The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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tations of playing Michigan defense — from the players to the coaches to everybody — is important. That's a huge plus." Robinson's smile on ESPN — 1,176 yards and 16 touchdowns rush- ing, 2,173 yards and 20 more scores through the air. But there are other digits to be worked on this spring, starting with 15 interceptions. Those Quarterbacks The numbers jump out like Denard Brady Hoke Talks About U-M's Position Switches ing to U-M head coach Brady Hoke. They help the team and its needs, but quite often help individual players seeking where they best fit in and can thrive. Here is a list of U-M spring moves, with Hoke's accompanying observations: • Sophomore Brennen Beyer, from strongside linebacker to rush end: "He keeps getting bigger. He's athletic, and he's tough. He got hurt before the Ohio game, but he'd made strides all the way through, and he's going to be 265, 270 pounds. "He's a rangy guy, like a lot of them you've seen before. We think he's a great student, a great kid, tough. He's a Michigan guy. Michigan's spring practice position switches serve a twofold purpose, accord- " should go down, and a 55-percent completion rate should go up, in Robinson's second year under offen- sive coordinator Al Borges. "He needs to be more of a consis- Junior Jibreel Black, who posted 18 tackles and 1.5 sacks last year, will be making a move from rush end to defensive tackle this season. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL tent, total quarterback," Hoke said. "You look at the Nebraska and Ohio games, and how he performed at a high level, with his decisiveness in throwing the football and the accu- racy he had, and his decisiveness in running the football. "He let the game come to him. He needs to do that. He's done that on big stages, with those two games. It's the consistency of being a Michigan quarterback. The interception rate can't be what it was. He's got to take care of the football that way." Hoke has seen Robinson grow, and he can grow into that position, and that's where we think he'll be most effective. He's got a good first two steps. He's got quickness. He's got to gain weight, which he is. He's 272 now. He's got good toughness to him, and a great motor to him. "You had a guy like Glen Steele playing there before, who was 290, and we • Senior Craig Roh, from rush end to five-technique (defensive end): "We think moved Glen some. Craig gives you the opportunity to do both. He'd be good at 280 pounds, with his quickness and ability in the components built into the defense. That will be a really good move for us defensively. did a lot of it when we got into our dime package and nickel package. He's shown he has the physicalness to play in there. He's a guy who is going to put some weight on, which he's doing, but he'll do a great job for us there. • Junior Jibreel Black, from rush end to three-technique (defensive tackle): "He " redshirt sophomores Chris Eddins and Jordan Paskorz from defensive end and linebacker, respectively, to tight end. "We've got some guys we're thinking about [moving], but I don't want to talk about them yet, Other moves involve fifth-year senior Ricky Barnum from guard to center, and " insists he's inside Schembechler Hall nearly every day, watching video and critiquing himself. Because of always look within, at your personnel, the class coming in. You kind of project guys, but those are things you never know until they get here. " Hoke said. "We may try a couple of things in the spring. You " — John Borton APRIL 2012 THE WOLVERINE 23