The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN FOOTBALL Brown are two great coaches to work with," McCray said. "They're bring- ing a lot of knowledge to the game. I've learned a lot so far, and I'm look- ing forward to learning more. "I feel like it's a new start. It's a new defensive coordinator, and I feel a lot more healthy than I have in a while. I have a lot more confidence in myself." A HUMBLED TY ISAAC SEEKS SECOND CHANCE When Michigan landed running back Ty Isaac as a transfer in 2014, fans patiently waited for the 2015 season, anticipating the former five- star would deliver the explosive, home run hitting ball carrier the Wol- verines have lacked. But the redshirt junior only delivered one long run (76 yards), averaging 4.4 yards on his other 29 carries. It was a long, hard, disappointing season for Isaac, who earned touches in just seven games and did not see the field for the Maize and Blue in four November games or Michigan's Citrus Bowl win over Florida Jan. 1. "I got humbled a little bit last sea- son," Isaac said following U-M's sixth practice of the spring. "Anyone coming in [to a program], you want to play, but it's one of those things you have to realize, I have to take advantage when I do get chances." There was considerable discussion last spring, through the summer and then as Isaac's game reps grew fewer and finally disappeared altogether, that he was in the coaches' doghouse. Meeting with the media this spring, running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley refuted such claims. "Ty didn't do anything to dis-earn my trust, didn't do anything wrong, wasn't in the doghouse, it was just that [senior] De'Veon Smith out- played those guys," Wheatley said. "Someone outplayed him. It's noth- ing that Ty did. "Last year, I didn't really have a proven guy going in, but De'Veon surpassed those guys and outworked them and was the better player." Smith rushed for a team- and ca- reer-high 753 yards and six touch- downs on 180 carries (4.2 yards per rush), and is the frontrunner to be Michigan's No. 1 tailback this fall. "A lot of our guys are trying to get to the point where De'Veon is. They want to beat him out," Wheat- ley said. "It is his job to lose at this stage." W h e a t l e y b e l i e v e s t h e 5 - 11 , 228-pound Smith, who carried the ball 20 times or more just twice in 2015 — against Oregon State (finish- ing with 126 yards on 23 touches) and Florida (totaling 109 yards on 25 attempts) — could carry the ball 20 to 25 times per game in 2016, if he runs smarter. "He's a tough runner, gets stron- ger and more physical as the game goes on, but a guy that dishes out and receives that much punishment," Wheatley said. "… That's why we're talking about trying to slip some guys, not taking as many hits as pos- sible, but still being able to finish the run at the end." Isaac, on the other hand, needs to