Fred Jackson Has a Plan for His Deep Backfield

RB Coach Fred Jackson says he has a good idea of how to effectively utilize the wealth of talent in his backfield.

"I think I already got that in the back of my mind how to do it," Jackson said Sunday during Michigan's media day. "I don't want to say right now, but I think I know right now. I've got a plan for it. And I know how to do it. You're going to see it and you're going to see it very effectively, because I think they all warrant (playing time) because they're all good enough."

Jackson had some particularly complimentary words for Senior RB Brandon Minor, saying that, if healthy, he could be a 1,000-yard rusher and All-Big Ten back.

"I've coached a lot of tough guys, but I'm going to say right now, (Minor's) probably the toughest back I've ever coached physically," Jackson said.

Jackson described his embarrassment of riches:

"In this group right here, if you miss Carlos Brown on the 1-yard line, he'll go 99 yards; if you miss Shaw, he'll get it around the 20," Jackson said, trying to explain how to gauge their speed. "If you miss Vince, he'll get up to the other team's 40.

"I like all my guys. If I have to start Vince Smith in a game, I'm very happy with it. If I have to start Shaw, I'm happy with it. Carlos, Brandon, Grady, it doesn't faze me, and they know it."