How Bryce Underwood changes Michigan’s run game: ‘Drives defensive coordinators crazy’

ANN ARBOR – The Michigan Wolverines are coming off a laugher of a non-conference finale in a 63-3 blowout win over Central Michigan, which saw the run game explode for 390 yards on the ground.

The rushing attack was led by freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, who finally got a chance to show what he can do as a dual-threat weapon with 9 carries for 114 yards and two touchdowns. But it was another productive day at the office for duo Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall, who combined for 24 carries for 156 yards and 3 touchdowns between the two of them.

Haynes went for over 100 yards for the third week in a row with his 14 carries for 104 yards and a score. The Michigan backs wanted to focus on their patience this week, and they were able to get a little more consistency in the run game as a result.

 ”It was just about seeing what the defense gives you and making the most out of every run,” Haynes said on Monday. “There isn’t any secret to it. It takes a lot for a run to be good, starting with the play call always, then starting at the O-line. So it’s us just being us. But we definitely have an emphasis on just working on things every day in practice that we continue to keep trying to improve.”

Haynes is fifth in the country in rush yards (388) and 6th in touchdowns (5) so far this year. He has not paid much attention to the accolades, but his early production is what he had envisioned for himself coming to Ann Arbor.

 ”I would say I’m always confident in my God-given abilities,” Haynes said. “All glory to God always. I just put in the work each and every day and let the chips fall where they fall. But I do have high expectations for myself.”

Level of competition caveats aside, establishing Underwood as a legitimate part of the Michigan run game paid dividends and will only continue to support what its tailbacks do as the team peels back the layers of the offensive attack.

 ”That’s just another piece that he adds to the plate,” Haynes said of the first-year signal-caller. “He’s very dynamic. He’s a very good athlete, as you guys saw on Saturday. He can do those types of things, which is another threat that the defense has to defend, which drives defensive coordinators crazy.”

Underwood’s threat as a runner seemed to open up lanes that may not have been there previously for the Michigan run game, with both Haynes and Marshall getting going as the game went on. Putting that on film was important for the Wolverines.

 ”The defense had to look at another avenue to stop [us],” Haynes said. “They had to defend the pass, defend our runs with the running backs, and then also defend him. He could throw, sit back there and pass it, but then you also have to kind of spy him a little bit. Try to contain him, because when he is running all over you, you have to do something.”

Haynes and Underwood had a spotlight on them in the Oklahoma game after cameras caught a sideline disagreement between the two, and they had to be separated by teammates. The two quickly made up, and Haynes said it was a positive overall.

“It’s a good thing,” Haynes said Monday. “I look at everything in a positive light. We’re just two players that are very competitive and want to win a game and want to help the team win anyway we possibly can. We’re continuing to do that every week.”

The next challenge for Haynes and the Michigan offense comes Saturday in a road trip to Nebraska, set for a 3:30 p.m. ET kick on CBS. U-M opened the week as a 1.5-point favorite, according to BetMGM.