The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS "Coach Wheatley puts a lot more emphasis on being a player's coach. … He understands what we're going through on the field, how our bodies are feeling right now and he's understandable with that." The Wolverine: You talked about improving your vision and missing a few big plays in the Utah game. How do your teammates respond when you're watching that in film? Smith: "They get on me about it … say, 'Oh, man, you missed a big hole! That could have been a house call!' You have to be tough skinned if you're going to play this game, anyway. All your teammates are going to be like, 'Yeah, you missed this play,' but you have to understand why they're saying that. "They're trying to help you. They're your brothers. They're going to get on you about you missing a play. Everybody's here to make each other better." The Wolverine: What do you feel you did to win the starting job? Smith: "Hard work and getting in the playbook, really. Whoever shows up every day and knows the playbook best, that's really the big thing. I guess it's a kind of mindset you've got to have [to play through injury]. "Either you want the job or somebody else is going to take it." The Wolverine: Now that you've got it, how do you keep it? Smith: "I just know I can't get comfortable with being the No. 1 guy. We're all competing every day, and the guy behind me is competing to take my job. "And if he tries to take my job, I'm going to make sure he doesn't take my job." — Chris Balas ZAK IRVIN OUT SEVERAL WEEKS WITH PROCEDURE Zak Irvin, a stalwart from John Beilein's 2014-15 crew, will miss six to eight weeks leading to the upcoming season following a medical proce- dure involving his back, according to the coach. The junior forward had the procedure done in September at the University of Michigan Hospital. "We expect a 100 percent recovery for Zak after this procedure," Beilein said. "We will not rush his return; but given Zak's work habits and deter- mined attitude, we anticipate he will be back on the court and at full speed sometime near the beginning of our season." Irvin took charge offensively for the Wolverines last season, averaging 14.3 points per game. He recorded a career-best 28 points at Northwestern March 3 and paced the Wolverines with 77 three-point buckets. He ranked fifth in the Big Ten in three-pointers made per game (2.4) and averaged 4.8 rebounds per contest as well. Irvin shared Bill Buntin Most Valuable Player honors for the season with senior teammate Spike Albrecht.