During Big Ten media days, Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham said the Wolverines potentially had the best running backs in the country. This would be a physical, heavy run offense.

Finding a consistent running game has been an issue through five games, though, and Michigan ranks 100th nationally, averaging 135.0 yards a game.

Where is the running game?

The offensive line, which has had its share of injuries, played poorly in the 20-14 loss to Minnesota and that affected the run game, which produced 79 yards on 28 carries. Jordan Marshall had 50 yards on 10 carries and a five-yard touchdown, and freshman back Savion Hiter had nine yards on eight carries. Hiter is undoubtedly a talent, but the ball needed to be in the hands of Marshall, the veteran who averaged five yards a carry, more than 10 carries.

So much was made heading into the season about the dynamic running backs, but on this checklist of Michigan offensive issues, the run game is near the top.

“That’s another great question,” Whittingham said when asked why the run game was – to use his word – spotty. “(Offensive line coach) Jim Harding was an outstanding offensive line coach, and again, a proven commodity. He’s always had a group that performs. You can’t look at everything. I wish I had better answers for you. I’m not trying to lie to you or kid you. It’s just that I can’t, right as we sit here right now (after the game), give you a concrete answer and definitive answer as to why.”

Getting those answers is imperative, though, heading into Michigan’s seven-game stretch after returning from an off week.

Time to give Carr some playing time

Making a wholesale change at quarterback certainly isn’t ideal, but there has to be an effort to get backup quarterback Tommy Carr in games, not just for experience but because a changeup isn’t a bad option.

Bryce Underwood threw two interceptions against Minnesota and never looked comfortable and certainly wasn’t having much success directing the Wolverines’ anemic offense. Whittingham has discussed that players need to learn that dumb penalties have consequences. He meant in terms of ending a Michigan drive or extending an opponent’s drive. But if any player is struggling in a game, there should be consequences. That doesn’t mean it has to be permanent, but messages need to be sent.

“You always want to think about what gives you the best chance to win throughout the entire course of the game,” Whittingham said when asked whether he considered inserting Carr in the game. “That’s being evaluated with everybody, every position, and we just felt that as the game was progressing, Bryce gave us the best chance to win this game. So that’s where we were.”

Nondecisions have consequences, too. Everybody loves the backup quarterback, but it seems reasonable to give Carr some playing time.

Nothing special here

Michigan’s special teams have been struggling. Against Iowa in the Big Ten opener, the Wolverines allowed a 99-yard kickoff return, and against Minnesota, Andrew Marsh fumbled a punt return. Michigan’s defense was able to hold the Gophers to a field goal.

The Wolverines had been so good early in the season pinning punts deep with great work from punter Cam Brown and the coverage team, but twice against the Gophers, there were opportunities to pin them deep but Michigan’s coverage team couldn’t make that happen.

On the massive list of things that need to be fixed during the bye, special teams also is high up there.

“Something has got to be resolved,” Whittingham said. “It feels like week in and week out, there’s at least a couple special teams miscues. Again, it’s not a lack of effort. We’re not practicing it the wrong way. There’s a certain way to practice special teams. We’ve got (special teams coordinator) Kerry Combs who’s been in this game as long as I have and been a very successful special teams coordinator. We’re just in a funk right now. We’re just in a funk.”

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Three things we learned from Michigan’s loss to Minnesota

Reporting by Angelique S. Chengelis, The Detroit News / The Detroit News

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect