RB Rotation - Thoughts on shortening bench?
I don't post often, but have been an active reader for years. While I do think Tru has some skills that are valuable, what do you all think about the rotation of backs? I've always felt that really good RB's need a little bit of a rhythm to get going. Saquon was a great example of this where he would have a few carries with nothing and then a 50 yd TD run.
I think it's a brutal position where you definitely need to rotate a couple of guys throughout the game, but any thoughts on whether Michigan should stick with their top 2 and run them?
January 3rd, 2019 at 3:00 PM ^
with mason as tailback, i would also like to see an occasional play action pass down the seem to a TE like the old days with tuman. he had loads of long pass receptions. 2nd and short or 3rd and really short would be ideal.
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:54 AM ^
Thoughts - I really hope Charbonet gets 80% of the carries next year (and that it's because he legitimately earns it and produces). I want Evans in on two-back sets in which he equal parts gets a carry, equal parts is a receiver in the flat so as to not be predictable, but I'm also intrigued by what we saw from Christian Turner on the explosive would-be TD if the field was one inch wider. Meanwhile there were times last year that Tru was the best back for the situation.
So, as much as I would love to see a featured back, your question suggests we didn't have one this year - a year when Higdon averaged 20 carries per game. That's 5 more than Saquon got last year.
I look at Wisconsin where Taylor went for over 2,000 yards, but I'm not sure I would love any back to have more than 30 carries in a game, let alone multiple games. Yet in spite of that, they had a 2nd RB gain 545 yards and a 3rd go for 425.
The problem with Wisconsin stats is Taylor ran for more yards than the team passed for. I would love a world in which Charbonet runs for 1,500 yards but Shea also passes for 3,000.
Bottom line, I want a clear #1 starter, but there are at least 3 other guys in the backfield, not even mentioning fullbacks, that I would like to see used with regularity. The team should be able to run 2 back sets of Charb/Mason, Charb/Evans, Charb/Turner, Turner/Mason, Tru/Evans. I want an offense that keeps the defense guessing.
January 3rd, 2019 at 12:22 PM ^
Each guy brings something different to the table. Right now we don’t have a 3 down back on the team, Higdon was a poors man 3 down back tbh, but that Zach Charbonnet has 3 down written all over him and it’s just a matter of when he’s ready to play
January 3rd, 2019 at 4:16 PM ^
Agreed. Talent is not hard to identify and can be immediately recognized. I remember the first time I saw a picture of Charbonnet and the first thing I thought was “Ohhhh, this one is different.” Then you turn on the film and it immediately jumps off the screen.
I think Charbonnet is going to be the best back we’ve had in a long long time. He’s big, he’s very agile, he runs behind his pads, he looks comfortable catching the ball. The only question I have is his long speed. It’s good now but I’m hoping after 9 months in the strength program he can take it to the next level. People can think Turner or Evans will be the guy next year but I’ll stick with Charbonnet being the bell cow for 3 years and then off to the NFL.
January 3rd, 2019 at 12:22 PM ^
How about giving Khaleke some carries at fullback?! I'd pay my seat license willingly to see that a few times!
January 3rd, 2019 at 12:29 PM ^
I'd like to see them rotate games, not plays.
Let a guy be the workhouse for a game, with the others in a just cameo role such as 3rd and long pass-pro. Then rotate it next game. There are enough "weak" opponents in a 12 game schedule that you can get away with that.
This business of rotating almost every play never gets anybody into a Mike-Hart-against-MSU rhythm.
January 3rd, 2019 at 2:00 PM ^
I still think you have to go two places - offensive line and consistent scheme. The backs we have had in recent years have been predominately inside runners that don't need a huge hole, but also don't break off huge gains regularly. Someone is sure to counter with Higdon had some good long runs this year which he did, but only when we were playing against a d-line our o-line outmatched severely. Against ND, OSU and FL we were even or worse and didn't create any holes to run through. Evans needs a hole and needs to hit it hard and fast. Tru will still get carries next year as well because he's a pretty good pass blocker. Our O-line needs to improve especially against run slants that teams have used against us for years. They are much improved for sure, but have a ways to go. The other concern I have is scheme. We go a series of Bo ball. Then a little spread. Then some west coast. Have to be able to get into a rhythm ala Wisc this year. Pick something and excel at it in my opinion
January 3rd, 2019 at 2:54 PM ^
The Ball is Not Heavy.
McKay
January 3rd, 2019 at 3:23 PM ^
If Tru Wilson is one our two best choices than the running back coach needs to be changed. Mike Hart would be a great choice.
January 3rd, 2019 at 4:13 PM ^
This logic doesn't make sense
Whats the problem if Tru ends up being our 2nd best RB? Just because he's a walk on means he cant improve and become one of our better RBs?
Tru averaged 5.9YPC and was our best blocking RB
Tru actually averaged the highest YPC on the team at RB out of Evans, Higdon, and Tru
January 3rd, 2019 at 5:17 PM ^
Could not agree more. Tru actually looked pretty decent in his playing time. He ran decisively, was a great blocker, and generally got decent yards after first contact. I am pretty excited to see what he can develop into. I generally think that stars translate fairly well to success, but there are times when a kid is just under scouted, a late developer, or where the scouts are just wrong.
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:56 PM ^
???? Is there any indication that Mike Hart even wants to coach at Michigan? This is such a tired take. I think Mike is a fine coach, but has he done a better job at Indiana than Jay Harbaugh has at Michigan? I’m not going to look it up, but I sincerely doubt it.
January 3rd, 2019 at 3:51 PM ^
Its too early to tell what our RB rotation will be
Right now you would think RB1 Turner RB2 Wilson
It could end up RB1 Charbonett RB2 Turner or any variation of Turner, Wilson, and Charbonnet
Tru Wilson could be our best RB next year. He made a gigantic leap this season and I think if Harbaugh wasn't so stubborn Tru should've been RB2 over Evans
One thing I know for sure is Chris Evans needs to be a pass catcher. He is awesome in space but below average as a RB
January 3rd, 2019 at 5:15 PM ^
While I don't disagree with you that Evans is a below average RB, I think calling him "awesome in space" is an exaggeration. Evens flashed a ton of space potential his freshman year. Since then, even in his limited opportunities, not so much. He has bulked up significantly, and appears to have lost some of the quick-twitch, which can happen. I think that the perception that he is "awesome in space" is more a result of the fact that our team doesn't have too many speedy / ninja types, so Evans is the most speedy-ninja on the team. On Clemson or some other team that recruits speed, I don't think that he would be considered remotely fast / ninja-ish.
Not trying to put down Evans - just my honest assessment.
January 3rd, 2019 at 5:30 PM ^
I truly believe Charbonnet better turn out to be as good or better than expected, and right away or else next season is gonna be real trouble.
The backs Turner, Wilson, Evans are not very talented or good.
January 3rd, 2019 at 5:41 PM ^
I wish they would've given the ball to Higdon more and less to Tru and Evans. I might be in the minority here. Higdon would sometimes run for 8 yards and go immediately to the bench for the next 3 or 4 plays. Well, unless it was 2 more plays, because Michigan punted. I saw this often and wondered why Higdon didn't get to stay in. I think Higdon felt it, as well, which he hinted at during his departure.
January 3rd, 2019 at 6:06 PM ^
I would imagine that is at least part of why there is a rumor floating around that Higdon was unhappy with the staff.
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:16 PM ^
Nothing against the op, I just don't get all the posts about running backs lately. Running back depth, running back coaches, running backs sitting out the bowl game. The coaches telling talented kids to run up the middle into loaded boxes over and over regardless of how completely ineffective it is is the elephant in the room here. Depth, rb coaches, and players sitting for the draft are pretty much inconsequential compared to the Borgesball tactics that get a great big whoping nothing from them is the first, and probably only, thing that needs to be discussed when it comes to running backs.
Why do we have any? When we're just going to load the box and run into it anyways, play, after play, after play. Just recruit walk on FBs and save the scholarships if our run game consists of qb draws and banging our heads against the wall for 4 quarters.
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:55 PM ^
Honestly I did think there was too much rotation this year... it’s not like Higdon ever looked winded, and Evans was, I’m sorry to say, a pure downgrade for between the tackles running. I do think RBs take some time to get into rhythm, get a feel for how the OL is doing that game. Probably should have been something like 80% Higdon in competitive parts of the game. Tru is a decent backup, and Evans should honestly be exclusively a space player or run/pass kind of option (I’d say 3rd down back, but he was probably the weakest blocker).
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:20 PM ^
RBs need to learn the system and blocking schemes on pass plays. A lot of very talented rbs never figure that part out and don’t make it. I say play whoever is most effective but you always have to have 3-4 rbs ready to go. It’s probably turner/Evans, and a sleeper/freshman.