Ron Bellamy on Michigan wide receivers’ production, accepting challenge to improve run blocking

At Michigan, if wide receivers don’t block, they don’t get the rock. The Wolverines have a proud tradition of running the football, which requires all 11 players on the same page, receivers coach Ron Bellamy pointed out during his Wednesday media availability, including the wideouts.

“A wide receiver is not just a person who catches the football,” Bellamy said.

The Wolverines weren’t up to par in the receiver blocking department in their first two games, wins over East Carolina and UNLV. Head coach Jim Harbaugh and Bellamy issued a challenge to graduate Cornelius Johnson and the rest of the crew to block better versus Bowling Green, and they obliged.

“A complete wide receiver is someone who gets involved in the run game, and that’s a challenge,” Bellamy continued. “That’s a challenge that myself and Coach Harbaugh challenged the guys to be more assertive in the run game, just so those long runs could pop — and they did.”

Michigan started the game with a 54-yard run by senior running back Blake Corum, on a gap-scheme rush to the right that Corum cut back down the left sideline. Both senior wide receiver Roman Wilson (play side) and Johnson (back side working to the safety) did their job, and that was just one example.

“I thought they did a pretty good job last weekend,” Bellamy said. “It’s something that we know we’re capable of. You guys understand what this program is built on. Having a [position] coach that played the position that you’re a tough football player, that you’re not just a receiver that’s going to catch passes but you’re also going to show up in the run game. The guys did a really good job with that.”

The production has also been there for the Michigan pass game. Wilson is tied atop the nation with 6 touchdown catches to go along with his 12 receptions and 209 yards. Johnson, meanwhile, has reeled in 13 grabs for 224 yards and 1 score.

“Whenever you get an opportunity to make a play, make sure you’re at the right spot at the right time and you make a play,” Bellamy said. “The quarterback is trusting that the receiver is going to do that, and Roman and Cornelius have done a pretty good job thus far. Keep climbing, keep going. Super dependable, accountable receivers.”

With 6 touchdowns in Michigan’s first three games, Wilson matched Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard for the most scoring catches in the first three games of a season in U-M history.

“You see the production,” Bellamy said. “Having Roman out there gives us a different look on our offense. A guy that — the intermediate game, and obviously he can stretch the defense. You guys know he’s an explosive receiver. He’s shown that throughout his career. I’m proud of him. Just keep stacking the days up for Roman.

“The great thing for Roman and the rest of the guys, not just the receiver position but just our team in general, when you practice like that, it shows up on Saturdays. And for Roman, that’s been it. He’s been having great weeks of practice, and he’s stacking up days, so gotta keep it rolling.”

Johnson got on the board with his first touchdown of the season on a flea-flicker that was under-thrown, hit off the defender’s back but that he caught after some bobbling — a highlight-reel play that wound up on SportsCenter’s ‘Top 10 plays.’

“Oh, no,” the Michigan assistant said of if he ever had a catch resembling that of Johnson’s. “But I used to play around with little cousins and stuff, you’d throw the ball over them, they’ll jump for it, you tip it to yourself two or three times.

“But that was an incredible play by Cornelius, and I was proud of him, seeing him make a big-time play like that.”

Sophomore wideout Tyler Morris emerged in the second game against UNLV, after being limited in the opener. All 3 of his catches came on third down, moving the chains. Morris also had a big catch in the third quarter of Michigan’s win at Rutgers last November, and seems to have a knack for being reliable on the all-important down.

“Tyler, he’s a kid — ‘Steady Eddie’ — that you trust in those situations,” the Michigan assistant noted. “Not just third downs, but normal downs — first and second down. Tyler is one of those guys that is in the right place at the right time. When you get an opportunity to go make a play, go make it — and that’s Tyler. He has such a great feel for the game. He understands how to get open, understands what the defense is trying to do and he knows how to work the chains, for sure.”

Wilson ranks fourth in the Big Ten with 5 third-down receptions, while Morris is 14th with 3. In fact, he has 3 third-down catches on only 8 third-down snaps.

Michigan opens the Big Ten season with Rutgers Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor (noon ET on Big Ten Network).

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