The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/49941
Offensive Players To Watch During Bowl Practices Michigan will begin bowl practices later this month, and the 15 designated days are typically divided into two formats, achieving multiple purposes. The staff will spend time coaching fundamentals, creating an opportunity for younger players to accelerate their learning curves substantially, while also focusing on installing the game plan necessary to beat the Wolverines' opponent. Here is a look at the young players (and some veterans) that could benefit the most from the increased attention. OL Rocko Khoury: The 6-4, 287-pound redshirt junior has appeared in 10 ca- reer contests, nine at center, including all four appearances this season. He has been groomed to take over for fifth-year senior David Molk and could start the succession plan during bowl prep. OL Ricky Barnum: The 6-3, 292-pounder started three games at left guard this season (and had won the job in fall camp) before injuries capsized his redshirt junior campaign. Injuries have been an issue for Barnum throughout his career, but if healthy he could be a starting guard next year or use bowl practices to develop as a potential center. FB Stephen Hopkins: A recruited tailback, Hopkins made the move to fullback early this season, and after a sluggish start, improved considerably throughout the year. The 6-0, 228-pound sophomore played a critical role in the emergence of tailback Fitzgerald Toussaint, and he will only grow in his capabilities as a lead blocker and a runner/receiver — he had 43 yards rushing and 28 receiving this fall. WR JEREMY JACKSON: Michigan is set to graduate two of its top receivers in Junior Hemmingway and Martavious Odoms, and Jackson — who played in all 12 games as a reserve receiver and had three catches — stands a good possibility to see in- creased playing time. He can use bowl practices to develop a greater rapport with U-M's quar- terbacks. WR Jerald Robinson: A class- mate of Jackson's — though Rob- inson took a redshirt in 2010 — the 6-1, 206-pounder had a strong summer, but an inconsistent fall. He saw the field only twice at receiver and in 10 games on special teams. Robinson needs to work on every- thing, but with continued maturation could be an emerging talent next fall. TE Ricardo Miller: The third wide receiver of the class of 2010, Miller moved to tight end in the spring and must play a role for an offense that will send off Kevin Koger and Steve Watson after the bowl game. The 6-4, 234-pound redshirt freshman saw action in nine games on special teams and twice at tight end. He can use bowl prep as a jumping off point for the 2012 campaign. OL Chris Bryant: Michigan will be ex- tremely thin on the offensive line next sea- son, with only six scholarship Wolverines having seen the field before. It is impera- tive one (or both) of U-M's two freshmen — Bryant and Jack Miller — steps up, and Bryant (6-4, 341 pounds) has the natural ability and the size to contribute. He will likely earn plenty of repetitions in bowl practices to harness his capabilities. — Michael Spath 34 THE WOLVERINE DECEMBER 2011 Michigan averaged 423.1 yards per game — the 14th 400-yard sea- son in the modern era — and 34.2 points per contest. The Maize and Blue eclipsed 400 yards of total of- fense eight times (with one game re- maining) compared to nine times in 2010, while U-M has generated 64 explosion plays (gains of 20 yards or more) compared to 65 a season ago (see chart). With one exception (Michigan State), Michigan's offense also per- formed admirably against every team on the schedule. Against pro- grams ranked in the top 40 nationally in total defense, U-M averaged 399.5 yards (see chart) and 32.7 points per game. In matchups with the six de- fenses on their schedule ranking 50th or worse, the Wolverines averaged 446.7 yards and 35.7 points per con- test. Robinson had been responsible for a good majority of the offense early, but with the emergence of redshirt sophomore tailback Fitzgerald Tous- saint, the signal-caller carried less of a burden. Toussaint became the first U-M running back since Mike Hart in 2007 to rush for 1,000 yards in a season (1,011) while surpassing 100 yards in five games, all during con- ference play. The success or failure of the of- fense, however, is intrinsically tied to its quarterback, which is why Rob- inson found himself under the micro- scope all year, occupying the spot- light after a first season as Michigan's starter in which he largely exceeded expectations, completing 62.5 percent of his passes for 2,570 yards with 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2010. He also rushed for an NCAA single-season quarterback record 1,702 yards and 14 scores, obliterat- ing U-M's total offense mark with 4,272 yards. With that success, expectations ramped up for 2011, most glossing over the notion that Robinson would struggle in his first season in a new offense. In the estimation of many, the only way the junior stumbled was if Michigan screwed him up, stripping him of his natural instincts by forcing him to become a system- atic signal-caller. And that was the conclusion a small but loud faction of fans and college football analysts argued had come to after Robinson ended Oc- PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL