The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/178977
we don't have that luxury with this team. We need them ready now. In the first year this means being able to pick up rudimentary blitzes, understanding how defenses work, and being able to work cohesively as one line." Basic principles that after four games Moosman has noted the Wolverines are still struggling with. "We are still letting linebackers come in unmolested on blitzes while having defensive linemen unengaged on normal downs," he said. Moosman matured when he was a redshirt junior, starting for Rich Rodriguez at guard and center in 2008-09. He knows it takes time for young players to mature, especially three first-time starters — redshirt sophomore center Jack Miller, redshirt sophomore left guard Graham Glasgow and redshirt freshman right guard Kyle Kalis. "When they thoroughly understand how defenses work they'll be able to see what's going to happen before the play, like noticing the safeties are rolled over to the boundary, which is a tell for pressure from that side," Moosman began. "One of the bigger parts of chemistry is coming off the ball together. All five guys should be stepping in unison. This creates one single level, which makes it easier for double teams, and alleviates gaps for the defense to take advantage of. "The coaches are doing a tremendous job of both improving the players and understanding where they are now. They have had little time to get them as far as they have. After coaching, it is all in the players' hands and it takes time to get to where they want to be." In other words, he's not giving up on the Wolverines, and with time between Michigan's non-conference slate and the Big Ten schedule, he believes the missteps can be fixed. "We have the talent. We have the coaching staff. We have all the beginnings to be a great team," he said. "We have the Gophers for the start of the Big Ten. Now comes the part of the season in which a team and a class writes its own ending." ❑ Getting To Know Fifth-Year Senior Wide Receiver Joe Reynolds Joe Reynolds is a fifth-year senior wide receiver who spent two years as a walk-on before earning scholarships in each of the past two seasons. He has posted six catches for 78 yards in his career, including a career-long 45-yard grab in a 59-9 win over Central Michigan in the 2013 season opener. Nickname: "Rey. I'm a musician, and that's my musical name. And Joe-cho Cinco. I'm a Spanish major, and I'm No. 85, so that one comes up a lot." Favorite Class He's Taken At Michigan: "It's probably professor John U. Bacon's course, The History Of College Athletics. But I also really liked the vocal