Should Alex Orji be more involved in the run game? Michigan OC Kirk Campbell weighs in
The Michigan Wolverines are going into the third week of a quarterback change to Alex Orji, who has struggled to consistently make plays over his first few outings. His presence comes with the knowledge that U-M might be limited in the passing game, but it was also assumed much of his production would come via the ground game.
That has not really happened to this point. Orji has 33 carries for 113 yards and no touchdowns this season, averaging a career-low 3.5 yards per carry. In his two starts, he has 22 rushes for 55 yards (2.5 ypc).
So should Michigan explore getting him more creatively involved there? Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell is still wrestling with that.
“I think that’s a catch-22,” Campbell said on Wednesday. “If Alex is really involved in the run game, you’re taking the ball out of Kalel’s hands a lot. But some opportunities perceived maybe that might not be to the public that he is reading an extra defender and now we’re using them in conflict and Kalel’s getting the run. We are doing more of that than you’d probably think. But yeah, Alex is a huge part of it. Obviously USC, he picked up a bunch of third downs for us with his legs. Last week he did one in the pass game. I called a pass and he ran it. But yeah, he’s important. He’s got to be used in the run game. We tried to use it twice on third down. Neither one netted any success. So it’s not as simple as just saying yeah, you’re going to run them. We’ve got to go execute the call as well. He’s done a good job. He’s got to do a better job.”
Kalel Mullings figures to get the largest share of the touches in the run game for Michigan thanks to his early-season surge. He got the start and led the backfield with 24 carries for 111 yards and two touchdowns last week.
Campbell described him as a player who has done his part to drag the offense to some of its best moments this year.
“Kalel has been a superstar,” Campbell said. “As far as in the building, on the football field, ever since I’ve been here he’s been asked to play linebacker, to come back over and play offense, to do special teams, whatever. That’s the type of player you want in your building. Not only has he, quite frankly, he’s bailed us out a bunch of times. That’s outstanding. We talk about the players that make plays when there’s not one to be had. Those are the special ones. He’s done that numerous times, and that’s what makes a special player and a special running back.”
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The challenge this week is heading on the road for the first time this season, a setting that has served Michigan well in recent years. Washington is the task at hand on Saturday, and Campbell and the coaching staff have done everything they can to prep the team for the atmosphere.
“Simulating the game atmosphere as much as you can,” Campbell said. :Making sure you get ample reps of the plays that you’re going to call early in the game. But nothing The biggest thing is the noise that we have to practice. Practicing the cadences. Making sure that we’re all coming off the ball early. And having none of those pre-snap penalties. You can’t get behind the sticks on the road then the crowd gets loud and you’re putting yourself in a third and long situation. That’s tough.
“So making sure we’re staying ahead of the sticks and make the plays when they’re there. We’ve done a great job of that in the past. We need to continue to do that. Obviously it’s been a team effort. You think about Nebraska, we get the turnover right away, and we cash it into a touchdown. That’s complimentary football. We need to continue to do that.”
Saturday night’s game between Michigan and Washington kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT from Husky Stadium in Seattle.
