The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/970722
MAY 2018 THE WOLVERINE 45 field and correct his own mistakes, and know it was a technique thing, not an effort or a performance issue." This spring, Robbins firmed up the starting spot at punter, according to some observers. He appeared to im- prove in several ways, but the true test will come once the games begin. According to observers from last season, Robbins proved more consis- tent in practice, and with a higher top end in terms of distance than he did when the bright lights went on. Again, not that unusual for a rookie kicker. He'll be seeking to carry the strong practice efforts he's achieved this spring right onto the field against Notre Dame Sept. 1. Peoples-Jones made big strides over the course of the 2017 season returning punts. He went from tentative (and temporarily replaced) early on to an increasingly effective weapon during the year. He wound up bringing back 40 punts an average of 8.0 yards on the year, including a 79-yard touchdown dash against Air Force. Peoples-Jones earned the team's Rookie of the Year award for his well-rounded work as both a returner and a receiver, and fig- ured to grow, literally, through winter workouts. He hit spring football looking to ascend in every way, increasing his skills as a wide receiver and returner. Getting better at the former obviously helps the latter, and Peoples-Jones drew high praise for his improvement at wideout. Jim Harbaugh mentioned him as one of the very strong offensive play- ers for the Wolverines, and those close to it have seen Peoples-Jones get stron- ger and more explosive off the line of scrimmage. That will certainly help in the return game, and the sophomore already benefited from an excellent pair of hands. Thomas showed some explosive- ness at times as a rookie kickoff re- turner, making 20 returns for 396 yards (19.8 average). He brought one back 43 yards at Penn State, his lon- gest return effort of the year. Defensive coordinator Don Brown hailed the offseason jump Thomas took as a defensive back, and that showed up in his return game as well. Harbaugh mentioned the sophomore as one of the very bright lights of the spring, with increased explosiveness. He's extremely quick, with Brown noticing when Thomas made moves on the ball in the defensive backfield. Going into his second season on the field, those efforts should also translate into bringing back kicks, an area in which he showed considerable speed. The cancellation of Michigan's spring game took away the opportu- nity to watch the aforementioned in action, along with those holding, long snapping, etc. At press time, Michi- gan hadn't trotted out assistant coach Chris Partridge, who is the Wolver- ines' special teams coordinator. Most of the key components are well known already. It's a matter of how they progress and perform going into fall camp, and then the season. The freshmen turning to sopho- mores ought to improve the overall numbers as well. Last season, Michi- gan ranked 12th in the 14-team Big Ten in kickoff returns, averaging 18.6 per attempt, compared to league leader Iowa's 24.4 average. The Wolverines were fifth in the league in punt returns, averaging 8.6 yards on each change of possession via those means. Indiana led the league, averaging 12.7 yards per return. U-M found itself tied for last in the league in net punting, managing only 35.7 yards on each exchange, while league leader Ohio State checked in at 41.6. The Wolverines did prove best in the Big Ten in kickoff coverage, net- ting 43.1 yards per boot, but kickoff specialist James Foug needs to be re- placed. U-M's field goal percentage of 79.2 proved seventh best in the league, behind leader Indiana, which made good on 94.1 percent (16 of 17). A year of growth should bring the Wolverines up in several categories, and help win a game or two along the way. ❏ Redshirt sophomore placekicker Quinn Nordin burst onto the scene in a big way, tying Michigan's single-game record for field goals (five) before the Wolverines ever hit the Big Ten campaign. If he keeps it up, he could wind up owning the U-M record book for field goals. Nordin booted 19 of them in all last fall. Only one other Michigan placekicker ever recorded more in a season. Remy Hamilton did so in 1994 with 25 and knocked through 19 the following season. Garrett Rivas joined the tie for second with 19 in 2004 and 2005, and Kenny Allen managed 19 in his final year, 2016. Now it's a matter of how high Nordin can eventually rise on Michigan's career lists. He already checked in at No. 14 after his first season on the field, and should quickly pass Jay Feely and Matt Wile (20), along with Mike Lantry and K.C. Lopata (21). That could happen as early as the opener at Notre Dame, which would vault Nordin into the top 10 on Michigan's career list. If he matched the 19 he recorded last season, he'd find himself on the cusp of the top five at the end of the cam- paign. Rivas went on to become Michigan's all-time leader in field goals with 64, finishing up in the 2006 season. He slipped past Hamilton, who a decade earlier ended his Michigan ca- reer with 63. Mike Gillette notched 57 from 1985-88, playing on a pair of teams quarterbacked by Jim Harbaugh. Obviously, if Nordin averaged 19 field goals a year, he'd easily capture the Michigan record, finishing with 76, which would tie for 25th in Division I history. But the Wolverines would like to turn some of those field goals into touchdowns this season, perhaps taking away a few opportunities. Here's a list of the all-time top 10 for Michigan field goal kickers: 1. Garrett Rivas (2003-06) — 64 2. Remy Hamilton (1993-96) — 63 3. Mike Gillette (1985-88) — 57 4. Brendan Gibbons (2010-13) — 45 5. J.D. Carlson (1989-91) — 39 6. Kenny Allen (2012-16) — 37 7. Ali Haji-Sheikh (1979-82) — 31 8. Bob Bergeron (1981-84) — 29 9. Hayden Epstein (1998-01) — 26 10. Mike Lantry (1972-74) — 21 10. K.C. Lopata (2007-08) — 21 — John Borton Quinn Nordin Could Climb High On Michigan Lists