The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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10 THE WOLVERINE DECEMBER 2017 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Michigan freshman Brad Robbins took over starting punting duties at Purdue, after he averaged 40.6 yards on seven punts. He's had his ups and downs, but the former prep No. 1 punter nationally (by Kornblue Kicking) has a big leg and great potential. Here's our recent exchange with him: The Wolverine: You were commit- ted to Nevada at one point and had a month to figure out where you were going to go after their coaches were let go. How surprising was it to hear from Michigan? Brad Robbins: "I was pretty shocked, at first. I knew a couple kicking coaches that had connec- tions here and ended up talking to a few coaches and throwing my name into the pile. I'm just glad it hap- pened. "I got a call with about two weeks left in the recruiting season … my dad answers the phone and goes, 'Hello?' and Coach Harbaugh goes, 'Jim Harbaugh, Michigan.' My dad goes, 'Oh, hey Jim!' His voice cracked … it was priceless. My brother and I were sitting in the other room making fun of him. It was great." The Wolverine: You've averaged 41.0 yards per punt heading into the Wisconsin game with a long of 57 and dropped 12 kicks inside the 20. How would you assess your per- formance? Robbins: "I knew there were high expectations coming in. I'm filling Kenny Allen's shoes. I feel like I've played decently. I'm not ever go- ing to be satisfied with how I play, because I have high expectations for myself. I want to average 60 yards if I can." The Wolverine: You took the start- ing job from redshirt freshman Will Hart before the Purdue game. How much is this your job to lose now? Robbins: "I wouldn't say it's guaranteed. We're still fighting every single day. Like Coach Har- baugh says, it's a meritocracy. My position is not won, it's not guar- anteed. "We're going to continue to battle every day, and I'm going to con- tinue to do my best to earn my spot every week." The Wolverine: What's your rela- tionship like with the other kickers? Robbins: "[Redshirt freshman kicker Quinn Nordin] and I con- stantly chip at each other, go back and forth and say we're going to take each other's jobs. I told him I'm going to kick field goals, and he told me he's going to take my job. "It's all good fun. He has a big leg, too." The Wolverine: Kickers dream of kicking game-winning field goals. What's a punter's fantasy? Robbins: "Punters dream of that perfect pooch punt where you pin them right down at the one, or get- ting that big hit on the sideline. "You don't ever want to make a tackle as a punter, but just dreaming of hitting someone out of bounds or knocking their head off." — Chris Balas Through 10 games, Robbins has punted 42 times for an average of 41.0 yards per attempt. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHETIC MEDIA RELATIONS Sitting Down With Michigan Freshman Punter Brad Robbins Ohio State Still Has U-M's Number By Brandon Brown Ohio State has looked unbeatable at times this year, but at other times they've looked very pedestrian — like the 31-point beatdown they took in Iowa City. If that team shows up in Ann Arbor then Michigan will cer- tainly have a shot in the contest, but when's the last time a Buckeye team showed up flat for The Game? It simply doesn't happen … at least not in recent memory. Fifth-year senior quarterback J.T. Barrett appears to have figured out a balance between running and passing, and the running back duo of freshman J.K. Dobbins and junior Mike Weber has really hit its stride down the stretch. Throw in OSU's vaunted defensive line and athletes all over the field on de- fense, and it just seems to spell trouble for the Maize and Blue. Michigan should have won last year in Columbus, but fell short at the end. This year's Wolverines don't seem to have what it takes on offense to hang with the Bucks. Don Brown's defense will keep U-M in just about any game, but if OSU starts clicking on offense, it could look a lot like Michigan's blowout loss to Penn State all over again. Michigan Has A Shot To Beat The Bucks By Chris Balas A year without a win over a rival can never be a great season, and Michigan missed one chance in letting a very winnable game against a mediocre Michigan State team get away, losing 14-10 after falling behind before the rains came. Now, though, they have a chance to atone. The Buckeyes are talented, but certainly not infallible, as evidenced by Iowa's massacre of the Bucks in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes and their pedestrian offense hung 55 on the vaunted Ohio State defense, and U-M should be every bit as hungry to vanquish their foe after coming up just short last year — just like quarterback J.T. Barrett did on fourth down in overtime. The Wolverines' defense has the talent to hold OSU in check, but it's the offense that needs to come up with some plays. If Michigan can move the ball behind its im- proved run blocking, get solid quarterback play and maybe a break or two, this team can certainly pull out a win in Ann Arbor. And it's well past time that the Wolverines get a break or two in this rivalry game. POINT ❙ COUNTERPOINT WILL MICHIGAN BEAT OHIO STATE IN THE REGULAR-SEASON FINALE?