4/16/06- Football-Spring Metamorphosis?

Fans of the Michigan Wolverine’s Football team anxiously examined Michigan’s last spring practice of 2006 to see whether the cocoon of the 2006 Michigan Wolverines will blossom into a unit that can float like a butterfly and sting like a bee this fall.

They anxiously await evidence of a defense with a more violent culture, one that does not fade in the stretch, give up critical big plays, has an ability to tackle, and uses the unity of the pack to stymie opposing offenses.

They anxiously await an offense that can both run the ball and throw the ball into the end zone. Last years drop into the offensive statistical abyss must be corrected.

It is very difficult to evaluate capabilities in a hitting sport, when for the most part the hitting is limited by rule. It should be noted that some heart-warming licks (from a defensive standpoint) were laid, many on receivers.

There were some nice defensive plays against a very basic offense, and I thought newcomer DB Johnny Sears showed some talent, even if he muffed a punt catch.

There were some effective offensive plays against a defense that played part touch, part tackle. True freshman Carlos Brown had an outstanding early long run for a TD. He has nice speed and looks like he can often turn the corner with it. How he does with full contact is yet for fans to see. Carlos has wheels. There is no doubt that they will find a way to use his talent. The fifteen-minute scrimmage at the end of the practice did not feature much of the starters.

Offensively, Chad Henne was not outstanding in this practice, although I have heard raves about him in other practices this year. This doesn’t mean that Chad was bad, just did not seem outstanding on this day. Wide receivers did not get the ball enough, he threw too many outs, he ran during seven on seven drills. There is only one LB so the run is wide open. Let me stress that this was only one practice, but the OL and the QB’s did not appear to me to be outstanding on this one day of practice. This is slightly disappointing because this has to be a Chad Henne year. He is the one that must now push his team into the ranks of the improved. He has the talent to assume the mantel, and now he has the experience, both good and bad. Success needs this to become Chad Henne’s offense. I simply was not impressed with the backup QB’s, and hopefully they will improve with seasoning. It has been alleged that the now seriously injured Antonio Bass was taking some snaps at the back up QB position. Reports are that he will not return this year.

The defensive line looked a little better to me than the offense line. But when Coach Carr mentions that there are a couple of freshmen coming in at LB, and he has failed to earlier praise the unit, there are flags of concern to be raised regarding the LB’s.

Defensively, we have waited a long time to see Eugene Germany, a DE that is around 6’4” and 250. He was on the field, and has talent.

Michigan’s stable of impressive running backs may be the strength of the offense talent wise. Mister Simpson had a seventy-yard run earlier in the year. Mike Hart is Mike Hart. Kevin Grady has his critics, but has more talent than critics. Some say that EGR was in a weak league in West Michigan. They say that Grady may turn out like the highly touted and not as successful as anticipated, David Underwood. Maybe, but I believe the slimmed down Grady (to 215) will have an outstanding year. Mister Simpson has some talent in his own right and he and the multi-talented Carlos Brown (plays some DB, too) got lots of work in the later stages with Brown taking a lot of direct snaps, and running. One was snapped over his head, which probably did not create warm and fuzzy feelings among the coaches. Brown also seems to have good hands.

RB Jerome Jackson is not listed on the roster and is still apparently in the doghouse, but if and when he comes back, he could contribute. Did I mention Alijah Bradley? He got some work and made an impressive catch. So the departure of Max Martin from the team does not seem to be a significant impediment.

At FB Obi Oluigbo has drawn praise, but his is not the most picturesque name on the roster, that belonging to PK Jason Olesnavage. Will Paul is back at FB as is RS FB Andre Criswell. Brian Thompson may be an H back.

It still appears to me that Mario Manningham is the best receiver, but he of course is not the only talent. LaTerryal Savoy made an outstanding pull in of the ball near the goal line late in the game, and also shook off a nasty hit. Adrian Arrington did not seem to get much work. Carl Tabb got a fair amount of work and Doug Dutch, and Steve Breaston got a little work.

As for special teams, it’s a healthy Steve Breaston, Steve Breaston and Steve Breaston. KOs will be Ross Ryan and I would be very surprised if Zoltan Mesko does not take over as the punter. Garrett Rivas missed a field goal.

WTKA had a decent comment regarding Steve Breaston as a receiver in their spring game preview. I believe that Jim Carty said something like we ought to appreciate Breaston for what he is; perhaps one of the best punt and kick-return men in college football, and not expect him to excel as a premier receiver. Carty’s comments sometimes raise sparks among the Michigan faithful, and I do not always agree with them, but I always respect them. He tells it like he sees it and lets the chips fall, providing some remarkable analysis in the process.

There remains the question of who can rise to the occasion in the red zone in the upcoming year.

Possibly it could be one of the tight ends. Carson Butler, Jr., a newcomer, looked good and the dean of Michigan’s TE’s Tyler Ecker is back, along with Mike Massey, and Brian Thompson part time.

All in all it was an interesting day, if a little dull under a hot sun under clear blue skies. Temperatures were above average for this time of year at 72 degrees. It seems to me that the Athletic Department consistently misses the opportunity to entertain its patrons on a day of drills and some scrimmage with no tackling. There were a few cheers but no running commentary from the PA during the entire event as there was last year with Brandstatter at the vocal throttle. A pep band of some sort wouldn’t hurt. Even Michigan re-play on the stadium boards would help. Why didn’t they present Anthony Carter and Braylon Edwards to the crowd, or other Michigan luminaries? There is a great article on this site regarding Braylon’s contribution to endow a scholarship for the player that earns the right to wear Number 1. I hope this is but the first of many scholarships endowed this way. Outstanding, Braylon!

Half of the old house has its concrete torn out and a couple of very large construction cranes still lurk above the west side.

This next year we should all pay attention to the appearance of the venerable old stadium as it is soon to drastically change. I am not against that change. Even good things, no even great things, need to adapt to remain viable in a changing world. Even something that became so venerable as Ford’s Model T eventually had to give way to something better, and the Stadium itself has changed its face even over the years of my lifetime, to meet changing expectations and realities, financial and otherwise.

Whatever they do, except of course a yellow halo, will likely be in accordance with the tradition of the Michigan experience, and soon will become a standard.

There are good things about this. Next year, or the year after, if they are the last ones in the traditional bowl, you get to look around and appreciate what you are a part of at Michigan Stadium and put the scene in your memory. Another positive is that modern media of all sorts have recorded activities there for over fifty years. At least you will be able to revisit it there. Your stadium of the past will be a virtual stadium, on film, CD or tape.

But more importantly, you will get to help build the continuing and evolving Michigan stadium tradition in a stadium of more capacity than today’s, and you will be part of the first crowd in the refurbished stadium, sponsoring a new tradition. Let’s get on with it.

“Hey, Grandpa. You just get back from the game? I got a couple of questions. How did the team look and how come there were so many turtles on the golf course Friday?”

I’ll answer the second question first. I don’t remember the turtles. I guess you could say I don’t have turtle recall.

As to how good this edition of the Wolverines will be, I don’t think we know yet. We certainly did not see a whole lot of the starters under pressure but with the exception of LB and QB, they seem to be quite deep, with lots of individual talent. How they tackle defensively, and whether they are improved offensively, can not really be evaluated on the basis of this one time exposure to this practice format. I do know that many of their critics will not be all that reassured by what they saw today, but the majority of fans will be satisfied that they will be able to run the football and tackle more effectively in the fall than last year. There is always an abundance of optimism in the spring, and fortunately the reports from other practices have been very encouraging.

I guess I’ll shell out more of my retirement again so that you and I can personally see how they handle the challenges of this upcoming season. The season and its multitudes of challenges will be here in the blink of an eye.”

Go Blue!

Andy Andersen
andy@umgoblue.com

Andy is a Michigan graduate and long time Michigan Football fan, having attended games during the tenures of Fritz Crisler, Bennie Oosterbaan, Bump Elliot, Bo Schembechler, Gary Moeller, and Lloyd Carr. He attempts to present articles consistent with the concerns and interests of Michigan Fans.

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