The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/495628
BY JOHN BORTON I t's tough to even gauge the depth and breadth of the wave of change Michigan foot- ball rode through the winter and spring months. There's a new coaching staff, new teaching, new approaches on offense, defense and special teams, and a different train- ing staff. There are personnel changes all over the field, although many famil- iar names remain. Unexpected at- trition teamed with more easily an- ticipated departures and injuries that shook up the spring lineup. Several months remain before the Wolverines have to play a football game. By most accounts — particu- larly on the offensive side of the ball — that's a good thing. New head coach Jim Harbaugh and his team have time to work, reorder and improve. At the same time, some aspects of the various po- sition groups became quite evident through spring ball. Here's a rundown of what jumped out during the spring, and what Michigan's new coaches are saying. Quarterback Michigan didn't settle anything here through 15 spring practices, although it witnessed some separa- tion. In fact, the starting quarterback against Utah come Sept. 3 may not have even been on the field in the April 4 spring game. It may be that fifth-year senior Jake Rudock, headed for Michigan via a transfer from Iowa, becomes the free agent quick fix. It could be that 6-6 incoming freshman Zach Gen- try arrives in the summer as a quick enough study to take over. Or it might be that one of Michi- gan's three scholarship quarterbacks in spring ball — junior Shane Mor- ris, redshirt freshman Wilton Speight or freshman Alex Malzone — keeps improving and secures the job. There were no signs that had happened by the end of spring, although Morris moved ahead. Morris remains strong-armed, but not always accurate enough to put a stranglehold on a spot at which he's the only experienced returner. Speight showed flashes at times, but struggled What We Now Know Spring Ball Reveals Big Changes For The Wolverines