The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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"No one's expectations are higher than ours," Peppers assured. "We have high expectations, but we're re- alistic with them. We just know what we expect to do, from the work we put in. It's proven. You work hard, great things will happen. If you don't, they won't." Peppers might have more reason than any of them to work hard and put an extra stamp on 2016. His in- jured hand kept him on the sidelines in the Citrus Bowl, forcing him to be nothing but a spectator in Michigan's 41-7 humbling of Florida on New Year's Day. He learned from that experience and is hungrier than ever going into the new season. "As a competitor, you always want to be out there with your guys," he said. "Once I saw the way the game was going, it kind of made it a little more easy to watch. We kind of took their heart early on. I don't know if they took us lightly or what. "We called our preparation 'Christ- mas Camp.' We were just working hard, treating it like camp and trying to put our best performance forward." They're doing so again, ramping up under a new defensive coordina- tor. They're all learning on the fly, in- cluding Partridge to an extent, what Harbaugh and Brown want out of a defense. That's okay, too, Partridge noted, because there isn't a better place to be soaking up guidance. Exams are coming, but the prepara- tion is ongoing. ❏ Michigan's special teams have new bosses this season with linebacker coach Chris Partridge and tight ends coach Jay Harbaugh taking over. They've got plenty on their plate, but one big decision probably won't come until August. That choice involves the split between the placekicking and punting duties. The Wolverines are bringing in top kicking recruit Quinn Nordin out of Rock- ford, Mich., and they've already got fifth-year senior Kenny Allen on hand. Allen stepped into the placekicking role a year ago and went 18 of 22 on field goals. When punter Blake O'Neill succumbed to injury prior to the Citrus Bowl, Allen assumed those duties as well — and promptly spanked a 57-yarder in his only attempt in Orlando, Fla. Allen assured he'd be game to try both in 2016. "I think it be awesome," he said. "I did it back in high school, and you see a couple guys around the country doing it. I love both, so I think it would be awesome to do both. "We got Blake last year and he did a phenomenal job, so there was really nothing for me to do as far as punting. It was all rugby style. I just thought I'd start kicking for fun. Before I knew it I was No. 1 kicker, so I said: 'Okay, I'll run with this.' I was practicing more, getting a little better. The season came around and I was kicking." Allen could handle both, if needed, Harbaugh assured. Special Teams Shaped Up In The Spring