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