ANN ARBOR – Michigan’s football team is at a critical juncture of its season.
The 18th-ranked Wolverines (7-2, 5-1) have three games remaining and are still in the Big Ten title and College Football Playoff hunt, but they must win out.
With standout running back Justice Haynes sidelined for the foreseeable future, the Wolverines must balance doing whatever it takes to win while still being cognizant of new No. 1 running back Jordan Marshall’s carries.
Marshall has rushed for over 100 yards in three straight games, and Michigan has limited options behind him.
“To me, I think one of the interesting storylines for these next two weeks is how much Michigan is going to rely on Jordan Marshall because Justice Haynes doesn’t sound like he’s going to be back anytime soon,” MLive’s Ryan Zuke said on the latest “Wolverine Confidential” podcast. ” You can’t have a slip up these next two games. But you also want to keep your workhorse, Jordan Marshall, as healthy as possible if he’s the only one available against Ohio State.”
Offensive coordinator Chip Lindsay has acknowledged the challenge, with running backs coach Tony Alford reportedly mapping out a workload management plan. The goal is to get backups Bryson Kuzdzal and Jasper Parker more involved in the game plan to lighten Marshall’s load.
“You can’t lean on 30, 25 (touches) a game for Marshall. It’s just not realistic,” MLive’s Aaron McMann said on the podcast. “I know you’d love to do it and I’m sure he’d be more than willing to handle it, but you don’t want to risk getting him injured because then you’ve got nothing.”
Also on the podcast, the crew previews Saturday’s matchup against Northwestern at Wrigley Field and recaps Michigan basketball’s overtime victory over Wake Forest.
Listen to the entire episode via the YouTube embed above, on Spotify or anywhere you find podcasts.
If Michigan football is going to keep its dreams alive for the College Football Playoff as an outside shot at a Big Ten championship, it will have to do so without its most explosive player on offense.
Justice Haynes, Michigan football’s junior running back, will not suit up for the Wolverines against Northwestern on Saturday, Nov. 14 at Wrigley Field. The star ball carrier missed the team’s most recent game against Purdue after suffering a right foot injury late in the contest against Michigan State.
He was wearing a boot on his right foot and riding a scooter on the sideline and has since had a procedure to help fix the injury. The expectation is he will miss next week’s contest at Maryland, too, with the hope he will be able to return for the regular season finale against Ohio State at the Big House. But it’s not a guarantee.
Haynes has shined when on the field during his first year in Ann Arbor, carrying the ball 121 times for 857 yards – which still ranks No. 3 in the Big Ten despite missing more than two-and-a-half games– and 10 touchdowns, which is No. 17 in the nation.
Haynes has run for at least 100 yards and a touchdown in each game he has started and finished.
The good news for U-M, Jordan Marshall has been more than serviceable in his absence. In the two games Marshall served as the full time tailback, he ran for a combined 316 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for 110 yards and a score against Michigan State while splitting time.
