How should Michigan utilize Donovan Edwards next year?

This is such a nice problem to have.   When I watched Edwards on passing downs he'd read the right gap and would make the block but he looked uncomfortable doing it from a physical standpoint.   He is no Hasan Haskins when it comes to physical contact.   He's not great YAC either.   Having said that, it's something he will likely work on in the offseason.  Based on what we saw this year I fully expect to see him on the field at the same time Corum is for at least a few plays per game.  He will obviously be used as a part-time receiving option and hybrid WR/RB players definitely have a place in the NFL.   If we can field another strong O-line our run game could potentially be even more lethal than it was this year.  

In the passing game losing Ronnie Bell, Schoonmaker and Anthony definitely hurts.  On the upside we do have talented FR receivers who will likely contribute as Sophomores.   Loveland is already a solid TE with a very high ceiling.  Our other TE's seem more blocky than catchy but that's not necessarily a bad thing.   JJ has strong work ethic and likely won't be battling for the starting role which means he'll get more 1st string snaps in spring and fall camp and should develop some chemistry with his receivers.  I'll be very surprised if he has a Patterson 18-19 regression.  I expect the passing game to take a step forward next season.   

I already can't wait for the 2023 season.   

He needs to have the ball thrown to him deep at least twice a game. 

They really missed him catching the ball due to his hand injury.  They were starting to really use him as a Blake alternative and then he got hurt against Nebraska (though he may have also gotten a bit dinged against Rutgers) and had to miss some games and then had that huge cast.  Getting him back to 12-15 carries a game plus 4-5 targets in the passing game would be huge.  

Given Coram’s running style, my hope is that they split carries relatively evenly between Coram and Edwards (and a few others), in particular in games that we should win comfortably. So much of modern football is load management and keeping guys healthy for the critical games down the stretch. As others have said, I also think that we have a great opportunity to get both of these guys on the field with Edwards playing some thing of a slot/hybrid position.

as i've mentioned before, with two good hands, he may be our best WR. he should play a lot there.

He’s going to get some reps as a wide receiver. 
 

Michigan may also utilize formations with two running backs at times. Edwards will get 10+ touches per game. 
 

I could also see Edwards doing kick returns as an additional way to get the ball. I think his straight line speed would make him very dangerous as a returner, although that exposes him to higher risk of injury. 
 

Like he was used this year, but with more passing downs.

They could even come out in a pro set (which we did a few times in 2015/2016), then split Edwards out and keep Corum in the backfield in pass pro. 

Use him like Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffery are used. 

When I was a kid, college football teams lined up in the I formation and pro teams lined up in the pro formation. I would immediately install a bunch of pro formation plays into the playbook. Take advantage of each player’s strengths.

https://bestyouthfootballplays.com/type/pro-formation/

Correctly.

Since his brother left Donovan Edwards becomes Christian McCaffery.

By playing Corum sparingly as to save him for NFL. I pray we don't overuse him again.  I wanna see JJ chuck it a ton...if the perception is we turtle again and run over and over we will lose wrs to transfer.

get him touches

Corum 2000 yds

Edwards 1000 yds, 300 receiving

Shotgun 2 back set with corum and edwards or put Edwards in the slot. Lots of ways to get them both touches. 

there will be enough carry for them to share, and DE can lineup as slot some times.

Give the ball when Blake gets tired.  Switch

In our offense, there are plenty of carries to go around. In each of the last two years, we've had a 1300+ yard rusher and an additional 900+ yard rusher, and in both of those years the 900+ yard rusher missed multiple games.

If both Corum and Edwards stay healthy all season, I'd expect both to go over 1000 yards. If Edwards is healthy all year, I'd expect Corum to take a small step back in raw numbers, because there were a few games this year (Iowa, Indiana, PSU, MSU, Nebraska) where he got a ton of carries in games that weren't that competitive because he was the only RB we trusted.

And of course Edwards is extremely valuable in the passing game when he has two working hands. He should be getting 2-3 catches a game at a minimum, which is about what he was averaging in B1G play this year before hurting his hand.

Early and Often

Make him the HB and Corum the FB in a Wing-T formation. 

4-5 passing targets per game... But considering our #1 receiver didn't get that, it's a pipe dream.

There are plenty of examples: marshall faulk, Eric Metcalf, ladanian Tomlinson... Primarily running back who can split out or run screens and wheel routes at a moments notice out of the backfield without breaking tendencies so it's not a gimmick. 

You mean three-peat 😏

15-20 carries/game.

10-15 snaps at WR.

...which is exactly what he wanted coming out of HS.

Split carries like the PSU game.

1. Make it a three (3) back rotation. There is a need for someone else to take those 3-4 yard pound the ball carries with a big build that punishes the tacklers. This would spare some carries for both Edwards and Corum. A fresh healthy Corum can strike literally from anywhere on the field as can Edwards.

2. Wingback - slotback, whatever it is called. Screens, flares, any sort of isolation against LB. Collateral effect will be to help Roman Wilson and the other WRs since Edwards might draw attention from a safety, opening part if not all of the middle.

We need to reduce Blakes touches and share more with Donovan. Not saying Blake doesn’t get the larger share but reduce his chances for injury.  He needs to have a year when he isn’t hurt so he can get paid and Michigan can return to the Championship and CFP

There are many exciting things UM could do with Donovan. I expect that they will do almost none of them. 

The same way the 49ers use Deebo Samuel. I would try to incorporate something similar into our offensive architecture.

Use him with both hands