Jim Harbaugh: ‘Absolutely nothing wrong with Donovan Edwards, the [Michigan] running back room’

Michigan hasn’t been dominating teams on the ground like it did the last two years, and there are plenty of reasons for it. There are two new starters on the offensive line, for one, and they’re still trying to figure out the best combination. The running backs are getting used to it, and sometimes they’ve been impatient. 

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That appeared to be the case with junior Donovan Edwards against Rutgers, especially. He ran up the backs of his linemen a few times, and he has yet to meet lofty expectations this year, at least in terms of stats. He’s carried 33 times for only 109 yards (3.3 per carry) in 4 Michigan wins, though he has caught 11 passes for 100 yards, already half of last year’s total. 

“He’s good,” Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said when asked Monday to assess the junior’s play. “He’s good, like he’s always been. We play multiple backs. Statistics really don’t mean anything to us. When it comes to all the players, it’s what’s good for them individually, what’s good for the team. I see it from the individual and the big picture with the team. 

“But each individual guy, I treat that like I’m their dad, their agent. I want what’s best for their career. So, at the running back position, I just don’t believe in a guy carrying the ball 30 times a game. They may not have some of the stats some other backs have. Even Blake [Corum], he was running the ball really good … 97 yards, I took him out of the game, because I don’t think he needs another 100-yard game as much as he needs to be healthy.”

This is something that’s evolved since Harbaugh arrived at Michigan nine years ago. There have been games in which backs got 30-plus carries, and it can wear on you. We’ve seen it at every level, and Harbaugh has noticed it. 

“The life span of a back, his career — what it is on average, maybe 8, 9, 10 years total, including college?” the Michigan coach continued. “While they’re not getting paid, I don’t like taking tread off the tire. I lIke to keep the tread on the tire. 

“So, there are going to be games where one back might be featured more than another. That’s kind of how it’s been here. Look at last year, the year before, the year before that. All 8 years we’ve been here. We’ll probably have this conversation again next week if Dono carries more of the load. You might ask me what happened with Blake. Blake had a heck of a game [against Rutgers]. Dono had less carries but really affected the game catching the football. He’s an outstanding back because he can do all the things. He can run outside the tackles, inside the tackles, pass protect, catch the ball out of the backfield, get open.”

So, to answer the question some might have, Harbaugh said, “there’s absolutely nothing wrong with Donovan Edwards.” And while he might personally be frustrated, he’s more about winning that getting his. He’s made that clear many times over, proving it as an outstanding teammate. 

In addition, Harbaugh said, Michigan offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore is all about the win and not the stats, too. While others are running up scores at the end of the game, he just wants to get off the field with the ‘W.’

“Talk about not being into stats — our O.C. is not into how many points we score or the yardage,” Harbaugh added. “We got the ball with 6 minutes or so left in the game. If you don’t turn it over, you’re going to win the game … then to watch us keep the ball. That’s why it warmed the cockles of the heart that we can do that in that situation. Plus, we’ve got an O.C. and a play caller that’s about the team, making sure the team wins.”

Finally, Harbaugh said, he was thrilled to see senior Kalel Mullings run well in the fourth quarter. The Michigan offense got the ball back and didn’t give it up, running clock for the win. Mullings was a big reason why, ripping off several tough runs.

“I didn’t want Dono in there anymore, Blake Corum in there anymore. Kalel Mullings goes in and just the vision I have for one of those backs being a big back,” he said of the Michigan senior. “He was really going. I was reminded of [Stanford’s] Toby Gerhart watching Kalel on those carries, and I hope that continues. 

“So … there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the running back room.”

But we should find out more about them Saturday at Nebraska against the Cornhuskers’ No. 1-ranked rush defense. The Michigan offense still needs more run production, and the backs have another gear. We know, because we’ve seen them do it.