The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN FOOTBALL series against UNLV. U-M head coach Jim Harbaugh noted Morris is, "the No. 2 quarterback, but not the No. 2 guy to go into the game to take two knee-downs at the end of the game." Many have speculated the decision to potentially redshirt Morris signifies the junior intends to transfer after this season, giving him two years to compete for the starting job someplace else. A source close to the football program says that is not true, though noting if it were, it would make far more sense for Mor- ris to transfer now and not risk any chance of losing a second year of eligibility. The fact is, Morris has been a consummate teammate, showing a selflessness to do whatever is needed from him this season, and he intends to return to U-M in 2016 and compete for the starting job. However, John O'Korn, who is redshirting this year after transferring from Houston, is thought to be the leader to replace Rudock. O'Korn, who will be a redshirt junior next season, has been compared in skill set to Dallas Cowboys' quarterback Tony Romo — someone that has great arm strength, touch, a high football IQ, is mobile and can throw on the run. • The pecking order at tailback after three games is junior De'Veon Smith, redshirt junior Drake Harris, redshirt sophomore Ty Isaac and then junior Der- rick Green. Fans are clamoring for more of Isaac — 58 percent of 1,262 votes in a TheWol- verine.com poll Sept. 20 wanted to see Isaac start against BYU — but Smith is the more complete back, demonstrating the ability to protect Rudock in pass protection. That is an area severely lacking from Isaac's game. Still, Isaac demonstrated far more patience and big-play ability in week three against UNLV than Smith did, and the inconsistency of Smith's vision — there one week and gone the next — must become better if he is to maintain his tenuous position as Michigan's No. 1 ball carrier. • The most improved position group on the team might be the defensive sec- ondary. Redshirt freshman Jabrill Peppers has added a physical presence and will continue to be used in blitzing packages off the edge, but the progress of U-M's cornerbacks has been the biggest change from last year. Junior Jourdan Lewis has been beaten only once this year — even then it took a perfect back-corner pass to the end zone — and had six passes broken up through three contests, putting teams on notice that they will not be able to throw to his side. Junior Channing Stribling is getting better every week, and redshirt junior Jeremy Clark — who moved in from safety during fall camp — is also showing dramatic improvement. The Wolverines' defensive backs will be tested more heavily in the coming weeks against the likes of Northwestern and Michigan State, but there is reason to believe this unit will be up to any challenge throughout the year.