Offense notes: Michigan football's run game has day for the record books

Michigan football made a statement in its 41-17 win over Penn State, running for 418 yards on 55 attempts in a showdown between the nation’s No. 5 and 10-ranked teams, respectively.

Michigan’s 418 yards rushing are its most in a game since 481 against Rutgers in a 78-0 win on the road in 2016. The total is the third-most rushing yards PSU has ever allowed and the most since 2000. Adjusting for sacks, the Wolverines ran for 423 yards on the day.

For reference, Penn State brought the nation’s fifth-ranked run defense into the game. It had allowed 399 rush yards *total* so far this year.

A good day at the office, indeed.

Sophomore running back Donovan Edwards ran for 173 yards and 2 touchdowns on 16 carries, while junior Blake Corum had 28 attempts for 166 yards and 2 scores of his own. Head coach Jim Harbaugh’s vision of two great backs and an elite offensive line was on full display.

“I think they really kind of propel each other,” Harbaugh said after the game. “The offensive line knows that if they give Blake space, Donovan space, that any kind of crack, they’re going to make the most of it. You can’t have two guys that are happier about the way their offensive line comes off the ball than Donovan Edwards and Blake Corum. They’re both … it’s the ultimate team sport, and they’re big fans of each other. I can tell you that.”

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• Postgame reactions to Michigan’s dominant win over Penn State

• Defense / ST notes: Minus two mistakes, Michigan puts together dominant performance in Penn State win

Corum’s excellence has become habitual, but Saturday was a star-making turn for Edwards. He has drawn some criticism for his lack of production as a pure running back this year.

Consider the critics silenced, especially after his 67-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

“It was a pin-and-pull play,” Edwards said. “The offensive guard took the corner and the tackle took the linebacker. The gap was so wide open — just hit it. I was one-on-one with the safety. What are you going to do at that point? You’re going to win or get tackled. It just made something spectacular.”

“They’re two extremely special players, two extremely special human beings,” sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy said. “I’m just so blessed to have them on my side.”

Michigan offensive line sets the tone

Oftentimes, Michigan’s box scores and offensive performances draw the question, “but can you beat Ohio State that way?” The Wolverines measure themselves against that question every day, but it does not mean it has to mirror what OSU does.

Michigan’s identity is built around winning along the line of scrimmage and dictating how a game goes on its own terms. An elite offensive line and incredible running backs make this possible, and everything else builds off of it. Saturday, they just had to beat Penn State and handle the team in front of them.

“From the jump. From the first drive. Just the way they were moving off the ball, and they weren’t showing us anything we hadn’t seen before,” sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy – who went 17-for-24 for 145 yards and an interception – said. “The way these guys were running the ball right away and the way these guys were blocking, we just knew it was going to be a dogfight to the end in the trenches. Our guys pulled out in front, for sure.”

The U-M defense gives opposing offenses a ton to think about on Saturdays, but it also helps the offense learn in practice leading up to the game. Graduate center Olu Oluwatimi cites that as a big reason for the team’s success on both sides of the ball.

“We practice this during the week, our run game going against our defense that gives us crazy looks,” Oluwatimi said. “So on game day, it’s much easier, when teams are not going to throw as much at you. And when you have Blake and ‘Dono,’ you know they’re going to make you right as an offensive line. And today, that happened.

“The focus all week was picking up blitzes, stunts, movement. They’re a team that’s a high-pressure team, and they like to move; they don’t just play base. They want to move. So we knew we had to get our feet in the ground quick, keep our eyes up and play with great technique. When you do things like that against a defense that wants to bring pressure and move, people are bound to be out of their gaps. And today, that’s what happened — we met them with technique, and when they moved, we picked it up.

“We know what we go against daily, and whoever lines up across from us on Saturday is going to catch that.”

Mike Hart’s presence gives run game a boost

We had a hunch running backs coach Mike Hart would return to the sideline after being spotted on the recruiting trail on Friday night. The run game’s performance was a tribute to Hart’s influence after losing him to a health scare last week at Indiana.

“It was phenomenal to have him back,” Edwards said. “He’s like family to the running back room. We have real feelings towards him, real empathy towards him. When he went down, it was a scary sight for all of us to see.

“We love Coach Hart tremendously. He’s just a great guy. He means so much not only to the running back room, but to the whole entire football team. Just to have him back today was really a blessing. If somebody [else] went down like he did, they might be out two or three weeks, or maybe a month. For him to come back to practice, that just shows what type of a person Coach Hart is.”

Harbaugh said: “It was great. Mike came back coaching Thursday and couldn’t wait to get back. Could have probably been out longer, but he’s not ready to get away from greatness yet. He came back as soon as he possibly could, and we all appreciate that. 

“He looked great and did a heck of a job. Already gave him the game ball, and probably give him another one this week. [418] yards rushing. That’s quite a statement. Mike loves the team; the team loves Mike. It’s great to have him back.”

Miscellaneous Michigan football offense notes

• U-M has scored points on the first drive of the game in six of seven contests this year (5 touchdowns, 1 field goal) and did it on Saturday for the third-consecutive week.

• The Wolverines never punted on Saturday afternoon.

• U-M possessed the ball for 41:56 compared to 18:04 for Penn State. The 23:52 differential in time of possession is the widest gap of any football game this season for the Wolverines.

• Michigan’s 418 yards rushing are its most in a game since 481 against Rutgers in a 78-0 win on the road in 2016. The total is the third-most rushing yards PSU has ever allowed and the most since 2000.

• Edwards’ 16 carries and 163 yards are career-highs in both categories. His 67-yard touchdown run was the longest of his U-M career and his fourth touchdown of the season, which matches his total from 2021. His previous career-long run was 58 yards against Northern Illinois last season.

• Corum’s 2 touchdowns brought his total to 13 on the season. He extended his streak to four games with 100-plus yards rushing, and his 61-yard touchdown run was his third career scoring run of 60 yards or more.

• The last time Michigan had 2 touchdowns of 50 yards or more was last season’s game against Northern Illinois. The last U-M contest with a pair of 60-plus yard touchdown runs was a 2017 win at home over Minnesota (Karan Higdon, 77 yards; Chris Evans, 60 yards).

• The 339 combined yards from Corum and Edwards made for U-M’s first 300-plus yard rushing effort of the season. Michigan is 44-1 all-time (33-1 at home) when two players run for 100 or more yards.

• McCarthy is leading the U-M offense to points on 67.27% of its drives (27 touchdowns, 10 field goals in 55 drives) so far this season.

• McCarthy’s 17-for-24 mark on Saturday was the sixth game this year where he completed over 70% of his passes.

• Senior wide receiver Ronnie Bell recorded a reception for his 22nd consecutive game. He finished the day with 5 catches for 39 yards.