The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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SEPTEMBER 2018 THE WOLVERINE 33 STATE OF THE OFFENSE "Both have improved, working in conjunction with the O-line to make sure our quarterbacks really feel con- fident in terms of feeling like they can play fast and step into throws and not be concerned about their backside or internal pressure," he said. "Overall, we've seen a big step forward for that whole group." WIDE RECEIVERS AND TIGHT ENDS Junior wide receiver Eddie McDoom and redshirt junior tight end Tyrone Wheatley Jr. left the program this sum- mer, but there's still plenty of talent in their absence. Redshirt freshman Tarik Black and sophomore Donovan Peo- ples-Jones provide a potentially domi- nant one-two punch, and Harbaugh identified sophomore Nico Collins and redshirt freshman Oliver Martin as two others who were likely to be among the top four this season. Black caught 11 passes for 149 yards in three games last year and was on track to be the team's leading receiver before missing the rest of the season with a broken foot. Peoples-Jones fin- ished with 277 receiving yards. "Tarik and Donovan really did the best job of anybody in spring prac- tice," Harbaugh said. "[Walk-on] Nate Schoenle, Oliver Martin, Nico Collins also did extremely well. Nico was slowed a little bit by a shoulder, dove for a ball when we weren't in pads and hurt a shoulder, but fought through it. "Those guys there probably had the best spring." New wide receivers coach Jim McEl- wain has made a huge difference, the head coach added. "He brings great experience and great energy," Harbaugh said. "He's a phenomenal football coach. One of those coaches who is old school, and when I say 'old school' it's a real compliment." Two tight ends, meanwhile, have made the Mackey Award watch list for the nation's top tight end. Redshirt junior Zach Gentry and junior Sean McKeon combined for five touchdown catches and both eclipsed 300 receiv- ing yards in 2017 to receive honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. A third tight end, redshirt sopho- more Nick Eubanks, had a great spring coming back from injury and is also ex- pected to be a bigger part of the pass- ing game this fall. ❏ Michigan assistants Pep Hamilton, Ed Warinner and Jim McEl- wain all have offensive coordinator experience, and all have had great success at times over the years. They'll work with head coach Jim Harbaugh and the rest of the offensive coaches to try to improve an attack that struggled mightily last year. Here are five questions about their group heading into the 2018 season: 1. Who will start at left tackle? There are several candidates here, but fifth-year senior Ju- wann Bushell-Beatty is the most experienced. He's continued to improve his body and his pass blocking. Redshirt freshman James Hudson has a bright future, and there are also some younger guys like redshirt frosh Andrew Stueber working here. Redshirt junior Jon Runyan Jr. seemed locked in at right tackle after an outstanding spring, but he's been working on the left side, too … and word has it he's been impressive. 2. How good is Shea Patterson? The coaches are saying all the right things when it comes to the quarterback competition, but this is the Ole Miss transfer's job to lose. Patterson was on pace for more than 3,800 passing yards in the regular season alone last year while playing in the SEC, but he's still only played in 10 collegiate games. Regardless, he's got all the skills to be one of the Big Ten's best, has an innate ability to keep plays alive with his feet and is by all accounts a leader. Redshirt sophomore Brandon Peters and redshirt freshman Dylan McCaffrey will push him, while true freshman Joe Milton might be the future. 3. How much better will the offensive line be? Warinner has made a huge impact — there's a reason folks in Columbus, where Warinner coached for a number of years, didn't want to see him in Ann Arbor — but experienced depth is still lacking. Still, there are at least three players on this line with All-Big Ten (or more) potential in junior guard Ben Bredeson, sophomore center Cesar Ruiz and junior guard Mike Onwenu (if he's in shape). This could be a solid group if it stays healthy. 4. Will the young receivers make the sophomore leap? Anthony Carter, Greg McMurtry, Derrick Alexander, David Terrell, Braylon Edwards … all of these Michigan greats had one thing in common in that they had huge sophomore years after modest freshman campaigns. There have been reports that second-year classmates Tarik Black and Donovan Peoples-Jones have been tough to cover in practice, a year older and stronger. Expect a big season from this position group. 5. How much different will the offense look, formation- wise? Patterson — if he's the guy, as expected — is used to playing in a spread offense, and it stands to reason there will be more formations with him in shotgun. There's also been plenty of chatter about run/pass option (RPO) in which it's up to the quarterback to decide what he'll do after the snap, something that seems to be right up Pat- terson's alley. — Chris Balas Five Questions About The Michigan Offense Redshirt freshman Tarik Black finished with nearly half as many receiving yards as Michigan's team leader (149 to Grant Perry's 307) despite playing in just three games last season. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN