Klatt: is Bryce gonna run it (maybe sort've akin to Dampier)?
Summary
Bryce Young would need 4-5x designed QB runs vs. last year to hit 150 attempts; not comparable to Dampier.
BigJes said... (original post) I'm not going to criticize the OP. I didn't see the other thread linked above and don't know about any previous debates but I've been front and cent...
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For some needed context:
23 of Bryce's 88 rush attempts were designed QB runs (including option keeps). Michigan intentionally ran Bryce less than twice per game last year.
If you think both our OL and WR will be improved this year, you would have to assume Bryce's scrambles decrease. Conservatively, let's say Bryce's scrambles (uncalled QB runs) drop by 20%, or by 13 attempts, to only 52 scrambles.
To hit 150 rushing attempts, with only 52 of those being scrambles, you would need to run Bryce, by design, 98 times, which would be a greater than 4x increase over last year. And that's a conservative estimate in your scramble reduction! Let's say scrambles are cut by 40% instead of 20% - now only 39 scrambles. You'd have to run Bryce 111 times to hit the 150 mark, which is nearly a 5x increase for him, and even more than Utah intentionally ran Dampier.
Not to mention, Dampier and Bryce are not similar players whatsoever, and Jason Beck is not a similar playcaller to Gus Malzahn, Urban Meyer, or Rich Rodriguez, the playcallers for the other QBs you mentioned. Dampier is a runningback with a noodle arm that Beck has made use of as a college QB - the idea that Bryce should be used in the run game at the same rate is asinine. Dampier and Ficklin combined for more designed runs than Wayshawn Parker had total attempts last season - the QB was the first option at Utah, and that is simply not going to happen at Michigan.
The Jason Beck quarterback that Bryce is most like (he's the most talented QB Beck has ever had, to be clear) is Garrett Shrader.
In 2023, Garrett Shrader had 60 called QB runs in 10 games, so 6 a game. Call it 3x what Bryce had in 2025. I think that is a reasonable expectation (if not a little high even) that: a) is in line with Bryce's skillset; b) doesn't under-utilize the talent at our skill positions; c) is more in line with Jason Beck's ideal offense; and d) doesn't unreasonably increase Bryce's injury risk.
Bryce is not going to be running the ball 150 times this year, it'll be much closer to 100.
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