The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/480355
Smith wound up rushing for 519 yards and scoring six touchdowns on 108 carries. Embracing contact more than any of the Wolverines' ball carri- ers, he took short-yardage situations head on, while posting 100-yard rush- ing games against Appalachian State (115) and Northwestern (121). Michigan's new coaches won't overlook Smith's physical approach. They're seeking to institute a bruis- ing, relentless rushing attack, and the junior could prove a big piece of the puzzle. "Smith was probably one of the bet- ter guys at blocking," Skene said. "I certainly like his running style. He always found a way to fall forward. I felt like he had a little vision on the smaller seams, and I liked the way he ran the football. "Until I see any of them, consistently on third down, square up a blitzer — and not just throw a shoulder and a chicken wing, but square somebody up and stone them in the gap — then we have not arrived yet as a position group. "That's the goal. They've all got their ball-carrying strengths, but man, you've got to block." Perhaps Michigan's most effective ball carrier in the latter portion of the 2014 season isn't able to compete in spring ball. Senior Drake Johnson, at 6-0 and 207 pounds, rushed for 361 yards and four touchdowns on 60 car- ries in 2014. He was on his way to his best game of the year at Ohio State, going for 74 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. The Wolverines jumped out to a quick lead and were playing the eventual national champions score for score … until Johnson left the game with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in a knee, his second such injury in his Michigan career. The game spun out of control there- after, and Johnson spent the past sev- eral months trying to regain control of his situation. He's undergone surgery, labored through another protracted rehab period and done everything he can to work himself back. "Unfortunately, Drake hurt his knee again against Ohio State," Skene said. "Drake was the perfect example of a guy who didn't have the perfect phys- ical presentation those other guys had, but found a way to get the ball to open space. It stinks that he got hurt the way he did." FIERCE FIGHT INTO AUGUST Isaac, Green and Smith find them- selves in a major battle over the next few months. They have an oppor- tunity to become one of Michigan's breakout performers in a year when the run game gets elevated several more rungs. At least, that's the plan. Wheatley likes the talent on hand, but stresses it's too early to make any big predictions. "These guys are a talented bunch — very talented," he said. "I don't think they even understand who they are and what they can be at the end. There's a lot to work with, and I'm ex- cited to work with those guys. They're just scratching the surface how to run the ball, what to look for, block- ing schemes … they're in the infancy stages right now."