In the Big Ten title game, Blake Corum is back and prepared to defend Michigan football in March.
ANN ARBOR, Michigan: Leading rusher Blake Corum of Michigan was having surgery at this same time last year to repair a torn ligament in his left knee, which he sustained in the season’s final home game. The following week, he tried two carries against Ohio State, but he knew he could not play any longer, so his season and chances of winning the Heisman Trophy were over.
Corum watched from a distance as his teammates competed for a second consecutive Big Ten title while he recovered from surgery in Los Angeles. A year later, Corum is primed to lead Michigan (12-0) in its quest for a third consecutive conference title. He is the only player in the FBS to score a touchdown in every game this season.
The West Division’s Iowa (10-2) team will take on the No. 2 ranked Michigan Wolverines in the College Football Playoff rankings on Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The Wolverines’ spot in the four-team playoff is guaranteed with a win.
Corum is three rushing touchdowns away from breaking the program career record. With 22 rushing touchdowns, he has set a new record for Michigan in a single season. A total of 55 rushing touchdowns is the record, held by Anthony Thomas (1997–2000). It was difficult. This week, Corum said, “I’m not sure what was more difficult—missing the Big Ten championship or watching the TCU game (for the national semifinal).” “I recall having just recovered from surgery. I was watching the game on a screen while lying down in my dad’s hotel bed in California. All I could do was smile and reflect on what I had seen via the TV and camera.
It was really touching. I was dying to be there. Everything happens for a reason, and as you can see, I’m currently getting ready for Indianapolis. Come Saturday, there is going to be an incredible time.
This week, Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy was named the Quarterback of the Year, and Corum was named the Big Ten Running Back of the Year for the second consecutive year. Since the Big Ten award was first given out in 2011, Corum is the only player from Michigan to have won it twice. On 202 carries, he has gained 976 rushing yards and lost just 12 yards.
Despite Iowa’s dismal offensive performance this season—the Hawkeyes rank last in the country in total offense—the defense more than makes up for it with its frugal allowances. The Hawkeyes rank No. 16 against the run, giving up an average of 105.6 rushing yards per game, and No. 4 in scoring defense, allowing opponents to score an average of 12.2 points per game.
Zak Zinter, the starting right guard for the Wolverines and a top offensive lineman, will miss Michigan’s opening game of the season due to a broken leg he sustained last Saturday against Ohio State. Zinter’s absence is noteworthy, but Michigan won’t change their offensive approach, according to Corum.
He stated, “We simply need to stay true to our roots.” Nothing should need to change, in my opinion. I don’t think that’s true. I think you should stick with something when it’s working. I think we need to stay true to who we are, even if you do tweak it here and there and make it a little sharper.
“We must play football for Michigan. Iowa is undoubtedly a formidable defense. They’ve been an incredible defense ever since. They had Cooper DeJean and Jack Campbell, and they were fantastic, as I recall from when we played them there (last season). We had to travel to Iowa. When facing a formidable defense, you need to be ready. Man, just be ourselves. Make no modifications at all. Just get ready a little bit more, and hopefully we can demonstrate that on Saturday.
A lower-leg injury sustained by star defensive player Cooper DeJean in mid-November cost the Hawkeyes their season, which was devastating for both special teams and defense. According to Pro Football, DeJean had two interceptions and gave up less than half of the passes that were made to the receivers he covered. With 109 tackles, linebacker Jay Higgins leads the team and the Big Ten.
The Broyles Award, which is given to the best assistant coach in the country, is being considered for Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker. His team’s defense, which allows an average of 279.9 yards per game, is ranked seventh in the country. Since 1987, when the defense gave up an average of 11.7 points per game, the Hawkeyes’ scoring defense is the best in the program. This season, they have allowed just two touchdowns on the ground.
Even though Jesse Minter, the defensive coordinator for Michigan, isn’t coaching against Iowa’s defense, he can still learn from what Parker does and the outcomes. While analyzing the shared offensive opponent’s tape, Minter claimed to have observed the Iowa defense.
They’re very well-behaved, according to Minter. They don’t play by a vanilla scheme, although that may be what leads some people to believe that they are. However, I believe that they play a little bit better defense this year than they have in previous years. We seem to be playing against their defense in a few of our games, including this one against Penn State, Ohio State, and me. Being the best defense on the field is one of our objectives in those kinds of games. That is undoubtedly our objective for the coming week.
