Michigan football team running backs adapt to supporting roles; Wolverines will honor Ron Kramer
Six running backs vied for time in the crowded backfield during summer camp. They didn’t know it at the time, but they were auditioning for a supporting role with the Michigan football team.
Perhaps you’ve read something about this, but Denard Robinson has been the team’s primary ball carrier, rushing for 455 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 8.0 yards per carry.
The rest of the Wolverines have combined to carry 45 times for 140 yards in the team’s first two games.
Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, left, hands off to running back Vincent Smith against UConn in the first game of the season. Smith scored on the run.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
That’s just fine with Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez, who isn’t necessarily looking for someone other than Robinson to serve as the team’s featured back.
“I’ve been really pleased with their play so far,” Rodriguez said. “Our biggest improvement in the running backs needs to be, not in the running, but in the other aspects of that, some of the blocking and route running.”
Starting Saturday against UMass (noon, Big Ten Network), he hopes to add more players to the rotation, which thus far, has included Vincent Smith and Michael Shaw.
Fitzgerald Toussaint, out with a sore ankle for the first two games, is listed as probable. Michael Cox, Stephen Hopkins and even Teric Jones, who switched from safety to running back in camp, could see action. Ron Kramer will be honored
Michigan players will wear No. 87 stickers on their winged helmets Saturday to honor Ron Kramer, who died last Saturday at age 75.
The Wolverines will also air a video tribute for the three-time all-Big Ten selection prior to the playing of the national anthem.
Pete Bigelow can be reached at (734) 623-2556 or e-mailed at petebigelow@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeterCBigelow.
Comments
Metalc0reJ
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 11:23 p.m.
You negative Nancies are annoying. You take every little "negative" thing about the program and treat it as a slippery slope to whatever you believe, despite the fact that your belief is devoid of rationality. These things happen. Recruits leave. Recruits can't cut it sometimes academically, or maybe they just don't see their role on the team. I don't know, there's a million reasons why recruits could leave. Sure it's slightly concerning, but it's nothing an 8-4 or 9-3 season with a good bowl win can't fix. As for football, I expect some of the backs Michigan has to make some plays this season. Everyone being geared up on Denard will give them abundant opportunities to do so. If a team ever has success stopping Denard on the ground, you can bet it will make them susceptible to the backs or some open passing lanes. It's very difficult to stop a QB like Denard since he's so deadly on the ground and he is accurate enough to make you pay with his arm. Go Blue, go.
amaizenblueballs
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 9:47 p.m.
3 And Out - I appreciate your Lloyd Carr / Ron Kramer story. The rest of your comments make it harder to thank you. Academics is going to be a competitive problem for Michigan. It also is for Notre Dame. We have to be that much better to keep the competitive edge to get the best student athletes. I will grant that our record the past few years requires us to take more fliers. Let's see if this resolves itself over time with success on the field. The average kid doesn't want to work that hard. School and football is brutal. The average kid doesn't hack it without football. I went to school with Harbaugh. It isn't the same now.
oli
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 8:23 p.m.
Also they are close to landing the #1 All purpose back in the country according to rivals. When we team him up with Denard our offense will be scary.
oli
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 8:20 p.m.
The way I see it these guys leaving is actually balancing out the recruiting classes. Before all these kids left we were only going to have 10-15 scholarships. Now we should be able to bring in close to 20 players for next year. This is actually better for the program long term to have a more balanced team. Most programs bring in at least 20 players every year. Rich Rod is obviously still learning that recruiting at UM is different then WV. At WV he would of had DeMar Dorsey, and who knows how many of these other kids would have been able to hack it there. People need to understand that when he got here he was put in a desperate situation and had to try to get anyone he could to come here. Over time these problems will resolve themselves. GO BLUE!
jameslucas
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 8 p.m.
Running backs are recruited by Fred Jackson; he has been the backs coach for 19 year at Michigan and has done a great job. Some are so blinded by hate they will twist the truth to fit there miserable little beliefs of world.
umgoblue47
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 7:32 p.m.
3out... this is a national crises... we must notify the president. maybe he will appoint a new zar to check into this as it never has happned before...of all the thousand's of college football teams in this country no player's have ever left there college for any reason...michigan's team is doing great and that just get's under your skin,so jump on the negitive bandwagon because that's all you got!... GO BLUE...
3 And Out
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 7:21 p.m.
u guys are missing the point: This is one of many players that RR has recruited that have not qualified....his bar is far too low on these kids... its a mess, not good to build a program and you know it. This is unprecedented and on RR.
umgoblue47
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 7:12 p.m.
yel.. it was mentioned on bleacher report that it was academic's... GO BLUE...
tzgoblue
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 7:09 p.m.
The player did not quit. If you read the article in the Detroit paper it indicates there is an issue with the NCAA Clearing House. Apparently he didn't qualify in the end. So all you RR haters that want to blame RR for running off another player - sorry your day is ruined
Skipit3
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 6:43 p.m.
"There will be no depth in 2 years" Predicting again? I thought UM would be 0-2 by now according to you?
Yelmonian
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 5:44 p.m.
UMGoBlue47, So all the articles I'm reading say no reason was given for the kid leaving, so how is it that you know it's academic problems. How is the kid having academic problems a month into school?
Yelmonian
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 5:40 p.m.
UMGoBlue47, Not meant as spin, just a real question. The gripe regarding Carr was that the players were no longer there. It would take a couple years for RR to get them in. And again, meant as a real question. If you lose 3-5 players out of a class of approximately 20... aren't you losing a 1/4 of the players regardless of reason (academics, homesick, not a good fit, whatever). Big time programs have bid time depth. How do you build depth with a loss of this many players?
3 And Out
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 5:11 p.m.
speaking of spin...how about: he was fat and lazy, couldnt handle Barwis and the demands of the program... its lloyd carrs fault...those who stay will be champions... he said he loved RR...its the freeps fault... it was academic reasons...he couldnt crack the 2 deep etc etc... those would be spin... excuses get this program no where fast...there will be no depth in 2 years...who ya gonna spin blame for that? will RR (if he is still here) be forced to take JUCO transfers then if they even qualify?
3 And Out
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 5:09 p.m.
yeah it happens to 6 of the recruits that made it to campus and also to the other 3 that never made it...and that is just academics...not guys leaving on their own.. no spin here just facts... if you live by the sword of shoddy recruiting you die by it too... you cant just recruit kids that cant make it academically... so yeah blame the messenger here if you want...but in your heart you know this is all on Rich Rodriguez. Nuff said.
umgoblue47
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 5:05 p.m.
davian roger's left because of academic reason's... is that the best you got! spin it any way you won't, it happens... GO BLUE...
Yelmonian
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 5:03 p.m.
Are there any over/unders for how many players will leave the team by the end of the year? http://michigan.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1127659
3 And Out
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 4:58 p.m.
Supporting roles for our backs because RR is unable to recruit a good one that we can build our offense around. BTW...another RR recruit left today...Davian Rogers.... so what is that now 6 or 7 that have left in the past month? I lost count...anyway that is what happens when a coach recruits lazily and just tosses out blind offers like that without a) assuring a players academic eligibility and b) assuring that he really is committed to play at Michigan. And on that note.... RR has stated "we cant just show up in winged helmets and expect to win games"...well hay RR...it works the same way with recruiting: The winged helmet may get you in the door but after that it is on you pal. RIP Ron Kramer...total legend and class act...he will be missed. I like the quote from Lloyd Carr when a freshman came up to him during practice and asked who the older guy was who came by to deliver the apples...and Lloyd said "look around, do you see anyone wearing 87?? Thats because it is HIS number". and that...is tradition.
Papabear151
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 3:47 p.m.
I believe that not having primary backs other than the QB is a huge mistake. The benefit of having a fast running QB is the added element of offense that defenses have to compensate for. By removing the rushing game other than DROB you minimize run threats and increase chances of QB injury. An injured RB sucks but you still have a passing game and other running backs. An injured QB means no backbone to the offense.
Yelmonian
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 3:45 p.m.
Hey... did another UM football player quit today?
Sean T.
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 3:28 p.m.
I believe that teams are gonna target him and with his thin frame he will take a beating. I hope he's tough enough to handle it but I have serious doubts. He already took himself out of the ND game after guy stuck him and landed on him afterwards.(On purpose) The RB is the third option in the offense right now and if any were ready to do the job they would've gotten the carries already. It's painfully obvious that RR is going to ride DR's legs to they fall off and then he'll make him crawl! Everyone enjoys the wins but not having any other option but a 6 yard hot route will catch up to us. I hope Denard eats his spinach and makes the best of it!
umgoblue47
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 3:02 p.m.
why don't you say something more positive, like i think dr can continue to handle is carries when league play start's... you are a michigan fan right? be more positive it will make your day... and it's as the (bowl) turns... GO BLUE...
michboy40
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 2:58 p.m.
Nobowl, It's not that he won't last the whole year, it's that you don't want him to last the whole year. lol What if he does last the whole year? What if he does this every week for 12 weeks? Where will that leave you and your pal 3 and out? I bet the thought of D Rob running rough shod (sp) over the big ten scares the living crap out of you. I would say more, but I am already treading on "comment removal due to getting ""off topic"/or personal attack". Again, lol
Forever27
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 2:53 p.m.
Will there be some sort of moment of silence or something for the UMass band director?
MikeB
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 2:47 p.m.
No, I agree with you about Ron Kramer. He was one of, if not the best, high school athletes in Michigan and continued to make his mark in college and the pros. Now, why do you say that about Denard? I think when he opens up the passing game that will relieve pressure on the running game and they will have to play the entire field. I believe that games are won by the team who scores the most points and it's 6 points for a touchdown be it a running back, a receiver or a quarterback. Now, anyone with a moniker like NoBowl4Blue sounds a tiny bit biased against Michigan (or they had a very strange family - if that is it potentially consider a name change. Just sayin........
NoBowl4Blue
Fri, Sep 17, 2010 : 2:30 p.m.
Ron Kramer was one of the great ones. If Rich Rod wants to make it through the Big 10 one of the backs are going to have to carry the load. Don't think Denard can continue as he has when league play starts. And that is how the Bowl turns.