The Wolverine

MICHIGAN FOOTBALL three touchdowns. Seeing a produc- tion improvement similar to his 2011 effort would make a huge difference for the Wolverines in any hoped-for run to contention in the Big Ten. Hoke continues to insist the Wol- verines will get better on the ground throughout the year, starting up front. The more the "non-Denard" attack gets it done, the easier it will be for everyone in winged helmets. In the first four games this season, Michigan generated 28 total plays of 20 yards or more, including seven MICHIGAN'S BIG PLAYS AKIN TO LAST SEASON runs and 12 pass completions. Though they achieved them in a different way, the Wolverines had 29 such plays, including 10 rushes and nine passes, through four games a year ago, and had not played the competition U-M has this season; Michigan has faced No. 1 Alabama and No. 10 Notre Dame. The Wolverines are on pace for 62 offensive plays over a 13-game schedule that includes a bowl, down from 65 offensive plays in 2011 and 2010. U-M's special teams produc- Year Total Rush Pass KR PR INT FR 2012 28 7 12 9 0 91* 23* 39* 29* 0 MICHIGAN BIG PLAYS COMPARED TO 2011, 2010 OFFENSE SP.TEAMS DEFENSE 2011 89 30 35 16 4 2010 106 *On pace for. 24 41 38 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 2 0 signal-caller would have ranked first, but he didn't even make the Hot 11 following a nightmarish evening in South Bend in week four. Despite that effort, he has been up to his same old tricks, accumulating 441 yards rushing to rank 16th nationally while throwing for 837 yards. LB Jake Ryan (23): Michigan's defense gan's quarterback-turned wide receiver has been better than almost anyone could have forecasted, leading the Wolverines in receptions (11), yards (195) and touch- downs (three), becoming just the fourth Wolverine in program history to record a TD in each of the first three games of a season. QB Denard Robinson (25): The senior the 11 best players from that weekend's contests, in a feature dubbed "The Hot 11." After four games, here are Michigan's top 11 players based on point totals accumu- lated by their appearances in the Hot 11. WR Devin Gardner (34 points): Michi- Hot 11: Michigan's Top Performers Through The Non-Conference Every Monday during the season TheWolverine.com ranks backs, with 30 tackles, including two for loss, and is a big reason why U-M ranks first in the conference in pass defense (154.5 yards allowed per game). RB Dennis Norfleet (15): Though he has touched the ball only once offensively, on a rush of 14 yards, the rookie has been an impact player on special teams, averag- ing 24.1 yards per kickoff return to rank third in the Big Ten. He has a long of 36 yards, four returns of 30 yards or more and nine of 20 yards or more. A year ago, Mich- igan had only 16 kickoff returns of 20-plus yards, and Norfleet is on pace for 29. DE Frank Clark (13): After returning Quarterback turned wide receiver Devin Gardner caught a touchdown pass in each the big plays that were his hallmark in 2011, Kovacs still ranks among Michigan's most consistent defenders this fall. He leads the Wolverines, and ranks second among Big Ten defensive — he didn't play in the opener — the rookie tight end is on pace for a 32-reception season and could break the 600-yard threshold. Most importantly, he's been a big-play threat for the offense, emerging as one of Robinson's favorite targets. S Jordan Kovacs (17): Though he hasn't been delivering see Gallon atop the leaderboard at receiver after he ranked second a year ago with 31 receptions. This season the redshirt junior is keeping pace with Gardner, snagging 11 balls for 179 yards, and he had a breakout performance in week one, record- ing a career-high 107 yards against Alabama. TE Devin Funchess (19): With eight catches in three games has been largely inconsistent, and some might say disappoint- ing through four weeks, but that label doesn't fit Ryan. The redshirt sophomore strongside linebacker ranks third on the team with 25 tackles, including two for loss, and has a team- high three pass breakups with two quarterback hurries. WR Jeremy Gallon (22): It should not come as a surprise to of the first three games of the season. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL fort, the junior will obliterate the U-M single-season record for punting. Hagerup is averaging 48.5 yards per punt, on 10 kicks, which puts him well ahead of Zoltan Mesko's record 44.46-yard average in 2009. K Matt Wile (10): Acting in two roles, as both U-M's kickoff man and its pooch punter, the sophomore has excelled in both. In three attempts to pin the opponent inside the 20-yard line, Wile has come through as a punter, and he's recorded 12 touchbacks among 21 kickoffs this season, with opponents averaging 23.8 yards per return. OCTOBER 2012 THE WOLVERINE 45 corps this season has been its depth; six different wide receiv- ers have at least two catches, including Dileo, who ranks fifth on the team with his five receptions. The junior has been a safety valve for Robinson on third downs, but also showed he has big-play ability with a 66-yard catch and run against Mas- sachusetts in week three. P Will Hagerup (11): If he can sustain his early-season ef- three sacks, but in Clark, the Maize and Blue have a potential threat off the edge. WR Drew Dileo (12): The strength of Michigan's receiving to the lineup in week two following a one-game suspension, the sophomore defensive end has developed into a play- maker for the Wolverines, notching team highs in tackles for loss (three) and pass breakups (three) while recording eight total stops. Michigan has not had much success bringing the quarterback to the ground, ranking last in the Big Ten with

• Cover