The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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28 THE WOLVERINE MAY 2017 BY JOHN BORTON T ake Michigan's 2016 special teams units, then remove Kenny Allen and Jabrill Pep- pers. There goes the field goal kicker, punter, kickoff specialist, punt returner and leading kick returner. So, what's next? No imminent disaster, if you ask those plugging the holes. Just plenty of work and fitting talent to job openings. "We've got a lot of guys working at that," special teams coordinator Chris Partridge said, when asked par- ticularly about the new return men. "I think we'll be pretty dynamic back there." As for Peppers' absence, Partridge knows he and the Wolverines must move on, whether at linebacker or on special teams. "You're not going to have another Jabrill Peppers," Partridge said. "You're not going to replace him. But at a position is the skill replaceable? Of course. That's what we're here for. "It's exciting, and it's motivating. Jabrill Peppers is a phenomenal ath- lete, and was a great teammate and a great kid here, but we've moved on from that." Now it's a matter of moving the ball — and kicking it — with the sort of proficiency the Wolverines were accus- tomed to last season. Allen averaged 43.3 yards per punt and made 19 of 23 field goal attempts, while Peppers always proved a breakaway threat. Partridge doesn't see why that has to change. RETURN MEN "One of my goals for this team is to be a very dynamic return team," Par- tridge offered midway through spring practice. "I want to lead the country in punt returns. We led the country in blocks last year, and, believe me, we're going to come after people. "But we want to flip the script, so we're doing a lot of work on the return game this year — different drills, dif- ferent techniques. We're stepping it up big time with that, and hopefully it will help the returners, give them more room." As many as 15 Wolverines were get- ting chances at the return spots over the course of spring practice. Partridge explained Michigan is treating the position like an individual specialist, with a graduate assistant specifically assigned to work with the return men. Sophomore wide receiver Nate John- son proved the only Wolverine to field a punt in the spring game, and he did not do it cleanly. He dropped it, with early enrollee freshman defensive back Jaylen Kelly-Powell diving on it to set up a touchdown for the Blue squad, in a contest eventually won 31-29 by the Maize. Johnson — who has enjoyed signifi- cant praise by teammates this spring for his elusiveness — lost one other fumble on the day, after making a catch and struggling for extra yards. He'll be looking to smooth out the ball security through the summer to challenge for a key role in the fall. The Wolverines feature any number of fast, athletic return men who could emerge, including sophomore wideout Kekoa Crawford, sophomore running back Chris Evans, sophomore wide re- ceiver Eddie McDoom, junior running back Karan Higdon, freshman wide- out Donovan Peoples-Jones and more. Partridge noted the return man cast is being winnowed down day by day, until the Wolverines come away with players in both the kickoff and punt games to handle the jobs. The spring game itself didn't settle anything in that regard, and may have clouded the issue again. But the con- testants get new opportunities in each practice, and that will continue into fall camp in August. KICKERS Allen proved the one-man wrecking crew last season, and Partridge knows it's premature to say the jobs will be split between all different people this season. He's waiting to see how those people perform, and that includes in- coming freshman punter Brad Rob- bins. "We're working everybody at every- thing," Partridge said. "We're trying to make well-rounded football players … We try to teach these guys the whole deal. "The punters understand the protec- tions. The gunners understand what the line is doing. The line understands what the gunners are doing. We're try- ing to do that in the spring with the entire specialist group." Robbins joins the competition the moment he arrives, the coach assured. KICKING UP CHANGE The Wolverines Start The Process Of Their Special Teams Adjustment Sophomore wide receiver Nate Johnson is among a host of players vying for kick and punt return duties. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN