Blake Corum, Mike Sainristil share why Michigan has developed into complete offense

All season, Michigan was known for a potent rushing attack. But that doesn’t mean the Wolverines can’t throw the ball — and they think the offense is more than just the running game.

The Wolverines have two top-10 rushers in the Big Ten in Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum. But Cade McNamara can get it done at quarterback, which is why Corum doesn’t think Michigan’s offense is one-dimensional.

“I feel like we’re a complete offense,” Corum said. “I feel like we’re physical, we’re elusive, we can run in the middle, run to the outside, we can throw deep balls, throw short, screens. We can do everything I feel like Coach Gattis comes up with great plans, great ways to get everyone the ball, and no one is selfish. Everyone wants each other to eat. We play for each other, and when you do that, great things happen.

“I feel like we’re just a great offense that can do everything.”

Mike Sainristil has been on the receiving end of McNamara’s passes this year, hauling in 20 receptions for 295 yards and two touchdowns. He’s seen McNamara’s growth first-hand, and he thinks it adds to an already strong Michigan offense.

“I feel like the physicality or the explosiveness comes after the physicality in terms of the O-line creating holes for guys like Blake, Hassan, Donovan, tight ends, as well, a part of the blocking, and then receivers are blocking downfield to help the explosive plays continue, and then that just leads into the pass game,” Sainristil said. “Physical, the physicality of the offensive line allows Cade to have time back there in the pocket. Clean pockets allows him to have 7-on-7 vision, deliver balls the way he wants to, and then that’s just how we like to do it, just physical.”

Josh Gattis: Hassan Haskins ‘is everything’ to Michigan offense

Hassan Haskins is the Big Ten’s No. 4 rusher with 99.08 yards per game and Blake Corum is No. 7 with 85.36. Michigan is the only Big Ten team to have two players in the top ten in rushing.

Ahead of Friday’s Orange Bowl showdown with Georgia, Gattis was asked about Haskins and if one play that stands out from this year. His response showed the impact the senior has had on Michigan this season.

“Hassan is everything to us,” Gattis said. “We absolutely love him. I don’t know if you can actually list out one specific play because he creates so many wild plays, whether it’s hurdling guys or it’s extra effort, short-yardage plays where he’s running over defenders in a hole. He’s a guy that when you talk about a physical back and how you want to build your backs, he’s the exact prototype of what you want to build your running back room around. He’s done a tremendous job carrying the load for us, and really he had some tough tasks to go along at the midpoint of the season when Blake was down and Donovan was down. We really put the load on his back and he carried us there for about three games, just being the solo back.”