The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/122487
michigan football "I like it now," Funchess said of butting heads as an interior blocker. "At first I didn't like it, but it is kind of fun now to stick my nose in there and try to knock the linebackers and defensive ends off the ball. I just have to get more beef on me so I can really get in there. "I have to do whatever I have to do to help the team. If I need to get bigger, I need to get bigger." The 6-5, 228-pounder has bulked up five pounds during the offseason, and aims to max out between 235 and 240 pounds heading into fall camp. The additional size and toughness will also help him combat the physicality of conference play as a pass catcher, which he readily admitted halted his progress a year ago. In his second collegiate contest, the budding phenom exploded for four catches for 106 yards (26.5 yards per reception) and a touchdown in a 3125 win over Air Force. He rode the momentum in subsequent weeks, finishing the 2012 non-conference slate with eight catches, 151 receiving yards and two scores. But the Big Ten season presented unfamiliar and unique challenges. The lanky receiver drew added recognition from opposing defenses, was roughed up and snatched just seven balls the rest of the year. He did not tally multiple catches in any of the Wolverines' final nine games. "I believe that I wasn't ready for the Big Ten because it was a tougher game, especially with the speed of the game," he said. "I learned from my mistakes, and that is all I can teach the younger players; to learn from what I did wrong and to teach them what not to do." Spring Wrapup With Defensive Coordinator Greg Mattison Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison met with the media following the conclusion of U-M's final spring practice April 13 to offer his thoughts on the Wolverines' performance. On the defense's impressive showing at the spring game: "We're not a Michigan defense yet. The effort, the belief in what we believe in, the work ethic, the pursuit to the football — that's there. Now being strong, being physical every play, being better at technique … when they put that with their wanting to, then you're going to see something closer to a Michigan defense. "They're really trying. For the first time, every man in there knows what that means when you say we have to be a Michigan defense." On junior cornerback Delonte Hollowell playing with the first-string defense: "In this program, you're evaluated every day in practice, and the thing Brady Hoke does such a great job of is we have competitions in practice. How you react in that competition is going to decide who's going to earn the right to play the next day. "That depth chart can change from day to day, and Delonte had shown great improvement, worked hard. Does that mean he has that position? No. It just means he showed that if