Name: Ty Isaac
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 230 lbs.
High school: Joliet (IL) Catholic
Position: Running back
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #32
Last year: I ranked Isaac #33 and said he would be a backup running back with 600 yards and 7 touchdowns (LINK). He ran the ball 30 times for 205 yards (6.8 yards/carry) and 1 touchdown.
Isaac had the beginnings of a very solid year last season, and then it all came crashing down. In a battle for the #2 running back position – with a chance to take some snaps from De’Veon Smith, too – Isaac had 6 carries for 35 yards against Oregon State and then followed that up with what seemed like a breakout game. UNLV is UNLV, but Isaac ran 8 times for 114 yards (14.2 yards/carry) against the Runnin’ Rebels, including a 76-yard touchdown. Then he only got 2 carries against BYU. However, Smith hurt his ankle in that game, so Jim Harbaugh gave Isaac the start in the following game against Maryland. Isaac responded by fumbling twice in just 6 carries before being benched for the rest of the game. He would only get 4 more carries for the rest of the year, despite reports that he was taking first-team reps during the week of the Ohio State game and in preparation for the bowl game against Florida.
Only Isaac and the coaches know exactly what went down last year when a running backĀ averaging 6.8 yards/carry and with the longest run since Carlos Brown’s 90-yarder can’t get on the field. Obviously, the fumbles were an issue, and he should have been benched against Maryland. But Michigan blew out Northwestern, Rutgers, and Florida by 33+ points each, and Isaac only touched the ball twice in those games (both against Northwestern). Isaac himself has alluded to maturity, and Jim Harbaugh has mentioned things this off-season about Isaac improving. Naturally, there are things remaining under the surface and behind closed doors. Many speculated that Isaac would transfer in the off-season, but he would have to sit out this season and would only have one more year of eligibility in 2017. By remaining at Michigan, he has a chance to play in 2016 and could then possibly be a graduate transfer in 2017 if the situation in Ann Arbor doesn’t pan out the way he hopes.
As for the depth chart this year, Isaac is probably #2 or #3 with Drake Johnson also battling. Isaac was the most impressive back in the spring practices the public saw (Ford Field and the spring game), and he appears to have trimmed some weight. He was listed at 240 last season and 228 in the spring before coming in at 230 for the fall roster. Isaac has a blend of talents that does not exist elsewhere on the team, except perhaps freshman Kareem Walker. Isaac can run, break tackles, and catch the ball. He doesn’t run inside as well as he should for his size, but it’s rare that someone who’s 6’3″, 240 lbs. can outrun an entire defense for a 76-yard touchdown, whether it’s against UNLV or not. I hope that Isaac has made some mental strides over the past year, because heĀ can be the best back on the roster. Even with Smith locked in at #1 on the depth chart, Michigan needs at least three backs to contribute prominently. Smith takes/gives a pounding and got hurt last year, and Johnson has been somewhat injury-prone, too (two ACL tears, getting run over by a forklift, etc.). Isaac could be a very good #2 guy, or he could find himself mired on the bench if he doesn’t clean up some of the issues from the past.
Prediction: Backup running back; 60 carries, 300 yards, 3 touchdowns
You need to login in order to vote
I hope I’m wrong, but I just don’t see it with Isaac. I imagine Higdon & Walker battling Johnson for backup carries
You need to login in order to vote
Anything can happen, but moving Higdon and Walker ahead of him would be a departure from anything we’ve seen before. He’s always been ahead of those guys, including last season (Higdon) and this spring (Higdon and Walker). Isaac ran better in the spring than we’ve ever seen Smith run, IMO. Granted, it was in a practice environment and Smith got to rest up during a lot of team stuff, so I’m not projecting Isaac to play MORE than Smith. I’m simply saying that if Isaac can play up to his potential, he’s the best runner on the roster.
You need to login in order to vote
He was behind Higdon for much of last year, and Walker is a true freshman so that’s not really saying much.
Spring ball is spring ball, but Isaac does appear to be solidifying his spot as one of the top 3. The most likely battle here is Johnson/Isaac and I agree with Thunder that Johnson is the more important back only because he offers a different skillset than Smith.
You need to login in order to vote
Smith is the best RB. Johnson is the fastest RB. Peppers is the most talented with the ball in his hands (with apologies to Chesson). I’m not sure Isaac even belongs in the best runner conversation.
You need to login in order to vote
I mean, Peppers isn’t a running back…but sure, if we’re including him or if he played there full-time, he’d be the best. Smith is probably a better all-around RB because of his blocking and lack of fumbling, but that doesn’t mean he’s the best RUNNER.
You need to login in order to vote
Runner isn’t a position. Running back is.
I think I get your point (Isaac is the best RB with the ball in his hands), but don’t agree with how you framed it.
You need to login in order to vote
Thank you for telling me that “runner” isn’t a position. I’ll make sure to incorporate that into my coaching philosophy.
You need to login in order to vote
You’re welcome?
….Wait a minute!
You need to login in order to vote
No way Higdon is ahead of Isaac. Isaac will get his chance. It sounded like he had something to prove to the staff this spring (toughness, effort, etc.) and he did. With the back-up RB’s, a lot will come down to how they play in the first few games. And there will be plenty of snaps to go around in a few of those.
You need to login in order to vote
Higdon actually a prime candidate to transfer IMO, especially with his injury this spring and some young talent coming in.
You need to login in order to vote
I wouldn’t say “no way,” considering he was ahead of him last year, for whatever reason.
I obviously hope the best for our ground game like anyone else here, but typically after three seasons a RBs potential can be seen. For Isaac though, we’re still hoping, and saying “if”
Let’s all hope I’m wrong
You need to login in order to vote
I have not gave up on Isaac yet. I have been disappointed before.
Another year of S&C and maturity to toughen him up, primarily between the ears. I think he has to recognize by now what he needs to do; hang on to the ball, hit the inside aggressively; be ready to spell Smith and not let go when he gets his chance. Realistically, I can see him any where from RB 1 to 3 on any given game.
You need to login in order to vote
This is a guy I really WISH could legitimately be ranked in the top 10. I keep trying to convince myself that Isaac has all of the physical tools to be a #1 back, a guy who could easily go over 1000 yards even with a just decent but not great Oline, that he’s just a head case and that a year of coaching will have him on track. So far, I haven’t quite been able to.
I like Smith, he’s a solid, quality back who gives great effort, but he is not the kind of back you see as the #1 on championship-level teams. He just does not have the physical tools.
If we’re going to win the big, tough games on the road, the games that our season will hinge on, we need some RB other than Smith to be significantly higher than this. Maybe not Isaac, but right now, he’s the one that most looks the part. And it would be nice to have a high-production Isaac back as a #1 next year. If he has another season like last year, though, if he’s fumble-prone and ends up in the doghouse again, I suspect he’ll be playing his last year somewhere else.
You need to login in order to vote
1) I agree that Isaac seems to fit more than Smith if this team is going to perform to its potential. Isaac is more of a threat for big plays.
2) Thunder, your analysis seemed very “Lanknows sensitive” with all the “sure, it’s UNLV” qualifications. Very well done.
You need to login in order to vote
Don’t let anybody kill your dreams.
You need to login in order to vote
Still overrated if you ask me, but at long last — maybe not by that much!
I called out last year’s 600 yard prediction but this year’s 300 yards seems….uh…low?!?
Isaac should continue to carve up weak and defeated defenses as a backup this year. He could get passed over, it’s true, we’ve seen it before, but if he is indeed the #2 option at tailback and if the OL does indeed improve it’s run blocking (as is expected), I think the #2 back will get a lot more yards than 300. I’m still anticipating more 1-sided ball games where Smith is protected from a heavy workload.
I don’t think much of Isaac but I’m glad to read he’s down to 230. With the improved OL he could be due for a big year and look like an asset as the presumed starter in 2017. Or he could transfer for his grad year after getting benched. Who the hell knows. What we can say – is that he is right up there with Shane Morris, Sam McGuffie, and William Campbell in the Over-hyped Hall of Fame. We’ll see what the season holds…
You need to login in order to vote
Actually now that I think about it, 300 could be right. Depends on who wins the Isaac/Johnson battle, but it’s a reasonable guess.
Something like:
Smith: 1,100
Johnson: 400
Isaac 300
Other: 300
is certainly possible given our weak schedule
You need to login in order to vote
My stance on YPC remains the same – show me in situations that count. I’d like to see Isaac put up 5 ypc combined against MSU, PSU, OSU, and Wisconsin before I start talking about him being ‘back’ to his 5-star true self.
I have no doubts he can put up numbers against Hawaii.
You need to login in order to vote
That’s not really the point, though, is it? The point isn’t whether he’s a 5-star or a 1st round draft pick. The question is whether he’s better than the other running backs on the team. And for that matter, I’d like to see any of our running backs average 5 yards/carry against those teams, too. I don’t care who it is. Smith averaged 2.4 against MSU, 3.0 vs. PSU, and 2.3 against OSU. It’s interesting that you’re asking for the backup to average 5 yards/carry, but you don’t expect anything similar from our starter.
You need to login in order to vote
It’s the point if you use the YPC argument to justify upturning the established depth chart.
How many 80 yarders you break against Hawaii isn’t going to matter when 3 buckeyes are breathing down your neck.
If Isaac is better than Smith (which people are STILL saying today), I want to see it in situations that matter.
You need to login in order to vote
But I didn’t use YPC to justify upturning the established depth chart. I said Isaac is a backup, and I have yet to profile Johnson or Smith. That seems to indicate he would be #3 on the depth chart. So I don’t know what you’re arguing.
I want to see Isaac be better than Smith in those situations, too. I would also like to see Smith be better than Smith has been. I want anyone/everyone to be better. I just think it’s kind of silly to want Isaac to be TWICE AS PRODUCTIVE as the starter just to prove that he might be equal/better.
You need to login in order to vote
The YPC comment is a reference to earlier discussions. I was not implying Isaac had to double Smith’s YPC of course. I’m just saying I’d like to see the shine extend to real situations. If the 6.8 YPC was a legit indicator…
Other than disagreeing that the #3 RB belongs this high (I wouldn’t even put #2 this high given depth), I think your yardage estimate and RB order is very reasonable.
Much better than the ranks of the last few years.
Looking forward to the rest of the countdown!
You need to login in order to vote