Michigan Football: Coach’s Corner — Wolverine Renovation — Quarterbacks — Part II
Posted at 5:00am — 8/14/2012
Michigan Football: Coach’s Corner — Wolverine Renovation — Quarterbacks — Part II
Any uncertainty is an automatic concern for a football team. Even though Denard Robinson is a senior with three years of game experience, the jury is out on how effective the Michigan passing game will be in 2012. The go to guy, Junior Hemingway, is gone, two solid, but somewhat limited, receivers, Roundtree and Gallon, return. Roundtree has always done better in the slot and it is tough to find 5’ 8” wideouts. Jeremy Jackson runs short routes well and two freshmen with some promise may see playing time. Throwing it up for grabs may not be the answer this season. Jerald Robinson is still young and unproven, but like the rest of the corps he possesses the ability to get to the next level.
As a result Michigan continues to find or even reinvent a passing game. Teams like Alabama will ignore this threat until Michigan hits a big play or two through the air. No doubt Michigan will throw short timing patterns and hit the backs in the flat now and then. But everyone will have to see how the intermediate route running and Denard’s throwing pans out. Denard has worked very hard but that alone does not guarantee the necessary competence to make the passing game a true success.
Tight end is now a concern as well as the overall passing game. Last year Michigan used a very talented athlete, Kevin Koger, to finally achieve some production at tight end. Koger is gone and long time backup Brandon Moore will start the season as the favorite. He has bulked up and has become more physical, but there is no indication of a history of production. Freshmen tight end candidates Devin Funchess and A. J. Williams also present concerns, although almost polar. Funchess is clearly a skilled receiver but a tad light for every down tight end. He may play some tight end, some tight end slightly split out and some wideout. Williams is a tad too heavy for tight end. He could help in a two tight end set where the objective is to move the chain on short yardage. Last year Williams played tackle and his footwork and drive off the line was excellent. So, one or both freshmen may not see four years as a tight end on the Michigan roster.
The real unknown and true wild card in the passing game is how Devin Gardner will be used. For quite a while it has been known that Devin could see significant time at wideout. Frankly, this makes plenty of sense as Denard and Devin are top five athletes on the Michigan roster. Devin has 4.65 type of speed, is well over 200 pounds and is 6’4.” He opened some eyes in summer camps in high school by stepping in at wideout in a just for kicks moment. A few catches by Devin could provide a possible third option.
Denard is what he is. Expect some improvement but do not expect Joe Montana. Next up- offensive line concerns.
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Written by GBMWolverine Staff — Doc4Blu
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