The Curious Case of Ty Isaac

Submitted by ST3 on

I've been fixated on our running game lately. While trying to find a website that lists the team's average yards per carry by season, I stumbled on this site:

http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan/rushing.html

It didn't have exactly what I was looking for, but a quick scan of the rushing leaders showed Ty Isaac at 5.9 ypc. He's somewhat down the list, but that's because it apparently includes everyone, including Joe O'Donnell who gained 50 yards on 1 carry in 1963. (I don't know, maybe after that stellar first carry, you give him the ball again?)

So I took the data and filtered it by number of carries. I chose 100 as a nice round number. That should limit the list to primary ball carriers or multi-year backups. If you argue that number is too low, there have only been 88 players to crack that. The top 10 running backs, since 1956, in terms of yards per carry (min 100 carries) are:

Player Career carries YPC
Jon Vaughn 226 6.3
Denard Robinson 723 6.2
Kerry Smith 154 6.2
Tyrone Wheatley 688 6.1
Tim Biakabutuka 448 6.1
Rob Lytle 554 6.0
Ty Isaac 104 5.9
Tony Boles 394 5.7
Allen Jefferson 175 5.7
Drake Johnson 116 5.7

Isaac's average is boosted a little by one long TD run he had in 2015, but he also averaged 5.9 YPC in his one season at USC. Here's hoping he figures out whatever it is that's holding him back (pass blocking, fumbles? other?) and he gets more productive playing time next season.

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mgowild

December 12th, 2016 at 4:47 PM ^

My one knock on Isaac is that he is not good at staying inbounds when running down the sideline... there's a couple times I remember him losing big chunks of yardage because he stepped out of bounds early without being forced out. Other than that he's looked good to me.

Joined: 08/10/2016

MGoPoints: 1631

Magnus

December 12th, 2016 at 4:49 PM ^

Yep. It's tougher to keep that balance when you're 6'3", but he could still improve by leaning inside when he runs into contact. I'm guessing they drill it, because we do in HS, but he's not great at it.

Joined: 07/17/2008

MGoPoints: 166230

bluesalt

December 12th, 2016 at 4:49 PM ^

But the most surprising thing to me about this list is Drake Johnson -- I'm shocked that he has so few carries in his career! I know he's been hurt a lot, but I'd have thought he'd at least have150-200.

Joined: 11/02/2011

MGoPoints: 8614

jmblue

December 12th, 2016 at 5:14 PM ^

His career has been bizarre to say the least.  Even when (apparently) healthy he seemed to inexplicably disappear from the rotation.  Here's a link to his stats, including his game log.

In 2014 he played in the opener (3 carries for 28 yards vs. App St) then didn't carry the ball again until garbage time against MSU, seven games later.  Only when Hoke was a lame duck did he finally enter the rotation and he delivered good games against IU, Maryland and OSU.

Last year he saw action as a situational backup, but didn't carry the ball at all against Utah or MSU, and had just one carry against OSU.  It wouldn't have mattered in the Game, but I wonder if he could have given our run game a spark in the other two losses.

And then this year . . . did we ever find out what his injury was?

 

 

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102918

jmblue

December 12th, 2016 at 4:53 PM ^

Two things I've noticed:

1) He doesn't seem to like running between the tackles - he tends to bounce plays outside.  

2) His pass protection has also been shaky.  He's definitely weaker in this area than Smith.

He's had the occasional long run (almost always on a toss sweep, naturally) but I don't know if you can count on him as an every-down back given #1 and #2.

 

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102918

SF Wolverine

December 12th, 2016 at 4:55 PM ^

Coaches lost faith in him last year b/c of ball security (legit); never seemed to get the #2 back traction this year.  Even with Smith gone, I think there will be even tougher competition next year for #1 and #2 carries.  Guess that's a good thing.

Joined: 10/04/2010

MGoPoints: 24916

rob f

December 12th, 2016 at 7:12 PM ^

the early 80s. I remember him in particular because he was from the GR area (Forest Hills Northern), not far from where I grew up. Anyway, a very talented and productive tailback, but Smith was always behind someone else on the depth charts, including Butch Woolfolk, Bob Perryman, and Gerald White (all of whom went on to play in the NFL), and Lawrence Ricks. I bet Jim Harbaugh knows who Kerry Smith is!

Joined: 11/11/2010

MGoPoints: 195226

alum96

December 12th, 2016 at 5:05 PM ^

Usually I'd come on here and say "but yeah look where Derrick Green got his yards against... you can't just go by average."

But all in all his YPC did very well vs the "manball" defenses vs the MAC types Green excelled against.  I assume they don't trust his blocking or ball security as much as others.

  • PSU 6.7 YPC (yes they were missing a lot of LBs that game)
  • Wisconsin 6.0 YPC
  • MSU 5.3 YPC (only 3 carries)
  • Iowa 7.0 YPC (only 1 carry so skewed)

did not get a carry vs OSU

 

http://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/546420/ty-isaac

 

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82559

AC1997

December 12th, 2016 at 5:17 PM ^

I guess I'll play the 'old guy' card and talk about the top name on that list - Jon Vaughn.  Everyone knows Wheatley, Denard, and Biakabatuka...but you rarely hear about Vaughn.  His story is somewhat interesting:

  • Redshirted in 1988 as a DB
  • Played hardly at all as a RS-Fr in 1989 at RB with just 10 carries
  • Exploded to start the season as a RS-So in 1990 with a 201 yard game against the Irish and a 288 yard game against UCLA.  
  • Lost a lot of carries the last four games of that season to true freshman Ricky Powers
  • Declared early for the NFL trying to ride his great season and avoiding shared backfield carries with Powers.
  • Played 4 years in the NFL as primarily a Kick returner and sometimes RB.  (Intersetingly he never returned kicks at Michigan.)  

I remember that he was one of the first players I remember being upset that he left early for the NFL since he seemed like he had so much potential yet untapped.  

Joined: 09/19/2008

MGoPoints: 13824

Erik_in_Dayton

December 12th, 2016 at 5:21 PM ^

The OL was ripping massive holes in defenses the year that he started with the two 200 yard games.  He was probably right to fear that he'd permanently lost his starting spot to Powers by the end of the season.  Powers was, I think, getting more of his own yards. 

Joined: 12/03/2008

MGoPoints: 59166

Evil Empire

December 13th, 2016 at 8:49 AM ^

Seattle Times article previewing the Huskies' bowl opponent, 12/25/1991:

 

"They call him House Cat because house cats just sit around the house and get really big," said cornerback Deon Johnson, no relation.

Johnson entered camp in August with a spare tire at 216 pounds, but now carries 198 and is ready for action.  Garfield has become a tiger.

Joined: 07/29/2008

MGoPoints: 9077

AC1997

December 12th, 2016 at 5:22 PM ^

I think Magnus hit it correctly with his comments about toughness, blocking, and little things.  I suspect that shows up in practice and was what got him in the doghouse last year.  You saw Higdon come out of nowhere and get carries probably because he was doing those little things.  

It is hard to fault the coaches too much with how well the season was overall, the fact that four different RB had successful seasons, and the fact that they also mixed in Peppers.  But I do think that they gave up a little too easily on Isaac and Higdon late in the season.  I'm always of the opinion that you ride the hot hand more and it feels like Isaac gets yanked even if he breaks off a big run.  

i also agree 100% that Michigan didn't use the screen game as much as they could and that Isaac is probably the best choice for that besides Khalid Hill.  

Joined: 09/19/2008

MGoPoints: 13824

The Fan in Fargo

December 12th, 2016 at 5:40 PM ^

Pass pro worth a damn or not, the kid gets yards. Some guys need to be hit once or twice to warm up and get themselves mentally into the game. If Isaac got pissed off, you'd see some coordinated sticks in the passing game protection. The kid has ability. Just needs to be poked. If Wheatley told Isaac that the team really needed him to be the guy with encouragement, I think Isaac could get it done. Isaac is like me in that he wants to know that he's needed and that he's the guy for the job. Not good at going above and beyond unless called upon but have the ability to do it. I like blowing smoke up my own ass too!

Joined: 09/04/2016

MGoPoints: 1877

ST3

December 12th, 2016 at 5:52 PM ^

He gained his 50 yards on a fake punt. Second on the list is Mike Gillette, a kicker. So Michigan's two greatest runners on a yards per carry basis are a punter and a kicker. 5th on the list is defensive back Charles Woodson. 6th is linebacker Erick Anderson. He probably got his yards on fake punts as well.

There are a lot of receivers in the top 20 - Woodson, Toomer, Terrell, Kolesar, Howard, Chesson, Bellamy, and McDooooooooooooooom.

Joined: 09/11/2010

MGoPoints: 52733

TESOE

December 13th, 2016 at 1:44 AM ^

Joe played his college football at the University of Michigan, where he began his career as a fullback, but moved to the offensive line in his sophomore year. Joe also punted for the Wolverines, and is remembered for a fake punt in a game against Southern Methodist University in 1963 in which he rambled 50 yards for a touchdown. The fake punt was not a called play. Joe had noticed the defensive end releasing early for the return on the previous punt and decided to run for it if he saw that again.

Joined: 09/21/2009

MGoPoints: 8536

TESOE

December 13th, 2016 at 2:04 AM ^

Found this link...

 

Live Edge Artisan Gallery was opened to showcase the amazing, air-dried woods and studio furniture of artisan, Scotty Myers. Myers may have the largest (air-dried for over 40 years) collection of highly figured woods in the country. This collection was harvested by former pro football player, Joseph O'Donnell...Joseph moved from his farm in Eden, New York back to Milan, Michigan in 1978. The wood collection that Scotty Myers uses was harvested in Upstate, New York and moved to Milan, Michigan in the late 70's. Although O'Donnell only made one piece-a rolling pin-he saw the value and beauty in every tree he harvested.
 
 

Joined: 09/21/2009

MGoPoints: 8536

Reader71

December 12th, 2016 at 5:40 PM ^

Trust. Coaches don't trust him for whatever reason. He had a bit of a problem with ball security last season. He's never been a very good or willing pass protector. Those are reasons we all have knowledge of. There are almost unlimited other ways to lose your coaches' trust, and once you do, getting it back is almost impossible.

Joined: 08/30/2009

MGoPoints: 22968

Sten Carlson

December 12th, 2016 at 6:23 PM ^

I've been so hopeful for Isaac since he transferred to Michigan, and I've been underwhelmed on almost every carryv he's had save his long TD run vs. UNLV and his TD run vs. Iowa. On almost every other run I've seen him make he sort of lopes along, and seems to lack all aggressiveness. Now, I get that he's faster than he looks, but he just seems kind of apathetic when he runs. The only time I've seen any fire from him was after his TD run vs. Iowa. I keep hoping that Harbaugh and Wheatley can find his hot button that will get Ty to rage up and run like he's angry and refuse to go down. He seems like he could be so great, but for whatever reason he just won't get over that hump.

Joined: 11/16/2009

MGoPoints: -56