The Wolverine

Junior cornerback Courtney Avery, who started three of Michigan's four non-conference games this season, posted eight total tackles, includ- ing 1.5 tackles for loss, in Michigan's 2-2 start to the 2012 campaign. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN "I've noticed him in practice, and I said that to him before the UMass game," Mattison said. "He's gotten better in practice, and I've said that every week. It seems like he's getting better. That's what we needed to have happen with Blake going down." Taylor did give up a couple of pass- ing plays against the Minutemen, but both mistakes were correctable. "On one pass he didn't get his hand through the ball. In fact, it happened two times," Mattison said. "The one down the sideline was a great throw and catch. He was right there. Now, there is coaching that's done once you see that — get your hand through his hands and you're going to knock the ball away. "The other one they completed on him over the middle was lack of con- centration. That was a guy not keep- ing his eye on his guy, and he learned from that. He knew right away, and it was addressed right away. "Those are all the things young 34 THE WOLVERINE OCTOBER 2012 guys have to do when they do some- thing like that in a game — if it doesn't cost you and you can correct it, you're really ahead for the next one." experience is how the speed of the game slows for a young player after a certain amount of reps. Believing what he sees is easier after he's wit- nessed it a number of times, Mallory added. "A young guy when he gets in Most of the talk when it comes to tinue to take steps." Both Avery and Taylor will con- tinue to battle for time, Hoke added. "Ray is making progress. His tech- nique and fundamentals are a little better; his eyes are a little better," Hoke said. "A big part of defensive back is to play with your feet and your eyes, and I think he's learning that." there for the first time, things start moving fast," he said. "His eyes tend to sit in the backfield when he needs to read his keys. It comes down to re- ally seeing himself and the mistakes he did make — how easy it would have been prevented if he had just read his keys and done his technique. "Ray knows that. He's learning from that, and he's improved from his first opportunity against Ala- bama, moving to Air Force to the third game. We expect him to con- Developing depth will be one of Mallory's next goals. Sophomore De- lonte Hollowell and freshman Terry Richardson continue to learn, but nei- ther was a factor in the non-confer- ence portion of the schedule. Both are coming along, though, Mallory said. "Each week, every practice, every play is important to those guys," he said. "They just need a bunch of reps, and that's what they're getting." For now, though, Avery and Taylor THE COMPETITION CONTINUES are the primary options at the po- sition. Avery brings experience and

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