Michigan likes to run the ball, however who will carry it vs. Ohio State?

Michael Cohen

Faculty Soccer and Faculty Basketball Author

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Sixteen years have handed for the reason that final time each Michigan and Ohio State entered their season-ending conflict with unblemished data, and the scene Monday contained in the Towsley Household Museum at Schembechler Corridor captured the anticipation. There have been so many reporters and tv networks in attendance for head coach Jim Harbaugh’s weekly information convention {that a} moveable riser was put in for the overflow of cameras.

However anybody trying to find new details about the well being of tailback Donovan Edwards (undisclosed harm), tight finish Luke Schoonmaker (undisclosed harm) or tailback Blake Corum (knee), the Heisman Trophy candidate who dropped out of Saturday’s slender win over Illinois, was left unfulfilled. When requested if he might shed some mild on any of Michigan’s injured stars, Harbaugh had nothing to share.

"No," Harbaugh stated. "No replace."

No. 3 Michigan survives scare in opposition to Illinois

RJ Younger wonders if the Wolverines are a playoff-caliber workforce, and whether or not operating again Blake Corum will miss vital time.

The most important cloud of concern hovers over Corum, the unquestioned point of interest of this 12 months’s offense with 245 carries for 1,457 yards and 18 touchdowns — all of which rank within the prime seven nationally. On Saturday in opposition to Illinois, Corum absorbed a low, open-field sort out within the second quarter and instantly clutched his left knee in ache. The hit from defensive again Xavier Scott appeared to pressure a hyperextension of Corum’s knee, sending a crowd of 110,433 at Michigan Stadium into shock. After a number of minutes on the turf, Corum limped to the locker room beneath his personal energy. He made a short return within the third quarter earlier than eradicating himself for the rest of the afternoon with 18 carries for 108 yards and a rating.

In his postgame information convention, Harbaugh instructed reporters Corum was cleared to return by the medical workers as a result of the knee was deemed "structurally sound" throughout halftime evaluations. Corum’s standing for Saturday’s undefeated showdown in opposition to Ohio State (midday ET on FOX and the FOX Sports activities App) stays unclear, and there are related questions surrounding Edwards, who was sidelined for the win over Illinois. The well being of each gamers is a severe trigger for concern in such a run-heavy offense.

"It clearly has an affect," left sort out Ryan Hayes stated of taking part in with out Corum for the second half of Saturday’s sport. "He’s most likely top-of-the-line, if not the very best, gamers within the nation. Dropping Blake is large for us. However I believe we had loads of guys step up that we rallied round. We ended up discovering a strategy to win, which is nice for us."

Michigan’s 10-3 lead in opposition to the Illini evaporated within the third quarter after Corum left the sport for good. A pair of touchdowns from Illinois tailback Chase Brown nudged the guests forward, 17-10, and the Illini maintained that benefit into the fourth quarter. The Wolverines wanted a trio of subject targets from All-American kicker Jake Moody to protect their undefeated season, with the final of them passing by the uprights with 9 seconds remaining.

Whereas Michigan deserves credit score for cobbling collectively three scoring drives in 12 minutes with out its main weapon, questions stay about what the offense will appear like if Corum is unavailable or far lower than 100% wholesome in opposition to the Buckeyes. There are solely three Energy 5 groups with extra dashing makes an attempt than the Wolverines’ 487 carries this season: Ole Miss with 532, and Arkansas and Minnesota, with 511 every. And there are solely seven Energy 5 groups which have thrown fewer passes than Michigan’s 293 makes an attempt: Syracuse (292), Iowa (286), Auburn (285), Oregon State (283), Kansas (282), Wisconsin (267) and Minnesota (236).

"I don’t suppose we’re going to alter our identification this sport simply because Blake (won't be obtainable)," Hayes stated. "Clearly Blake is a big a part of our offense, large a part of our workforce. However I believe our identification stays the identical."

How successfully Harbaugh’s workforce can preserve that identification doubtless hinges on Edwards, a former five-star recruit tormented by harm woes the final two seasons. Edwards dropped out of Michigan’s win over Nebraska on Nov. 12 and didn’t see the sector in opposition to the Illini final week. He additionally missed video games in opposition to UConn and Maryland in September whereas solely taking part in small parts of extra wins over Hawaii and Iowa. His snap depend of 177 pales compared to Corum’s whole of 448.

When wholesome, Edwards has flashed the sort of explosiveness and flexibility few on the roster can match. His common of 6.7 yards per carry is tied for twelfth nationally amongst halfbacks with no less than 70 carries, and Edwards continues to be fifth on the workforce in receiving with 14 catches for 179 yards and two scores. However he’s by no means carried the ball greater than 16 occasions in a sport for Michigan. Corum is averaging 26.4 carries per sport in opposition to Large Ten opponents, and the Wolverines common 44.3 operating performs as a workforce every week.

"I believe everyone else is simply going to step up (if Corum can’t play)," Hayes stated. "I believe that we’re as much as the problem, and we’ll do this."

Donovan Edwards goes 67 yards to the home!

Donovan Edwards has handled well being points this season, however he is additionally had huge moments, reminiscent of this 67-yard TD in opposition to Penn State on Oct. 15.

The validity of that assertion will actually be examined if Corum and Edwards are each unable to play in opposition to Ohio State. True freshman CJ Stokes (53 carries, 268 yards, 1 TD) is the one different scholarship tailback with greater than 9 dashing makes an attempt this season, and operating backs coach Mike Hart most popular walk-on Isaiah Gash to former three-star recruit Tavierre Dunlap when Michigan mounted its comeback to defeat Illinois. 

Gash is the son of former All-Professional fullback and Tremendous Bowl champion Sam Gash, who later coached for the New York Jets, Detroit Lions and Inexperienced Bay Packers. A junior from Bayport Excessive Faculty within the Inexperienced Bay suburb of Suamico, Wisconsin, Gash has drawn reward from Harbaugh for his aggression as a reserve kick returner and his toughness as an novice boxer. He’s carried 19 occasions for 101 yards and two scores this season. 

The largest play of Gash’s profession was an 8-yard reception on fourth-and-3 throughout Saturday’s win over Illinois. His catch prolonged the drive that ended with Moody’s game-winning subject purpose. 

That’s the kind of manufacturing Michigan would possibly want from him this week.

"Be pleased about having the chance to play this sort of huge sport," Harbaugh stated of his message to the workforce this week. "It’s the place we’re at now. It’s only a actual honor. It’s an actual honor to be on this place to have the ability to take a look at your self bodily, mentally, emotionally. We all know it’s our hardest take a look at of the 12 months. And I believe we’re going to search out that we’re fabricated from the precise stuff."

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Michael Cohen covers faculty soccer and basketball for FOX Sports activities with an emphasis on the Large Ten. Observe him on Twitter at @Michael_Cohen13.

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