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The M Den on Campus 303 South State Street Ann Arbor The Victors Collection by The M Den 307 South State Street Ann Arbor The M Den on Main Street Ann Arbor The M Den 12 Oaks Mall Novi The M Den in and around the Stadium on game day The M Den in Crisler Center – 2 locations The M Den The Victors Collection by The M Den Briarwood Mall Ann Arbor The M Den The Victors Collection by The M Den 55 Columbia Street Detroit (Opening Fall 2019) YOUR FALL SATURDAYS! Kick Of f SportsTuesday Zach Charbonnet shows off potential in pass protection The question was about quarterbacks, so naturally, Jim Harbaugh wanted to talk about running backs. The Michigan coach had already heaped praise on freshman Zach Charbonnet following Michigan’s win Saturday night, and before that, anointed him the starter in the backfield. The action spoke louder than the words could anyway. None of that praise was ill-conceived — after an offseason of questions surrounding the position, Charbonnet gave Michigan some answers. He attacked the holes that opened up for 90 yards on eight carries, including a 41-yard gallop during which he blasted through the line, got into the open field and picked up a handful of extra yards once Middle Tennessee State’s defense caught up. To some extent, that’s expected. A top-50 recruit is supposed to solve problems on the depth chart, or at least make himself heard. But perhaps not this soon, and perhaps not this emphatically. And for all he showed running the ball, it was his pass protection that Harbaugh heaped praise on Monday. “Zach Charbonnet had nine pickups in protection, which, I don’t think we’ve had a back get nine pickups in a protection since we’ve been here, one single back,” Harbaugh said. “And to be 100 percent, nine out of nine, that’s like, wow. That’s really good.” Charbonnet’s rushing ability is important. But pass protection is arguably more integral to his playing time. It’s how Tru Wilson got on the field as a walk-on last year, and it’s how Charbonnet could cement his place as the starter this year. “He just was handling it, with not even a misstep,” Harbaugh said. “So, it’s rare. That’s rare. I’ve had pro guys that don’t understand the protections as well as the freshman back in this game.” The Wolverines’ offense keeps it simple under, Sean McKeon said. They’re playing up-tempo, looking to the sideline for play calls via signals. That does not mean it’s easy, especially for a freshman. “You gotta scan the whole field, basically, to figure out who’s blitzing,” said senior tight end Sean McKeon, explaining the job. “Gotta see the offensive line calls and points, so it’s definitely not easy as a freshman running back.” McKeon said that Charbonnet’s focus towards football reminds him of defensive lineman Ben Mason, which in Schembechler Hall is akin to saying that your local congressman’s speaking ability reminds you of Barack Obama. Mason’s voice is loud and direct. He is often portrayed as every stereotype of a football player, holding a deep appreciation for football and seemingly nothing else. It’s easy to understand why Harbaugh might like it if Charbonnet has the same disposition. “It’s just, it’s eye-catching with Zach Charbonnet cause it just looks like it comes easy to him,” Harbaugh said. “It’s like, difficult math equations that guys just get. And so, it catches your attention.” None of this is to say Charbonnet will suddenly become Michigan’s bell cow. Christian Turner and Wilson competed for the starting job throughout camp. Turner got the most carries of the three on Saturday. Harbaugh liked what he saw, highlighting a tightrope run on the boundary after the game, then again on Monday. Eight different players carried the ball for the Wolverines, and even accounting for the inevitabilities of a blowout, it’s safe to say that Harbaugh and Gattis are comfortable with their depth. They flashed an array of option looks, jet sweeps and a two- quarterback package that probably needed work. Even if Charbonnet is the starter, that title is largely ceremonial. But that reality doesn’t change what Charbonnet showed everyone on Saturday. “He’s locked in,” McKeon said. “He’s really impressive for a freshman.” ETHAN SEARS Managing Sports Editor Hayes creates questions at OT Eight seconds into the first game of his college career, Ryan Hayes faced his first test. Khalil Brooks, Middle Tennessee State’s star linebacker, was barreling into the backfield, straight toward Shea Patterson’s blindside. Looking off a head fake from defensive end Malik Manciel, the left tackle dropped back, stared down the charging Brooks and nearly discarded him to the turf, allowing Patterson to escape the pocket. Sixty minutes later, Hayes was Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh’s offensive player of the game. “He graded out right there with Ben Bredeson and Cesar (Ruiz) and Mike Onwenu, which I thought was really impressive,” Harbaugh said. “Ben was a little higher, but considering it was Ryan’s first start, first game, seeing him and the effort that he gave and his ability. He made some fine blocks, was good with his hands.” Hayes, a redshirt freshman converted from tight end, ascended the depth chart after a strong offseason in the weight room. “To see what he looked like from his first day to Saturday, it’s like night and day,” redshirt freshman right tackle Jalen Mayfield said Monday. Despite his strong offseason, Hayes came into Saturday as the clear backup, stuck behind fifth-year senior Jon Runyan at left tackle until an injury held Runyan out of the season-opener. Across a line anchored by three returning starters on the interior, Mayfield saw his first career start at right tackle through similar circumstances, breaking into the starting lineup after Andrew Steuber’s preseason ACL tear. Now, on the back of Hayes’ performance, a starting offensive line that seemed to be set once Steuber went down has been cast into doubt again. Monday afternoon, Harbaugh called Runyan “arguably our best lineman” but admitted the position is a meritocracy, also noting Hayes’ ability to slot in at right tackle. “Is there ability to compete at the other tackle spot? Sure, that opens up options if he’s come this far, he’s playing this well,” Harbaugh said. “Bodes well for the team.” According to Harbaugh, Mayfield didn’t grade out as high as Hayes — hence the possibility Hayes could move to the right side of the line after Runyan returns. Mayfield got beat on a stunt for a third-quarter sack and seven minutes later to the outside for a quarterback hurry. Still, he remained a steady presence on an offensive line that Harbaugh and Patterson repeatedly credited postgame. “I think we did really well, first game, we were very prepared,” Mayfield said. “Extremely excited to see what we can do in the future, too. This was our first ever game as two redshirt freshmen playing at tackle so I think that’s really interesting that we did really well.” But while it was the two redshirt freshmen who stood out considering the circumstances, Mayfield credited Michigan’s experience on the interior offensive line as the catalyst for his and Hayes’ performances Saturday night. On the first play of the game, as Hayes threw Brooks to the turf, Mayfield handled his assignment with ease. The nerves, though, permeated until he remembered the advice Bredeson gave him before the game: play confident and have fun. “The veteran group of guys in the middle just helped us a ton,” Mayfield said. “Cesar (Ruiz), Mike (Onwenu) and Ben (Bredeson). And I think sky’s the limit for us.” ALEXANDRIA POMPEI/Daily Freshman running back Zach Charbonnet was perfect in pass protection, going 9-for-9 against Middle Tennessee State. Nine out of nine, that’s like, wow. That’s really good. I’ve had pro guys that don’t understand the protections. THEO MACKIE Daily Sports Editor ALEC COHEN/Daily Redshirt freshman Ryan Hayes made his first career start on Saturday against MTSU, filling in for Jon Runyan Jr..