Is Kalel Mullings passing Donovan Edwards on the depth chart?
Shame on me for creating one of those post-game threads I loathe so much. You either die a hero or live long enough to become the villain, right?
I fell asleep early in the game last night (I know, terrible Michigan fan etiquette, though this season has been a snooze-fest), but I did notice something before I dozed off. Kalel got in the game before Donovan. He was also in the game on the early 4th and 1 conversion, on a pass play! Now, I understand the idea of faking the inside handoff on 4th and short to your big moose-back in order to draw the defense in only to flush him out into the flat for an easy conversion, but Kalel being involved in the passing game is new isn't it?
Also I took a look at the box score: Kalel got 8 carries to Donovan's 4 for more than double the yardage. Kalel only had 1 less carry than Blake. Donovan did end up with 3 more catches than Kalel, an important piece of the puzzle.
Anyway, I know its likely an overreaction to one game, but given the way these two players have been playing, I'm inclined to believe the coaches are losing faith in Donovan. We'll see if this trend continues over the next couple weeks, but Donovan needs to get his act together soon or he'll no longer be the Robin to Blake's Batman. More like Alfred Pennyworth.
In a more positive mindset, it is nice having 3 great running backs to give the ball to.
October 8th, 2023 at 11:18 AM ^
To my eyes, I think they used Mullings more as a Blake Corum proxy rather than a Donovan replacement.
Keep Blake's legs fresh in November and keep the Edwards plays in the barn.
October 8th, 2023 at 11:26 AM ^
Agree strongly with this take. The offense seems to have an “Edwards package” but with Mullings they just run the same plays as they would have run with Corum.
October 8th, 2023 at 1:05 PM ^
Yeah, that file is right next to the one with all the PepCat plays!
October 8th, 2023 at 1:40 PM ^
oooof forever too soooooon
October 8th, 2023 at 7:53 PM ^
Exactly. Right along with the “throw it deep to Nico” package.
October 8th, 2023 at 11:28 AM ^
My thoughts exactly. I think they're trying to play to Don's strength, keeping him the role he had yesterday/ last year. But I'd assume Edwards would be RB1 if Corum missed a game while he's bringing drinking water to nomads in the Sahara.
October 8th, 2023 at 11:29 AM ^
That makes sense.
October 8th, 2023 at 2:02 PM ^
Agree 100%, thread over.
October 8th, 2023 at 11:20 AM ^
In Hart we trust. I'll root for whoever lines up.
October 8th, 2023 at 4:11 PM ^
Who’s the next converted linebacker?
October 8th, 2023 at 11:24 AM ^
He's almost there. He almost got away. Give him another week and he go break a big one.
October 8th, 2023 at 11:25 AM ^
Short answer no, if anything he's taking more of the workload off of Coram. It appears that they are trying to keep Blake's carries below 15 a game to save him for the back half of the season. Edwards is being used more in the passing game.
October 8th, 2023 at 11:27 AM ^
In which quarters of the game did Mullings acquire the majority of his carries?
One thing I like about Mullings is his first name reminds me of a mostly likeable OSU troll who was always around in the early days of mgoblog and called himself “Son of Jorel.” Wonder what happened to that guy…
October 8th, 2023 at 11:42 AM ^
Well, we haven't really seen the 2-back sets with DE7 out there, motioning in or out. Maybe a half dozen of these sets? I agree with most everyone that Mullings is getting a series or two each half to spell Corum and of course they shut down Corum by mid Q3 every game.
October 8th, 2023 at 1:08 PM ^
Stop trying to make DE7 happen. That's not fetch.
October 8th, 2023 at 1:54 PM ^
Neither is saying fetch, unless your a 13 year old girl or are playing with a dog.
October 8th, 2023 at 2:54 PM ^
thatsthejoke.gif
October 8th, 2023 at 8:46 PM ^
Your?
October 8th, 2023 at 2:44 PM ^
Mullings got 4 of is 8 carries during the drive at the beginning of the 4th quarter. I think his distribution of carries was predominantly in last part of the game vs. Nebraska as well.
I know that Corum is out at this point of the game, so it makes sense to give Mullings a drive of his own, but I like it from a different perspective as well: the opposing defense is tired at this point, and Mullings is load to bring down. Am imagining Mullings in 4th quarter vs. OSU like Haskins was in 2021.
October 8th, 2023 at 6:50 PM ^
Triggered my memory. His last post on 247 was in May 2022.
October 8th, 2023 at 11:29 AM ^
I remember watching an interview where he was discussing how Hart was fine with him going off script and doing whatever he wants as long as it winds up being more productive than the play design.
I am not sure if it is true, but it certainly seems possible he is continually not following the play design and not breaking anything losing Harts trust in him.
October 8th, 2023 at 12:48 PM ^
Basically...if you can get more than 5 yards, you can bounce it elsewhere.
My rule for my QBs on four verts is that the coaches call the read side. If the QB throws away from the read side, he'd better be right.
October 8th, 2023 at 11:30 AM ^
I mean, I don't even know where to start with this post. Local football team uses offensive wrinkle and the element of surprise to convert a 4th down, more news at 11? Lazy box score glancing and cherry picking touch counts in a 52-10 game. Just do better than this, especially the "Donovan needs to get his act together" and speculation that the coaches are losing faith in a player based on a game you didn't even watch.
October 8th, 2023 at 11:32 AM ^
There could be a few reasons why to use Kalel more and even more than Donovan, as we saw last night. Kalel is another viable option in Sharrone Moore's playbook, especially in 3rd and short, converting a 4th down on near the goal line (that's three options). Another is Kalel has been practicing very well during the week and showing more progress. Then there's the 40,000 ft view which is to save the wear and tear on Blake and Donovan for the last three regular games.
I think all of this plays into the increased role of Kalel. It fits into Jim's meritocracy philosophy, meaning that Kalel has earned this bigger role in the Michigan offense.
In the meantime, we're still waiting for Donovan to break open a big run. Hopefully, it's the next game vs Indiana.
October 8th, 2023 at 11:35 AM ^
That is the problem, you can’t consistently feed a guy at a high rate hoping he will break one when he hasn’t through 6 games against weak competition.
October 8th, 2023 at 11:33 AM ^
its likely an overreaction to one game
October 8th, 2023 at 2:27 PM ^
RIP indeed. He was obviously Omar Little. But he was also great on Community and his show on VICE, Black Market.
October 8th, 2023 at 11:37 AM ^
Mullings' touches came in two distinct phases: 1) 3rd/4th & short in the first half and 2) garbage carries.
In re: 1, he's the better option than Edwards.
In re: 2, he's the better option than Edwards.
When we need explosive plays, Edwards will be getting those touches. When we need short gains, it'll be Corum/Mullings.
The beauty is that we have 3 backs able to do some of the same things and also have their own specialties. What a blessing!
October 8th, 2023 at 11:48 AM ^
Herein lies the answer you seek...
Mullings is the short yardage back now, to spare Blake that chore. The fact that he turns a 3rd&2 or 4th&1 into 9 yards is irrelevant. Edwards looked good running the ball last night. That A-gap power for 7 yards was a fantastic run and left him inches from a TD (yes, his butt hit dirt before the ball crossed the plane). He almost broke another on a sweet cutback into the open field, unfortunately a LB happened to be half a step too close and was able to bring him down. Those moments will break his way soon...
Don is RB2, and that ain't changing.
October 8th, 2023 at 11:40 AM ^
When DE gets going, he gives us a different dimension. He is getting better in two games now.
Coaches are not losing faith in him. They played him so much last game. They are trying to create plays for him.
Your last statement is what I would go with.
October 8th, 2023 at 11:40 AM ^
Edwards has more passing TDs than Mullings, lest we forget.
October 8th, 2023 at 11:42 AM ^
Mullins looks excellent this year.... Edwards is our ex-factor receiver/ running back thingy
October 8th, 2023 at 11:43 AM ^
That's an industry term.
I see you...
October 9th, 2023 at 1:33 PM ^
He's G4- go go gadget guy
October 8th, 2023 at 11:48 AM ^
They effectively play different positions. They’re not competing with one another
October 8th, 2023 at 11:51 AM ^
I think it's Corum as #1 and then Edwards/Mullings based on situations.
I think Donovan actually has his act together - he's playing team ball. Sooner or later, he will burst one. The announcers last night kept talking about how unselfish this team truly is - which I attribute back to the dysfunctional 2020 locker room and guys like Aidan, Hassan, Mikey S, Zinter, etc. refusing to ever let that happen again at UM.
Now the torch has been passed to JJ and then to next year's new starters.
As for our top-3 RBs, 21 carries for 136 yds. Plus 5 catches for 38.
I remember the days of Wangler throwing to AC and we had Edwards/Woolfolk/Ricks. Later under JH as QB we had Kattus at TE and Morris/White/Perryman as the running trio.
October 8th, 2023 at 11:52 AM ^
The Edwards situation is a mystery right now. All i can think of is they're saving him for something good.
October 8th, 2023 at 11:55 AM ^
Make sure to get 7-8 hours of sleep old guy. Nothing candy ass about good habits.
October 8th, 2023 at 11:53 AM ^
Using Mullings to keep our 1 and 2 injury free and fresh for the stretch is great coaching, not to mention Mullings is playing at a 1 level. Hart can coach.
October 8th, 2023 at 11:57 AM ^
My lawn is not your sidewalk
October 8th, 2023 at 12:11 PM ^
The whole concept of a depth chart is fairly pointless with this team, especially at RB. The coaches love to rotate guys in and when/who may be dictated by game state, down and distance, the play or series they want to run, any number of factors. It's not always linear.
To answer the question, having watched the whole game, I would say no.
October 8th, 2023 at 12:12 PM ^
I have two words for this post: Phone Sex
October 8th, 2023 at 12:47 PM ^
but will it fit?
October 8th, 2023 at 12:15 PM ^
I don't think he is. For all his struggles, Donovan still has more upside than Kalel in that he can take it to the house on any play. And Donovan has been really close to doing that this season. He is a sure-fire receiving threat and is too important in that regard to sit behind Kalel. I thought we'd see Donovan break a long TD yesterday but it didn't happen. I wouldn't bet against that happening in any given game though.