Michigan Wolverines name Derrick Green starting running back

The Michigan Wolverines running game was a shadow of its usually dominate self last season, partly due to a lack of offensive line continuity and partly from a lack of production from any of the backs.

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Head coach Brady Hoke has been hoping to see that change in a big way for 2014, but through two scrimmages it appeared not much had changed.

“Derrick and De’Veon from getting downhill, both of them we’ve got to keep improving,” Hoke said, via Mark Synder of the Detroit Free Press.

On Monday, the Wolverines released their week one depth chart and topping that list at running back was true sophomore Derrick Green.

Derrick Green is the No. 1 running back, followed by De'Veon Smith
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) August 25, 2014

Last season, Green racked up just 270 yards on 88 carries, averaging 3.3 yards per carry with a long of 33 yards and just two touchdowns for the former 5-star recruit.

It appeared to be more of the same in the backfield in the second scrimmage of fall camp, as Synder reported that there wasn’t a single run of over 10 yards. Of course, some of that is due to Michigan having a very good defense, but not gaining more than 10 yards feels eerily familiar to coaches and everyone else around the program.

Green won the job over fellow sophomore (albeit of the redshirt variety) De’Veon Smith, who came in to camp with a slight edge over the younger back according to Hoke at Big Ten Media Days at the end of July.

The two are likely to see plenty of carries early on until the coaching staff truly feels comfortable with one or the other. If Michigan can’t find a go-to back it could be a sign of another season of trouble on the offensive side of the ball.