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Michigan freshman running back Derrick Green should see his number called early Saturday against Minnesota. (Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com)

ANN ARBOR -- Michigan's plan to curb Devin Gardner's recent struggles appears to be a two-part deal.

One, Gardner needs to improve himself -- his footwork, his focus and his overall mechanics.

Two, Michigan's running game needs to take some pressure off Gardner's arm and his legs, starting this Saturday during the Big Ten opener against Minnesota (3:30 p.m., ABC).

Part of the way Brady Hoke and company plan on getting more production out of the running game is to feature more than just one back. More specifically, freshman Derrick Green is going to play, and he's going to play early.

"The thing that we have to do, we've got to help (Gardner) more," Hoke said Wednesday on his weekly radio show. "We've got to help him from a running the football standpoint.

"We want to get Derrick in the game early and give him a chance to get going a little bit."

By getting Green -- Michigan's prized five-star running back recruit -- involved in the game early, Michigan is hoping it can accomplish a multitude of things.

First, it would help keep current starting running back Fitz Toussaint healthy. Toussaint said earlier this week he was feeling pretty banged up after a 120-yard, two-touchdown performance against Connecticut.

Over Michigan's last three games, Toussaint has received all but two of the 67 carries the Wolverines have given to a running back. So it stands to reason a pace like that will -- at some point -- begin to slow down Toussaint's production.

The second factor here is Green's size. At 5-foot-11, 240 pounds, Green has a much better chance of wearing out a defense and succeeding in a downhill power rush attack than Toussaint, who weighs just 200 pounds. It'd be a change of pace, and something Michigan really hasn't had yet this season.

And, of course, it'd help Gardner. To this point in the season, Gardner, Toussaint and Jeremy Gallon have basically been the only three consistent playmakers on offense. Any addition to that list would be a welcome change.

Green is currently the No. 2 running back on Michigan's depth chart, though Hoke didn't rule out the possibility of inserting freshman De'Veon Smith or junior Thomas Rawls -- another pair of hefty backs -- to serve the same purpose.

“I think that’s always a juggling act, especially when things aren’t going as well as you’d like them to," Hoke added. "Do you try and kick start it with another back when it’s not another back’s problem? ... I think we would like to move earlier so you don’t get to that point of the game where you get a little nervous.”

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