Jim Harbaugh has an offensive line, Michigan regains its identity

"It's a good football team," said Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst.

Back in the first season of Jim Harbaugh in Michigan in 2015, he explained early on that running was always the last thing to do with setting up a program. It's a culture, it's an attitude, it's a way of life.

More: Michigan football demolishes Wisconsin before confrontation in the state of Michigan

Michigan's offensive line has had its ups and downs in the first two years before tumbling last season with a dismal 13-game performance, highlighted by constant pass protection problems and a persistent inability to generate difficult winnings against physical opponents.

So, after Michigan struggled to face Notre Dame to open this season, the questions came back. They were guaranteed.

But Michigan insisted that this year was different. The Wolverines insisted that this offensive line, led by first-year coach Ed Warinner, was able to build strength for this football team. Until Saturday evening, the evidence varied.

And then the Wolverines pushed Wisconsin down. Again and again.

"We played in big games (before) and personally saw that we could not finish them," said junior goalkeeper Ben Bredeson. "It was an important goal for us out of the season, change the culture in the offensive line, we were going to finish the game, if we needed a first downhill to win or a touchdown to win. one, we were going to be able to deliver. "

Saturday was the best overall performance of a Michigan offensive line since the arrival of Harbaugh to Ann Arbor. The five men in the lead: Bredeson, center, Cesar Ruiz, guard Michael Onwenu and tackle Jon Runyan Jr. and Juwann Bushell-Beatty play the best football of their career.

Last season, playing a zone was almost an impossible task. On Saturday, Michigan separated Wisconsin from the building.

Over the past six weeks, the offensive line has consistently accumulated positive days on top of each other. Progressive change has improved consistency.

And with that, Harbaugh's addition of concepts and schemes to the Michigan offensive increased the overall diversity of a group that could barely manage 10 different things effectively last fall.

Now, suddenly, Michigan is a football team that is developing a defense plan for power play, vertical passes, zone reads, backbacks in the flat, tight options, pass options and a line offensive absolutely able to hit the opponent. in the mouth.

The identity of Michigan is, in short, a diversified power. Led by his quarterback and his five forehead.

If this continues, it could unlock a world that Michigan has not seen under Harbaugh yet. A world where the offense functions as a real complement to the already established defense at the championship level.

It does not matter who plays.

"I think we have the best offensive line in the country," said attacking midfielder Karan Higdon, who leads a hasty attack that now averages 217 yards per game. "It's a pleasure to run behind these boys."

Michigan has always tried to establish itself as a power football team during Harbaugh's tenure. Sometimes it's a success. Other times, not much. But the addition of Warinner to the program has clearly ticked a box too often empty.

This group has not had any repeat mistakes this season. He expanded his arsenal week after week. Quarterback Shea Patterson explained how Warner and Harbaugh have been working to add more zone reads to the pack this week.

It worked for a 81-yard run in the first half. And shortly after Patterson had a seven-yard touchdown in the third quarter, Warinner exploded on the side of the field – pumping both fists in the air while Harbaugh stood in front of him, arms raised.

The most critical movement of Harbaugh's off-season was to find a quarter. He accomplished that when the Wolverines landed Patterson. The second most important move was to find a way to repair this offensive line.

At present, Harbaugh's largest recruiter in Michigan is Defense Coordinator Don Brown. Number 2 is Ed Warinner.

This offense has a quarterback. He has a line. He has diversity.

And he has a chance to provide great things for Michigan the rest of the way.

"It's a confident group that's really been training during the off season," Harbaugh said. "Runyan, Bredeson, Caesar, Mike Onwenu, Juwann Bushell-Beatty – they all play their best football and play very well together."