The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/873137
16 THE WOLVERINE OCTOBER 2017 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Chris Evans Is Still Michigan's Best All-Around Back By Brandon Brown Heading into the fall, it sounded like sophomore running back Chris Evans was ready to take a huge leap and be the guy for Michigan. However, he stumbled out of the gate against Florida and opened the door for fifth-year senior Ty Isaac. Through two games, Isaac led the run- ning back group with 31 carries for 247 yards to Evans' 27 carries for 93 yards. Still, I think Evans will be the best option at running back once the offensive line jells a bit more. Evans can make something out of noth- ing and that's just something we haven't seen from Isaac despite his back-to-back 100-yard outings to kick off 2017. Evans is also a more natural pass catcher out of the backfield. However it ends up shaking out, it's a good problem to have because both Ev- ans and Isaac, along with junior Karan Hig- don, all bring something a little different to the backfield and all three have been productive. Ty Isaac Will Lead Michigan in Carries — And Rushing By Chris Balas Fifth-year senior Ty Isaac lost 20 pounds this offseason to appease his coaches, and it has paid off for the now-listed 6-3, 228-pounder. He was the spark the Wolverines needed and the team MVP in the season-opening 33-17 win over Florida, notching 114 yards to earn the start against Cincinnati. He responded with another 133 in the win over the Bearcats to become the first U-M player to tally back-to-back 100-yard rushing games since Denard Robinson in 2012. Isaac is finally living up to the hype that started with him being a five-star prep out of Joliet, Ill., and he's earned the right to carry the load. Not only has Isaac's vision improved, he's gotten tougher. He notched 80 yards after contact against the Gators, and his pass block- ing has improved dramatically, accord- ing to his coaches. He has a shot at an All-Big Ten season, and he'll be the No. 1 back the remainder of the year. POINT ❙ COUNTERPOINT WHO WILL HAVE MORE CARRIES IN 2017, TY ISAAC OR CHRIS EVANS? Fifth-year senior Ty Isaac compiled a team- high 247 rushing yards in the Wolverines' first two games this season. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN Michigan brought back just one starter off of its 2016 defense that finished first nationally in total yards allowed per game, among other cat- egories, in fifth-year senior linebacker Mike McCray. There was plenty of other talent on the roster, but not much of it was proven between the white lines of a college field. However, head coach Jim Harbaugh has called the unit the fastest he's coached, and the numbers indicate the defense has been even better than last season's veteran-laden unit in the first two games of the season. Through the first pair of contests — including a 33-17 win over a Florida squad that entered the season ranked No. 17 nationally, although it was not at full strength due to suspensions — the Wolverines had allowed just 79 rushing yards and 392 total. That comes out to averages of 39.5 yards per game on the ground to rank third nationally and 196.0 total yards per game to rank ninth in the land, per CFBstats.com. A U-M defense hasn't started a season in such stingy fashion since 2006, when the Wolverines finished the year ranked No. 1 in rushing defense (43.4 yards al- lowed per game) and No. 10 in total defense (268.3 yards surrendered per game). After wins over Vanderbilt and Central Michigan, that unit had permit- ted just 58 yards on the ground and 375 total, and the suffocating act contin- ued all year en route to an 11-2 record and a top-10 finish in the national polls behind the MVP efforts of linebacker David Harris. Since 2007, Michigan has allowed 200 yards or less in either of the first two outings of a campaign just one time be- fore doing so in both opportunities this year. The lone other occurrence also happened under Harbaugh, against Oregon State in 2015 (59 rushing yards and 138 total). Although Michigan's points allowed technically checks in at tied for No. 31 nationally with 15.5 points per game, the defense has actually given up just 17 points (the other 14 came after a pair of pick-sixes in the season opener) while notching a trio of their own touchdowns. That clip of 8.5 points al- lowed per tilt would tie for eighth na- tionally. A strong start doesn't guarantee any- thing — the 2008 defense that limited Utah and Miami (Ohio) to 83 combined rushing yards in the first two contests finished the year 50th in rushing yards allowed per game (136.92) — but there is no debate the Michigan defense is off to its best start in 11 years. — Ryan Tice The Michigan Defense Off To Its Best Start In More Than A Decade Here's how this year's unit stacks up to that 2006 defense after two games: Category 2006 First Two Games 2006 Season 2017 First Two Games Avg. Rush Yds. 29.0 43.4 (1st) 39.5 (3rd) Avg. Pass Yds. 158.5 224.9 (89th) 156.0 (t34th) Avg. Total Yds. 187.5 268.3 (10th) 196.0 (9th) Avg. Points 12.0 15.9 (15th) 15.5 (t31st) Avg. Sacks 5.0 3.2 (4th) 5.0 (t3rd) Avg. TFL 9.5 7.2 (t13th) 9.0 (t10th) Turnovers Forced 5 26 (t37th) 5 (t9th) Defensive TDs 1 — 3 National rankings in parenthesis; no rankings available for defensive touchdowns