While Mike Hart Isn't Concerned About Run Game, Blake Corum 'Not Satisfied'

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The Michigan passing attack has been connecting on all cylinders through the first two weeks of the season. J.J. McCarthy is rolling and throwing some ropes. He has completed 87% of his passes and has thrown for 558 yards and five scores. 

Both East Carolina and UNLV have geared their defense up to stop the Michigan running attack. Of course, McCarthy has carved up both secondaries. But, it doesn't shock McCarthy that these teams are trying to stop the prolific Michigan run game. However, McCarthy says the team will be ready when a defense focuses on the Wolverines' passing attack. 

"No, I'm not surprised," said McCarthy. "And when they do, I guarantee you that it won't surprise us and we'll be ready to attack it every which way."

While the Michigan aerial attack has been shining, the Wolverines' run game hasn't quite been what it was in 2022. As a team, Michigan is averaging 4.7 yards per carry in 2023 and in comparison, the Wolverines averaged 5.5 yards per carry during the entire '22 campaign. 

Running backs coach Mike Hart, who was the interim head coach in the second half on Saturday, isn't all that concerned about it. He knows teams want to stop the Michigan run game this year. Hart believes the Michigan backs are just one more block away from breaking loose and getting some major yardage. He's confident Michigan will put it altogether.

"I think it's a growth, we're growing," said Hart. "We're getting better every week. You break off two of those long runs and no one is saying that, right? I just keep telling them that we're one block away, we're missed tackle away. When we turn on the film I think that's what we're going to see. Whether it's a receiver getting a block to the safety, whether it's a back cutoff on the D-line, whether it's a linebacker we didn't go all the way up to or it's a back taking the wrong cut. I think we're leaving a lot of yards out there on the field right now but I think we're in the correct play calls, I think the guys are blocking really hard, they're moving guys. We just have to put it all together and we will."

A big reason Hart thinks Michigan will turn around its run game is due to the fact it has an All-American running back on the team. Blake Corum has 153 yards (6.1 yards per carry) and four touchdowns through two games. Most players would take those stats, especially coming back from a major knee injury, but not Corum. The senior running back told the media he's not satisfied with his performance and he wants to come back next week harder than ever. 

“Definitely not satisfied with my performance today,” said Corum. “Definitely feel like I could have done more. It’s just it's part of the process of coming back. I feel like I'm I'm almost there. Almost there. Those runs that y'all saw me do last year, you guys saw me break last year. It's almost there. It's coming. But definitely not satisfied today. Great team win. Me personally, I'm always hard on myself. So definitely going back to the drawing board. You know, seeing where I can get better, and come back next week guns ablazing.”

Hart says Corum is 100% healthy and he told Corum to quit thinking so much. Coming off of that injury can play some mind tricks on athletes, and Hart thinks Corum is fine, but will continue to improve week by week. 

"I think he's 100% as far as injury-wise, that's not slowing him down," Hart said of Corum. "I just told him he's thinking too much, just run. You can't always look for the big play, just go and it will happen. He knows that and he was better this week than he was last week and he will be better next week."