Ty Isaac appears to have finally figured it out, which is huge for Michigan

When I saw it, it clicked.

Ty Isaac looked like he was about to be stopped at the line of scrimmage, Florida had outside contain after Isaac took the counter outside the left tackle. It was the type of scenario that guys like Saquon Barkley or Derrius Guice would turn into a highlight worthy 8-yard run. A lesser back would’ve either been swallowed for a short gain or even worse, tried to bounce it to the outside again and been chased down for a loss.

At 6-3, 228 pounds, Isaac did something that few could’ve expected him to do. He looked like Barkley and Guice.

New & improved Ty Isaac.

I mean, this cut… pic.twitter.com/ZNkck1ss4P

— Due# (@JDue51) September 4, 2017

Yes, that was a freshman cornerback that Isaac faked out of his shoes, but break down the elements of that run. Isaac was patient, he was deadly in space and he finished the run with power. It finally clicked for me.

So that’s why Isaac was such a highly-touted recruit.

It was exactly the type of play many expected Isaac to make when he was billed as the next great USC tailback four years ago. For most of Isaac’s college career, those runs have been few and far between.

But for the first time, it looks like Isaac finally reached the second level.

Through two games, no offensive player has been more valuable for Michigan than Isaac. That’s saying a lot about a guy who has yet to reach pay dirt in 2017.

Isaac’s 247 rushing yards are good for sixth in the B1G. Among B1G tailbacks with 20 carries, Isaac’s 8.0 yards per rush trails only the aforementioned Barkley and Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor.

So far, Isaac has made the most of his opportunities. In a backfield that was supposed to belong to Chris Evans, it was Isaac who emerged as the move-the-chains back, and not just in short-yardage situations. On third-and-long and fourth down against Florida, look at Isaac’s effectiveness:

• 3rd and 13 — 36-yard gain
• 4th and 1 — 18-yard gain
• 3rd and 12 — 7-yard gain
• 3rd and 13 — 14-yard gain

For all you brainiacs, that’s four rushes for 75 yards. No wonder the guy got the ball on Michigan’s first four plays against Cincinnati.

Listening to Jim Harbaugh on the B1G Teleconference before Week 2, it wasn’t hard to see that Isaac was going to be a major part of the game plan. Harbaugh was asked about what contributed to Isaac’s hot start.

“Focus and work,” Harbaugh said. “He’s really done a great job of taking coaching, giving feedback. He is wonderful that way. He’s somebody you can coach honestly. He tells you where he’s at in the process, and you can see what he’s doing. He does what he says he’s going to do.

“Seeing him get better and better is a joy.”

That’s a much different tone than the one Harbaugh had with Isaac two years ago.

Remember back in 2015 when Harbaugh barked at a reporter who asked why Isaac wasn’t listed on the depth chart? Harbaugh said it was “none of their business.” Isaac spent time in Harbaugh’s dog house for more than just fumbling in his Michigan career.

At the time of Harbaugh’s “none of your business” comment, that was Isaac’s third collegiate season. Harbaugh was already his third coach. Isaac was at USC for the end of the Lane Kiffin era in 2013. And when he transferred to Michigan to be closer to home, he arrived just in time for the end of the Brady Hoke era.

Isaac was one of those guys who had seemingly every excuse to be a college bust. He dealt with new coaching staffs, injuries, fumbling and off-the-field issues. For those reasons, he never previously earned the opportunity to earn the first four plays of a game like he did against Cincinnati.

And for what it’s worth, Isaac won’t need 80 percent of the backfield carries to make a major impact. At Joliet Catholic, he shared a backfield with former Illinois standout Josh Ferguson and Louisville running back Malin Jones. Still, Isaac earned USA Today All-USA high school football team honors as a junior.

That bodes well for Michigan if Evans and Karan Higdon start to pick it up.

But at the same time, Michigan doesn’t care if it’s a committee or just one back doing the heavy lifting. Harbaugh just needs someone to do it.

In Harbaugh first two years at Michigan, ground game struggles were the obvious deterrent in losses. The Wolverines rushed for 2.8 yards per carry in six losses, four of which were vs. top-25 teams.

De’Veon Smith had plenty of success as Michigan’s lead back. But against top-25 foes, he struggled big time in 2016:

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In Smith’s defense, not all of that was on him. The offensive line play was not where it needed to be in the first two years of the Harbaugh era. In the first two games of 2017, Michigan looked much better up front. Plays like Isaac’s devastating cut against Florida don’t happen unless the edge is sealed for the counter.

That’s the identity that Harbaugh wants to have. For all the attention that’s paid to his ability to develop quarterbacks, he’d rather be a team that relies more on the running game and the defense.

It’s easy to forget that in Harbaugh’s four years coaching the San Francisco 49ers, Frank Gore totaled between 255-282 carries and he racked up at least 1,100 rushing yards every season.

Harbaugh wouldn’t mind if Isaac became that guy in his offense. Lord knows his Michigan teams haven’t had that element yet. The Wolverines were 83rd in FBS in rushing in 2015 and they improved to 33rd in 2016.

With Isaac leading the way, Michigan currently has the No. 9 rushing offense in America.

He’s the one who can take Harbaugh’s offense to new heights. He’s the back who can take some needed pressure off Wilton Speight. Isaac is the guy who has the talent to produce against the nation’s top defenses.

Michigan fans have been waiting for everything to click with Isaac.

Finally, it appears it has.