Offense notes: Michigan shows it's 'a complete team' in East Carolina win

Michigan Wolverines football ranked fifth in the nation in rushing yards per game last season (238.9). The Wolverines ran on nearly 62 percent of their offensive plays. With senior running back Blake Corum, a 2022 Heisman Trophy contender, back for one more season, the Wolverines are widely expected to be successful on the ground again in 2023.

Backed up to its own 2-yard line on its first possession of the season, Michigan went to Corum twice and junior running back Donovan Edwards on third down but didn’t gain any yardage and had to punt it away. That set the tone for the game, a 30-3 win over East Carolina Saturday at The Big House.

Not much came easy in the run game for Michigan, which ran 31 times for 122 yards, averaging 3.9 yards per carry, with the Pirates stacking the box, flowing downhill upon the snap and crashing gaps.

“That’s what we expected,” Corum said. “I expected them to drop a little more, especially after 9 [junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy] started throwing it over their head.”

Michigan countered ECU’s game plan by opening up the pass game, leaning on McCarthy, a third-team All-Big Ten selection a year ago. Players and coaches talked all offseason about the improvement McCarthy made from the end of last season, and it showed Saturday. McCarthy completed 26 of his 30 passes for 280 yards and 3 touchdowns, two of which came on third downs. At one point, McCarthy completed 15 passes in a row.

“They just went all offseason trying to stop that, so it was an opportunity for us as a pass game to capitalize,” McCarthy said of ECU’s strategy.

“Bro, we’re a complete team,” Corum added. “We’re a complete team. If we need to run the ball, we’ll run it. If we need to pass it, we’ll pass. There’s no, ‘ah, they can’t pass it, they can’t run,’ none of that. We’re a complete team.”

McCarthy has felt great leading into the season, he said, and started off the fall with a bang.

“I was actually talking to some of the boys in the locker room yesterday. I was like, ‘Man, I get this weird feeling because I feel so good.’ Last year, I was dealing with the shoulder injury, dealing with the quarterback battle and there was just a lot of resistance and a lot of stuff to push through. And this one just felt effortless, it felt uplifting every single snap. It felt like everything was going right, and it was a beautiful feeling.”

Roman Wilson was his go-to target. He threw the senior’s way 9 times, 6 of them resulting in completions. Wilson racked up 78 yards, the fourth-most he’s recorded in a game during his career, and he was the recipient on all 3 of McCarthy’s touchdown tosses. That was the first 3-touchdown game by a Michigan receiver since Nico Collins posted an identical number in a 39-14 win at Indiana in 2019.

“That man right there [Roman] is one of the most special players in the country,” McCarthy said. “I’ll say it right here, right now. There aren’t many DBs or corners or safeties — any of them — that can guard that guy, so I’m just blessed to have him on my team. 

“What he did today was just everything I saw this offseason — he’s gaining separation, he’s making the tough catches, he’s going up and getting it. It’s a tremendous honor to have all the receivers on my team, but especially No. 1.”

Wilson changed his jersey number from No. 14 to No. 1 ahead of this season. That digit is historic at Michigan, with several top-tier wideouts having worn it, including Anthony Carter, Greg McMurtry, Derrick Alexander, David Terrell and Braylon Edwards.

“I remember the day when [Michigan head] Coach [Jim] Harbaugh came to my room and asked me if I wanted to wear it,” Wilson said. “It is a historic number, and it’s a lot of pressure, but that’s what I want. I want a lot of pressure on me, I want pressure on my back. This number represents big things, and that’s my goal this season. Whether I wear 14 or I wear 87, that’s what I want.”

Graduate wide receiver Cornelius Johnson also had a big performance, with 5 catches for 71 yards. Sophomore tight end Colston Loveland (57 yards) and junior running back Donovan Edwards (33 yards) each had 4 grabs, as well.

Michigan quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell served as play-caller with offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore suspended one game due to an alleged NCAA violation. Harbaugh is also typically heavily involved with the offense, but he was also out with a suspension that will last two more contests.

“Coach Campbell did a phenomenal job calling plays today,” McCarthy said. “He’s helped me personally so much this offseason, and I can’t wait to see what that dude does in the future for us.”

Michigan gets Blake Corum back

Corum suffered a season-ending knee injury last November against Illinois. He tried to gut it out the following week at Ohio State but could only give a few snaps in the 45-23 triumph. It was a long road back, but he was effective Saturday despite ECU’s efforts. Corum ripped off 21- and 37-yard rushes and scored a 2-yard tuchdown in the second quarter.

“It felt great being back out there, being able to cut, make some long runs,” Corum explained. “For me, that was the first time, honestly, getting hit since the Ohio State game. But it felt great, man. It was kind of like a warm-up. This is what I’ve been working for. This is what I’ve been training for. It felt great being back out there with the guys. More to come. I’m just excited to go back to the drawing table, because I’m not satisfied with some of my runs, but it was a great team win.”

Michigan sets starters on the offensive line

Michigan may mix up its starting tackles next week in what Harbaugh calls the ‘Michigan Method,’ which would eventually lead to figuring out the permanent starting lineup. But after position battles that lasted all preseason, graduate Karsen Barnhart and senior Myles Hinton, a Stanford transfer, were the ones who came out on top, at left and right tackle, respectively. Graduate center Drake Nugent, another Stanford transfer, made his debut in a Michigan uniform.

The line didn’t allow any sacks, but Michigan did have 4 negative rushing plays. Again, ECU stressed taking the run away, but defensive coordinator and interim head coach Jesse Minter was encouraged by the offensive line’s performance.

“I thought there were times we got good movement,” Minter explained. “We might have been one guy away, especially when you’re talking about the first game and those five working together. I know Coach Moore will dial in with them this week and make some good corrections. We’ll be glad to have him back. I think they’ll just get better and better each week.”

Miscellaneous Michigan football offense notes

• Michigan hasn’t lost a home game with a full-capacity crowd since a 56-27 loss to Ohio State Nov. 30, 2019 — 1,372 days ago.

• The Maize and Blue are now 118-23-3 in season openers, including 7-2 under Harbaugh (Minter was officially credited with the win).

• McCarthy threw 30 passes for the fourth time in his career. The Wolverines are now 3-1 when he does so, with the lone loss coming in last year’s Fiesta Bowl against TCU (51-45). His 280 passing yards are the third-most he’s had in his career (and most in a home game), behind the outing against the Horned Frogs (343) and a 31-10 win at Indiana last October (304).

• The Wolverines ran the ball just 31 times, the fewest attempts they’ve had in a game since a 34-11 Orange Bowl loss to Georgia Dec. 31, 2021 (27). Last season, the Maize and Blue averaged 42.9 rushes per game, the 14th most in the country. It’s important to note that this year, the clock does not stop after first downs other than inside two minutes to go in each half, affecting the amount of plays in each game.

• Seven offensive players made their Michigan debut Saturday: Nugent, Hinton, freshman wide receivers Fredrick Moore, Karmello English and Semaj Morgan, senior tight end AJ Barner and graduate offensive lineman LaDarius Henderson.

• Wilson has now had two multi-touchdown games, with the other being a 2-score contest in a 21-17 win at Penn State Nov. 13, 2021.

• Loveland’s 4 receptions tie a career best (2022 Fiesta Bowl against TCU) and his 57 receiving yards mark a career high.