The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/347495
MICHIGAN IN THE PROS and I just get more strength. I get smoother at my pass sets and com- ing off the ball. I'm really excited and happy with how I'm progressing." JASON AVANT SEEKS FRESH START IN CAROLINA It didn't take long for former Mich- igan wide receiver Jason Avant to realize he didn't have a future with head coach Chip Kelly in Philadel- phia. Avant told The Charlotte Ob- server Kelly had him running mostly clear-out routes that wouldn't make him a factor in the passing game, adding it started early last season. "When it came to certain things, we butted heads sometimes — route run- ning and route technique. So I knew I didn't fit his system," Avant said. Now 31 years old, he's anxious to prove himself with the Carolina Panthers. "As you get older, if you've been playing the game the right way and doing the small things, you don't age as fast," he said. "You don't have to try to reinvent yourself. There are a lot of fast guys who lose a step and then they can't get open anymore because they've been playing with speed. "I haven't depended on speed so it doesn't affect me. You see [San An- tonio Spurs forward] Tim Duncan at age 38 still being able to play at such a high level because he's been a great fundamental player his whole career." Avant averaged 47 catches and 587 receiving yards over the past five sea- sons with the Eagles. "I know I've got to prove myself, over and over again," Avant said. "You always do in this league. And I'm ready." MLB ZACH PUTNAM GETS A SHOT AT CLOSER Zach Putnam's MLB ascent con- tinues. The Chicago White Sox have turned to the former Wolverine as one of their potential closers, so far with mixed results. When original closer Matt Lind- strom went down with an ankle in- jury that needed surgery, manager Robin Ventura vowed to look at "ev- erybody" in the bullpen for the role. It was Putnam on June 28, and he picked up his first career save in a 4-3 win over Toronto. Putnam pitched the ninth after fac- ing two batters in the eighth, allow- ing one run on a double and a single before recording the next three outs. "I like to do anything I can," Put- nam told The Chicago Sun-Times. "I've been throwing the seventh and eighth inning … whenever I'm called upon. It was nice to lock it up and get us two in a row here, so keep it rolling." It didn't work as well a week later. Putnam gave up the tying RBI single with two out in the ninth July 5, and Chicago fell 3-2 to the Seattle Mar- iners in 14 innings. The White Sox blew 13 saves prior to the All-Star break July 14-17. "We just didn't get it done," Ven- tura said. "Right now we're at the