Though it only averaged a relatively pedestrian 3.1 yards per carry, the UMass running game showed major improvement against Michigan, and will look to build on that heading to Miami (Ohio).
Michael Cox, pictured here against Michigan, took major steps forward last week.
AMHERST — Normally an average of 3.1 yards per rushing attempt would be nothing to write home about — and certainly nothing to write in the newspaper about, but if we’ve learned anything about the University of Massachusetts football team this season, it’s that regular “normals” haven’t applied.
UMass averaged 0.1 yards per rush against UConn. That number improved to 2.2 against Indiana, then to 3.1 against Michigan.
It’s easy to chalk the improvement from week one to two up to the difference in defenses — UConn’s is somewhere between above average and very good depending on who you ask, while Indiana’s just gave up 41 points to Ball State last week.
Michigan is most definitely a step up from Indiana, but UMass’ run game and especially running back Michael Cox, who led the way with 18 carries for 76 yards, continued to improve last Saturday.
Coach Charley Molnar said there were a number of factors that contributed to the improvement, the most important of which was the return of tackle Anthony Dima, who started all 11 games in 2011, and helped a young, struggling offensive line get a little stability.
“No. 1, Having Anthony Dima back made a difference,” Molnar said. “We had a slightly more veteran group.”
In the first two games, the running game was severely hampered by a collection of negative plays, mostly resulting from Cox or others trying to stretch the ball too far outside.
With a back like Cox, who said himself Tuesday that his best attribute was his strength and ability to break tackles, the best thing is to run forward, not side-to-side.
That’s a trend running backs coach Rod Plummer has tried to emphasize with Cox in the film room.
“Let’s say he bounces it outside when he should have kept it inside and just ran straight, and he sees that on film, “Plummer said. “You say OK, well if I would have kept running straight, look at the hole I would have had as opposed to when I bounce it, here’s the defense and the pursuit angles that they have, and as fast as defenses are, as you’re going east and west, they’re gaining ground on you.”
It’s a common trend for high school running backs as they make the transition to the speed and physicality of the college game.
“In high school, he probably relied on his speed,” Molnar said. “But when you’re on a college football field, especially when you’re playing a team like Michigan, they’re all fast on defense too.”
For the UMass staff, helping teach Cox has been a process not because he’s a slow learner, but because they had to learn his strengths and weaknesses over the course of just three weeks in preseason camp. Being able to watch him in two games allowed Plummer to hone it on which parts of Cox’s game needed the most improvement.
“Now that we’ve had a chance to spend time with him at practice and in meetings, we recognize some of the things he doesn’t do well, and some of the things that are his strengths,” Plummer said.
Now, with defenses that are less skilled awaiting them in MAC play than the ones they’ve faced (beginning this Saturday against Miami (Ohio)), the running game has some confidence to build off of.
Although, don’t tell that to Molnar, who said he was hoping for an even better performance against the then-17th ranked Wolverines last week.
“He didn’t get enough carries because we had so many long-yardage situations where we had to at least try and dink and dunk it to try and make it third-and-manageable,” Molnar said. “It threw us off schedule. Really I wish we could have stayed on schedule because I envisioned him getting 22-25 carries and getting over 100 yards.”
ONE LINERS
Wide receiver Marken Michel had shoulder pads on, but was still limited in practice Tuesday with a bruised shoulder … Left tackle Stephane Milhim practiced minimally because of a sprained right ankle, but Molnar remained optimistic about his chances to return for Saturday’s game … Defensive back Mike Lee is likely to play the role of “nickel back” Saturday against Miami’s spread attack … Reserve offensive lineman Malcolm Speller and tight end Brandon Howard are no longer with the program.