The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN FOOTBALL "How couldn't you get excited about being a fullback with that?" he said. "We really look forward to that as fullbacks and running backs, that emphasis on the power game, downhill. Using a fullback and extra linemen, it's really been awesome this spring." He acknowledged there is a lot of getting up to speed that needs to be accomplished, in a new offense. The emphasis on running the ball, even early, can't be missed. That includes offensive line coach and run game coordinator Tim Drev- no's meticulous work with Michi- gan's offensive linemen, Kerridge pointed out. "The thing about Coach Drevno is, he's so detail oriented," Kerridge said. "He's going to tell you exactly where you need to be, exactly what to do, and exactly how to do it, every single play. He drills that in every meeting. "It's crystal clear. That's something he likes to say: 'Make sure it's crystal clear before you leave.' It's been re- ally good to have an offensive coor- dinator like that, who is really into the details, teaching all of us exactly what we need to do." Kerridge said he loves Wheatley, and all the new running backs coach brings to the table. Having played at Michigan and in the NFL gives Wheatley a unique insight into where not only the Wolverines have been, but where many want to go, he explained. "Being younger and going through the program, he's like one of us," Kerridge said. "There are times when we joke around in the room, and there are times we're serious. We know that fine line. He's our coach, but he likes to be family with us, likes to be really close with us. That's been a great thing throughout the spring." Kerridge noted there are a host of fullbacks battling now, for a position that is anything but an afterthought in this offense. After rushing three times for 56 yards a year ago, and catching six passes for another 53 — along with clearing the way for others — Kerridge expects to put his best foot forward in that competition. DRAKE JOHNSON FACES CHALLENGING RECOVERY When Drake Johnson clutched at his left knee after crossing the goal line in Michigan's 2014 regular- season finale against Ohio State, he feared the worst. The Wolverine ball carrier had already blown out his ACL in the first game of the 2013 season, and now he had suffered the same injury to the same knee. In an article on TheWolverine.com, Dr. Preeti Malani, a professor of med- icine at the University of Michigan, offered a detailed explanation of ACL injuries, including the steps neces- sary to prepare for surgery, and the procedures done by doctors to repair the ACL. Speaking to orthopedic surgeon, and Michigan football team doctor, Bruce Miller, Malani noted for some- one like Johnson, returning from a second ACL tear, especially to the same knee, is fraught with risk.