Michigan football roster depth allowing much-needed progress heading into new season

Jim Harbaugh and his program have been close to winning it all twice in a row, yet fell just short in the CFP semi-final on both occasions. If the Maize and Blue are going to finally get over the hump this year, the Michigan football roster depth — spanning from quarterback JJ McCarthy to the Michigan Wolverines’ running back room and elite offensive line — needs to continue to give this year’s team the confidence necessary to see much-needed progress throughout fall camp and beyond.

Michigan football roster depth allows more progress and development for quarterback JJ McCarthy and others during fall camp and beyond

The Wolverines are just over a week into fall camp in Ann Arbor, yet major talking points and question marks are already being addressed. In 23 days, Michigan football will kick off a new season — one with the potential to bring a national title back home for the first time in over 25 years.

Earlier this week, second-year starting quarterback JJ McCarthy met with the media to break down a few parts of fall camp thus far. There, McCarthy explained how this year’s Michigan football roster depth allows him to play with more confidence — he knows that his backup quarterbacks can get the job done and is willing to use his legs more this fall because of it.

“God gave me this great ability to use my legs; I gotta use them more,” quarterback JJ McCarthy said earlier this week at Schembechler Hall. “… I trust any one of those guys to fill in if God forbid anything bad happens with that (running the ball more). I know that the team is gonna be in the right spot, and we’ve got a lot of guys around him that can help him out.”

Michigan Wolverines running back room will also benefit

JJ McCarthy and the Wolverines’ quarterback room is one of many positions that will see progress due to the team’s impressive depth this year. The Michigan Wolverines’ running back room ranked as the No. 1 group in the nation, is as healthy as ever and as deep as you could hope for. With Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards leading the way (and a room that is four, maybe five players deep), Michigan’s running backs can afford to take time off and manage the workload without putting the offense in danger.

Additionally, as Donovan Edwards recently pointed out, Michigan football could use him as a wide receiver more often, making the offense even more dangerous and well-rounded.

“I’m the best dual-threat running back,” Edwards said, according to Pro Football Focus. “I’ll catch a ball 50 yards down the field, over the shoulder. I’ll be the best slot receiver in the country if I was really mastering that craft, which I am this year. You can’t put a linebacker or safety on me. Shoot, you might have to double-team me or put your best corner on me.”

Even the Michigan Wolverines’ offensive line will see the impact of increased depth

The Michigan Wolverines offensive line, which has won two straight Joe Moore Awards and been a focal point of the team’s recent success, once again headlines this year’s squad. This time, with many new transfer additions and position battles, the offensive line has the freedom to swap many players in and out depending on the team’s needs and more — in fact, this year’s line is 10-deep, meaning the Maize and Blue have a ton of options and breathing room in that regard.

This year’s Michigan football roster has the depth and talent to allow the Wolverines to change things up, try new looks, and more, all of which should help the offense lead the way to a third-straight Big Ten title, College Football Playoff berth, and perhaps even more in the months to come.

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