Michigan Unleashes a Stampede Of Running Backs On EMU

The distance between Ypsilanti, Michigan, home of the Eastern Michigan Eagles, and Ann Arbor, the site of the match between the Eagles and host Michigan Wolverines, is roughly six miles. That's not a whole lot further than the nearly four football fields' worth of rushing yardage that the Wolverines poured on the unsuspecting Eagles on Saturday.

According to Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez, the passing game wasn't very effective, so they decided to run.

How nonchalant, considering the decision to run gave Michigan their best game on the ground in six years. Rodriguez, master of the spread offense, tapped into his inner Bo Schembechlar for one day, and played to his strengths.

We learned a couple things on Saturday. Tate Forcier is human after all and Michigan's running back depth is impressive.

Oh, Eastern Michigan might be improving under Ron English, as well.

For an entire half, the school down the road kept up with the Wolverines, perhaps even besting the Wolverines. 

Michigan kicked a 37-yard field goal; Eastern Michigan kicked a 43-yarder. Michigan scored a 9-yard rushing touchdown; Eastern Michigan scored an 11-yard rushing touchdown.

The game was tied at 3-3 and 10-10 before Carlos Brown got angry. Led by brilliant blocking from the offensive line, Brown ripped off a 90-yard touchdown run, blazing past the chasing defenders.

It was the third longest run in Michigan history.

Forcier was having a rough go of it early on, barely completing half of his passes without a touchdown, before getting the wind knocked out of him. He was replaced by Denard Robinson.

Unfortunately, Robinson still can't pass. He threw four balls. Two were caught—by Eastern Michigan. Ouch.

Michigan would go into halftime with only a 24-17 lead.

In the second half, Michigan fully unleashed their stable of running backs. Brown, Brandon Minor, Michael Shaw, Michael Cox, and Vincent Smith steamrolled the EMU defense. Two dazzling runs by Robinson led to touchdowns, as well.

Oh, and there was the 13-yard reverse by Martavious Odoms that went for a touchdown.

As the game drew to a close, Michigan was using their sixth-string running back.

By the time the game was over, Michigan had 380 yards rushing, their best total since 2003. 

The final result was expected, but how Michigan got there was unexpected. 

Future opponents must now be scratching their heads, wondering how to stop the suddenly unstoppable Michigan offense. Shut down the pass? Here's six running backs we can throw at you.

Stuff the box? Have fun with Tate Forcier and Co.

As of now, there is a very real possibility of Michigan starting out 5-0, possibly 7-0.

Michigan's next four games are Indiana at home, at Michigan State, at Iowa and Delaware State at home. All four teams are either gimmes or teams with obvious flaws. If Michigan can capitalize, they should be looking at an eight-win season at worst.

The sky is the limit.

The games against Penn State and Ohio State, both at Michigan Stadium, now hold intrigue, when a month ago you could have written them off as sure losses.

How quickly things can change. 

The system is working, and this is but a glimpse of the Michigan football team to come.