Michigan RB Kalel Mullings: Consistency still needs to improve on offense
ANN ARBOR – The Michigan Wolverines let a win slip away against Washington two weeks ago due to its continued inconsistency on the offensive side of the ball. Even with a quarterback change to graduate Jack Tuttle, it is an area that needs to improve in the second half of the season.
Graduate running back Kalel Mullings agrees that sustaining drives would go a long way in getting the season back on track.
“The second half of the Washington game, we were able to move the ball for a little bit but we still need to find ways to continue to be consistent,” Mullings said on Tuesday night. “That’s one of our biggest problems, is just sustaining drives. We were able to do that for spurts but when push came to shove, there was still some stagnant time. So still attacking it, still trying to improve that in order to be the best we can be.”
How does Michigan find a way to improve on offense? It starts by winning the early downs far more often than they have, which would set up friendlier third-down situations.
“In my opinion, I feel like it’s winning second down — winning first and second down,” Mullings said. ” I feel like if we can get it to third-and-short, knowing Coach Moore will probably go for it on fourth if we don’t get it. So as long as we can just find ways to win first and second down and get to that third-and-short, then we’ll be able to just sustain drives, get that third-and-short, get the first down and keep it rolling.”
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Mullings should continue his role as a prominent part of a ground-and-pound attack, which is an identity Michigan will not waver from. However, balance through the air and doing more to support Tuttle and the wide receivers is critical for sustained success.
“A huge part of our identity is running the ball,” Mullings said. “But football is football, we got to be able to do everything. And as backs, we just look to do our jobs. And we can’t help what defense we’re playing against. We’re just trying to do the best we can. But finding more consistency through throwing the ball will definitely pay off in the throwing game, in the run game as well.
“So it’s great to always be able to run the ball and have that ball and have that, but the same time, it’s also nice to have a bit of both, and be able to open things up, take the roof off the defense every once in a while. They’re gonna have their safeties down, have their linebackers running up.”
Michigan and Illinois kick off on Saturday in Champaign at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS. The Wolverines are currently a 3-point favorite.
