ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan football's roster turnover has been well-documented this offseason, as Jim Harbaugh brings back only five starters from a team that came inches away from a Big Ten East title.
The secondary is thin, the linebacking core is thin and even the offensive line is surrounded by question marks.
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Ironically, one of the positions where Michigan has struggled most this decade might be the deepest spot on the roster.
Starting running back De'Veon Smith has moved on to the NFL after four solid season in Ann Arbor. While he wasn't a superstar, Smith received more than double the carries of any other running back and led the team with 846 rushing yards.
Like most positions, the starter at is gone. The difference at running back is there's more than enough left behind.
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Ground struggles in 2016
A weak rushing attack was the downfall of Michigan's offense last season, disappearing for the biggest games against Iowa, Ohio State and Florida State. Even in a huge win over Wisconsin, Michigan's running game was completely underwhelming.
If the Wolverines had knocked off Iowa to improve to 10-0 on the season, they would have been ranked No. 2 in the country and possibly could have sneaked into the College Football Playoff with an 11-1 record. Instead, the team averaged a paltry 2.8 yards per carry and couldn't pick up a late first down to seal the game.
The struggles continued against Indiana, although the final numbers didn't look quite as crippling. A late 30-yard scramble from John O'Korn and an incredible 39-yard scamper from Smith boosted the yards per carry from 3.25 to 4.5 in an otherwise offensive struggle.
Against Ohio State, Smith picked up just 60 yards on 21 carries, and the team averaged 2.1 yards per run, forcing Wilton Speight to throw the ball 36 times, even though Michigan led for most of the game. The result was disastrous: Two interceptions, including a pick-six, and a fumble on the goal line doomed Michigan in its biggest game since 2006.
Even with a month to prepare, the running game couldn't end on a high note at the Orange Bowl, as Michigan averaged just 2.5 yards per carry against Florida State. The Wolverines couldn't even score a touchdown on a drive that started at the Seminoles' one-yard line.
Improvement is critical to 2017 team
The running game is important to any football team, but it's especially important in Jim Harbaugh's offense, and especially important in this particular season.
While Harbaugh has recruited an immensely talented crop of receivers, the youth and inexperience will lead the Wolverines on a roller coaster of ups and downs. One way to extend the high points is to take pressure off that unit by running the football.
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Speight has also proven one of his strengths is passing off of play action, and that was when Michigan's running game proved to be effective. What better way to break in a group of new receivers than easing them into the offense with easier catches off play action?
An effective running game would be the defense's best friend, as it tries to replace two corners, two safeties, two linebackers and four defensive lineman in the starting 11. Long drives mean long breaks for the defense, and that could make or break the season for Don Brown's young defense.
Meet the top running backs
Chris Evans
2016 stats: 614 yards on 88 carries (7.0 average) and four touchdowns
Of all the positives to come out of 2016, Evans was right near the top of the list. The four-star recruit was excellent as a true freshman, leading the running back core with seven yards per carry.
Evans is fast and elusive. He offers Michigan a home run threat out of the backfield that the offense has lacked for years. He won't break through tackles like Smith did, but he's much better at identifying the hole. Once Evans gets behind the defense, it's a touchdown.
All signs point to Evans being the starter Sept. 2 against Florida, especially after he proved his worth in the Orange Bowl, gaining 49 yards on just eight carries and briefly giving Michigan an unlikely lead.
Evans only received double-digit carries once last season, and he rewarded Harbaugh with 153 rushing yards. Michigan fans should be excited to watch Evans as the primary back in big games.
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Ty Isaac
2016 stats: 417 yards on 74 carries (5.6 average) and five touchdowns
His first season after transferring to Michigan, Ty Isaac wasn't much of a factor. He had problems holding onto the football and was banished to Harbaugh's doghouse after a goal-line fumble at Maryland.
He rebounded nicely in 2016, working his way into the regular rotation and becoming one of Harbaugh's most trusted options.
During a game in which Michigan was down 14 points against Colorado early in the season, Isaac made a huge play on a screen pass with the offense backed up against its own end zone. The Wolverines had taken a slim three-point lead, but faced a first and 19 from their own 11-yard line. Isaac caught a screen pass, broke a tackle and dodged his way for 21 yards. Michigan went on to score a touchdown and seal the game.
Over the next four games, Isaac received 41 carries and averaged over 6.2 yards per run. He spent the final third of the season blocking, mostly, but he was effective when his number was called.
Like Evans, Isaac is capable of making big plays. He's also a threat in the short passing game, so Harbaugh will find a way to integrate him into the offense.
Karan Higdon
2016 stats: 425 yards on 72 carries (5.9 average) and six touchdowns
Karan Higdon was the first player to officially commit to Harbaugh at the University of Michigan, and he made his first impact as a true sophomore.
Higdon wasn't expected to earn many carries last year, but he came out of nowhere to carry the ball 72 times. Higdon received most of his carries early in the Big Ten season, dominating Penn State, Rutgers and Illinois.
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Higdon is a mix of speed and power, but he has some of the big-play potential of Evans. He's Michigan's most versatile running back and should find himself playing a similar role in 2017.
Kareem Walker
2016 stats: Redshirt
With Smith gone, Michigan needs a new bruiser in the running back core, and Walker seems the most likely to fill that role.
Walker didn't play in 2016, despite being among the team's top commits in the 2016 recruiting class. Walker redshirted and figures to see the field for the first time early in the year.
During the spring game, Walker demonstrated his strong legs and raw power as a downhill runner. He's a prototypical bruising runner, with the ability to break tackles and convert in short-yardage situations.
Harbaugh's offense needs a more talented version of Smith to really take off, and Walker is the best option on the roster.
Prediction
Michigan will be better at running the ball this season because of Evans and his strong backups. But their effectiveness will rely heavily on the offensive line, which wasn't dominant last season.
If young linemen such as Cesar Ruiz, Ben Bredeson and Michael Onwenu can improve the run blocking alongside Mason Cole, Michigan fans will see the Harbaugh offense start to come around.
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