Michigan Football: Realistic Expectations for Wolverines' RB Depth in 2015

Promise and potential can only go so far. Sooner or later, Michigan Wolverines running backs will either prove that they can advance their collective ground game or further demonstrate their need for more in the backfield.

The 2015 season will be a test in that regard, and the results will be solely based on the performances of Derrick Green, De’Veon Smith and Ty Isaac, along with those from running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley’s mixture of fullbacks and halfbacks.

Known for power-oriented offenses, head coach Jim Harbaugh seems intent on quickly developing a ground-and-pound technique rarely seen lately in Ann Arbor.

Everyone speaks of the changing landscape in college football, which is fine. Even teams like Michigan are being forced into adapting to new styles of play. But all of the streamlined “option this” and “spread that” and other modern twists won’t ever completely replace tried and true techniques, such as the ones successfully used for years by Harbaugh and his staff. 

It’s been said over and over, but it couldn’t be truer right now: Getting back to the basics is the only way that the Wolverines will get back on track, and starting with the running backs is a good place to begin. There may not be a Heisman candidate or Big Ten Player of the Year-esque athlete in the stable, but the Wolverines do have a quartet capable of making up for lost ground.

Take the Lead

Note: The above video was posted a year ago, but the same theory applies to Green this season. He should end up becoming the No. 1 back in Wheatley's system. 

A team doesn’t necessarily need a 1,000-yard rusher to be wildly successful; just look at the 1997 national co-champion Wolverines—they were led by Chris Howard’s 868 yards and seven touchdowns. The year prior, he rushed for 698 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Why does a player from nearly 20 years ago matter today? Because Harbaugh’s philosophy, paired with the methods of offensive coordinator Tim Drevno and Wheatley, then in turn combined with the current personnel, makes for an ideal environment in which to produce a Howard-esque lead running back this season.

Howard’s stats weren’t mind-blowing. They were respectable.

He was a reliable runner who worked well within his system.

Expecting something along similar lines this fall for Green and Smith would be sensible. If fully healthy, Green could approach 868 yards and seven touchdowns while serving as a steady No. 1 option. If not for a season-ending injury this past fall, a broken clavicle versus Rutgers, he may have gone on to eclipse those marks in 2014—he finished his six-game sophomore year with 488 yards and three touchdowns.

On the upside, Green could creep into Fitz Toussaint territory, which would be barely more than 1,000 yards. That would be the best-case scenario, one that would require a much more physically and mentally improved O-line. Missed blocks and penalties last season accounted for several blown late-down situations and red-zone opportunities. 

Intent on becoming a more focused hole-hitter, Smith, who has taken the time to analyze a considerable amount of 2014 film during the offseason, could scamper his way for roughly 700 yards and 10 touchdowns, just as Howard had done as a junior.

As a sophomore, Smith rushed for 536 yards and six touchdowns but was constantly hampered by poor decisions. During spring availability, he mentioned that going with his initial instincts may be the best approach moving forward.

The pair of bulldozing backs possesses tactical advantages: At roughly 5’11” and 230 pounds, they each have lower centers of gravity, they share the ability to absorb contact and move along and they’re each capable of gaining the tough yards, just like Howard, who was just about the same size in college.

As for Isaac, he’s an altogether different story.

Wheatley and Drevno should have fun while finding ways to implement the 6’3”, 240-pound redshirt sophomore into their schemes. Size is the first thing that catches your attention: Isaac is a big guy. Fullback/linebacker size. He could become the hammer of the running game, which perfectly suits his style.

Isaac likes to go straight ahead. Dancing isn’t his thing, but he’s nimble enough to make one or two moves prior to shooting through a gap or around a linebacker or safety in the open field. Ideally, he should be able to contribute 400 yards and a handful of touchdowns. Goal-line situations and short-yardage opportunities will probably be the USC transfer’s calling cards while at Michigan.

In 2013, the Wolverines averaged just a shade more than 125 rushing yards per game. In 2014, that average shot up to 162.8 per game, leading to 1,954 net yards, per MGoBlue, the team’s official site.

With that being said, there is a reason to believe that Michigan could cross the 2,000-yard mark on the legs of Green, Smith and Isaac. Harbaugh’s past with running backs at Stanford and in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers certainly provides optimism. The added motivation of having a program legend as the running backs coach probably does something, too.  

Their Helpers

In late 2014, Drake Johnson showed off exemplary speed and vision that led to 368 yards and four touchdowns in what seemed like a couple of weekends.

Unfortunately, another ACL injury, this time against Ohio State, all but removed him from the perceived top tier at Michigan. That’s not to say that the 6’0”, 207-pounder won’t factor into the rotation this fall, but it is to say that fans shouldn’t expect a lot from him. He was just given the green light to resume running in late March. 

During the spring, he served as more of a coach and motivator, even a scout from time to time, for Wheatley, who constantly praised Johnson’s demeanor and work ethic. That strong desire to compete should get him on the field this year, but it will most likely be in a limited capacity. It all depends on the strength of his knee.

Johnson is once again a fan-favorite underdog entering the summer.

Karan Higdon, a 3-star freshman, will probably redshirt this year. Unless the 5’10”, 190-pounder dazzles beyond compare in fall camp, expect to see him sitting out and learning a few things from the coaching staff and upperclassmen this fall.

Get Full

Given the recruitment of Kingston Davis, a 3-star 2016 commit, Michigan is quickly looking to reimplement the use of power backs and fullbacks into its offense. Prior to his firing, former coach Brady Hoke courted Isaac, who is essentially a fullback—things were going that way regardless of the coach.

Harbaugh, Drevno and Wheatley, like Hoke, enjoy smashmouth football. A suitable, full-time fullback is needed in order to properly execute that style, opening the window for Joe Kerridge, a fifth-year senior, and Sione Houma, another senior who's seen little playing time during his career. 

At 6’0” and 249 pounds, Kerridge will likely serve as a lane clearer for Smith, Green and, on occasion, Isaac and Johnson. He could also catch a pass or two, just as he did during the spring game. Bailout options are always nice to have. Following the spring game, junior quarterback Shane Morris said that Kerridge had the best hands of any ball-carrier on the team.

Nearly the same size as Kerridge, Houma, who is 6’0” and 243 pounds, will also be another blocking option. He may get a carry every now and then, but don’t expect him to be a primary ball-handler. Together, Houma and Kerridge could gain 200 yards and score four touchdowns as reserves for Isaac—offensively speaking, that would be the ceiling.

However, blocks and lanes opened aren’t always calculated and, given the proper coaching, they could become the unsung heroes this fall, which features a run-unfriendly schedule loaded with returning top-40 rush defenses from Utah, BYU, Michigan State and Ohio State.

Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and references were obtained firsthand by the writer via press conference, press release or other media availability. Recruiting information via 247Sports.