The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/130469
michigan football Mom, I'll turn to it.' Then she'll be screaming in the phone. "I don't watch it too many times. I'm trying to make some more plays." There's no doubt, he'll get that chance. The Buckeyes come to Michigan Stadium again this year, and odds are that there will be a lot riding on that one. That doesn't mean Avery wants an exact replica of the dream scenario. In fact, Avery waved off the mefirst opportunity to repeat what happened in 2011. "I would have it so the game wasn't that close, at the end of the game, for us to go to the Big Ten championship," he assured. "Really, just making it to the Big Ten championship, any way we can get it." ❑ Early Look At 2013 Opponents Akron There are going to be very few bright spots on a team that went 1-11 last season. But the passing game was certainly one for the Zips. Last year, Akron ranked 16th nationally in passing yards, racking up 312.8 per game. They threw it all over the field, averaging 48.6 attempts per game (fourth nationally). And that was due, in large part, to quarterback Dalton Williams, who came out of nowhere to throw for 3,387 yards with 25 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. After a junior year in which he threw just 44 passes for Stephen F. Austin, Williams transferred to Akron for his final season of eligibility and lit it up for head coach Terry Bowden. Now, the passing game has to rebuild once more. The Zips must also replace Williams' favorite target, Marquelo Suel, who posted team highs in catches (76), receiving yards (820), yards per catch (10.8) and touchdown receptions (five). Luckily, nine of the top 10 receiving targets are back from last year's team. Most likely to step in for Suel as the No. 1 receiving target is junior L.T. Smith, who caught 48 passes for 509 yards and three touchdowns last year. Expect the Zips to air it out just as much next season. However, they need a quarterback to emerge. Had Akron not gotten such a solid season out of a transfer student, the job would have most likely fallen to then-redshirt freshman Kyle Pohl, who actually looked pretty good in mop-up duty last season. Pohl completed 38 of 58 passes (65.5 percent) for 366 yards with five touchdowns and two picks last year.