked in as the de facto starter 
at center, it’s “Bull” versus “Big 
Nasty” for the backup ‘5’ spot on 
the Michigan basketball team.

Well, at least according to 

assistant coach Saddi Washington.

The two nicknames designated 

by the second-year coach are for 
redshirt freshman Austin Davis 
and 
sophomore 

Jon 
Teske, 

respectively. 
This year, both 
of 
them 
will 

look to “embrace 
that 
nastiness” 

and 
increase 

their roles from 
last 
season, 
in 

which 
Teske 

played 
sparsely 

— often looking 
uncomfortable on the court — and 
Davis redshirted.

The loss of DJ Wilson to the 

NBA has created flexibility in the 
frontcourt that wasn’t needed 
much last year — the Wolverines 
used just two different starting 
lineups in 2016-17. While Wagner 
might be taking tip-offs now, he 
and fifth-year senior Duncan 
Robinson offer serious defensive 
question 
marks 
that 
make 

production from Davis and Teske 
a necessity. For Michigan coach 
John Beilein, picking a definitive 
winner just nine days before the 
Wolverines’ first exhibition match 
has been hard to do.

“I would say right now that Jon 

Teske has probably been better 
than (Davis) at this point,” Beilein 
said at the team’s media day on 
Wednesday. “(Davis is) a guy 
whose body has really changed. 
… When he gets to 212 degrees 
— and he’s boiling — he’s gonna 
be really good, but he’s gotta get 
there first.”

Added 
Davis: 
“(Beilein’s) 

expecting a lot from me this year. 
I know that there’s a big role to fill 
and minutes to play so I’m looking 
forward to going out and working 
hard to earn those minutes. … I’ve 
worked hard in the weight room 
being able to move quicker. I feel 
much more comfortable running.”

When Wagner, Teske or Davis 

do see time at center, it’s primarily 
up to Robinson and freshman 
Isaiah Livers to fill the stretch-
four void left by Wilson.

For the 6-foot-8 Robinson, 

who can space the floor with 
his offensive prowess, he has 
challenged himself to fulfill the 
defensive improvements expected 
of him in his final year.

“Adapting to (assistant coach 

Luke) Yaklich’s defensive system, 

just schematically 
how he likes to 
play. ... I feel like 
I’ve made strides 
in 
that 
area,” 

Robinson 
said. 

“He’s been great 
with helping me 
guard the ball, 
moving my legs, 
being in the right 
place at the right 
time.”

While Robinson is an elite 

outside shooting threat, his smaller 
frame makes it difficult for him to 
replicate the two-way production 
that warranted Wilson’s selection 
as the No. 17 pick in the draft. A 
by-committee approach will be 
needed to accomplish such a tall 
order. And that’s where Livers 
comes in.

Michigan’s 2017 Mr. Basketball 

may have the earliest opportunity 
to see playing time amongst the 
three 
highly-touted 
freshmen, 

a 
product 
of 
a 
thinned-out 

frontcourt. Livers is listed two 
inches shorter than Wilson, but 
displays athleticism resemblant of 
the now-Milwaukee Buck. Livers 
already possesses the offensive 
chops to succeed at the college 
level, but according to the young 
player himself, Beilein has almost 
exclusively stressed defense to the 
freshman.

“Everybody wants to score but 

I take it as ‘Hey, a Hall of Fame 
coach is asking me to take a role,’ 
” Livers said. “I’m gonna take that 
role to be a better player, I know he 
knows what he’s talking about.

“From watching that (Oregon) 

game last year, I really loved that 
team. You remember that free 
throw when (Wilson) shot it and 
got his own rebound? It just made 
me think ‘Dang, I already know 
what coach (Beilein)’s gonna tell 
me next year.’ ”

The 
frontcourt 
concerns 

compose only one of a litany of 
issues facing Michigan in the 
2017-18 season, but if this team is 
anything like Beilein’s previous 10, 
the kinks will be ironed out with 
time.

SAM MOUSIGIAN/Daily

Michigan running backs coach Jay Harbaugh has pushed his unit to perform.

BETELHEM ASHAME

Managing Sports Editor
MIKE PERSAK
Daily Sports Editor

It’s always 

fundamentals 
... That’s never 
gonna change

TED JANES

Daily Sports Writer

AMELIA CACCHIONE/Daily

Sophomore defensive end Rashan Gary and his unit will have an advantage.

KATELYN MULCAHY/Daily

Redshirt freshman Austin Davis is competing for the backup center spot.

ETHAN WOLFE
Daily Sports Editor

(Beilein’s) 

expecting a lot 
from me this 

year

