The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/299859
MICHIGAN FOOTBALL want to be parallel to the ground and get your head into their facemask so you duck your head a lot. As a tight end, blocking, you need to get your foundation under you and keep your head up. So it's just habits like that that you have to break. "Learning a whole different play- book is the biggest part. Making reads on the defense and adjusting your route — the mental aspect is definitely hardest." Butt, who is making a speedy re- covery, could be back on the field as early as Big Ten season. While he is out, the Wolverines still have options. Junior A.J. Williams hopes to have a bigger role in the offense in 2014. Primarily used in blocking packages, Williams has recorded just one career catch, a two-yard touchdown in a 24- 21 loss at Iowa last year. Williams, who started winter con- ditioning at 275 pounds, is down to 263. He said he feels more mobile, ex- plosive and quicker now, which has helped him find more opportunities in the passing game. "When I caught my touchdown last year, that was probably the fourth catch I've had in my life," Williams said. "It's definitely been a transition, but it's coming pretty natural. I feel comfortable. It's not surprising when the ball comes to me. "It's nice to have a role outside of blocking, being able to catch a few passes this year. I think it's a good thing for us offensively, giving more diversity to the tight ends. It's not, 'When I'm in it's just going to be a run play.' I'm spread out wide a few times." Redshirt freshmen Khalid Hill and Wyatt Shallman are also making progress at the H-back spot, and red- shirt sophomore walk-on Mike Jocz has received praise from the coach- ing staff, which helps add even more depth to the tight end corps. "With me, Khalid, Keith and Mike, we have a strong group," Williams said. "And when Jake comes back we're going to be real good." JAKE RYAN, LINEBACKERS ADAPT TO TRANSITION Every football team in the coun- try experiments with its lineup and makes position switches during the spring. Rarely, though, do those changes involve star players. Fifth-year senior linebacker Jake Ryan is an exception to that rule. Ryan made a name for himself at strongside outside linebacker (Sam), but made the transition to middle linebacker (Mike) this spring. Michigan head coach Brady Hoke and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison decided to make the switch when the Wolverines changed their base scheme from a 4-3 under ap- proach to a 4-3 over. Ryan moved to Mike, while junior James Ross III switched from weak- side outside linebacker (Will) to Sam, and senior Desmond Morgan moved back to Will. Morgan started at Will in 2011 and 2012 before moving to Mike in 2013. So far, Ryan has excelled in his new position.