The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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cally strong players that can fill the biggest need U-M has — at guard, where fifth-year senior Kyle Kalis continues to have problems picking up stunts in pass protection and fails to play with the leverage needed when run blocking. Had one of Michigan's signees enrolled early, they would be a big- ger threat. However, it's doubtful Onwenu or Bredeson could make up that much ground on Kalis in three weeks of fall practices, but watch for a freshman to surface in October, like sophomore left tackle Grant New- some did in 2015. How many snaps will Jabrill Pep- pers play on offense? In the spring, zero. Peppers and Drevno both noted the importance of familiarizing the redshirt sophomore with first-year coordinator Don Brown's defense. That was especially important be- cause Peppers moved from nickel back to strongside linebacker in the spring. But Peppers fully expects to play some offense in 2016. "They didn't want to overload me this spring because this is my third defensive coordinator in three years," he said. "Once we get closer to the season, I think they'll bring me back over." Peppers averaged 5.8 yards on 26 offensive touches last season, and he is too dangerous to go unutilized. However, talk that Peppers was needed at tailback has been miti- gated by improved health from se- niors De'Veon Smith and Drake Johnson, the rapid ascension of red- shirt junior Ty Isaac, and the arrival of rookies Kareem Walker and Kings- ton Davis. Michigan can save Peppers for big games, starting with Wisconsin in week five, unleashing him on de- fense and in the return game without overusing him on both sides of the ball. Will there be enough balls to go around? Michigan has a plethora of targets at receiver and tight end unri- valed in the last decade. In Michigan's spring game, the quarterbacks connected with four different tight ends and four receiv- ers, with fifth-year senior wideouts Jehu Chesson (injury) and Amara Darboh failing to catch a ball — Dar- boh only played a handful of snaps before sitting out to rest. Harbaugh said this spring that Darboh has overtaken Chesson to be the best receiver on the team (le- gitimate and a motivational tactic), but the two are expected to catch 70- 75 balls, receivers coach Jedd Fisch insists. Add another 50-reception season for senior tight end Jake Butt, and it's hard to see how others can contribute much. With a proficient QB under cen- ter, Michigan should average the 25 completions/receptions it did in the final five weeks of the 2015 season, and while there will be a feeding frenzy for the leftovers, U-M will cer- tainly relish this opportunity. ❏ Associate Editor Michael Spath has been with The Wolverine since 2002. Contact him at mspath@thewolverine.com and follow him on Twitter @Spath_Wolverine.