The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/495628
was impressive when he disengaged from a block, tracked Malzone from behind and caught up to him for a one-yard gain when a 10-yard scram- ble appeared imminent. He had two additional QB hurries, and was responsible for a pair of tack- les behind the line of scrimmage, ap- pearing out of nowhere in forcing a ball carrier to shift lanes, running into defenders. Displaying his awareness, Glasgow sniffed out a screen pass to junior tail- back Derrick Green, wrapping up the tailback as Malzone had no choice but to scuttle the pass into the ground. 10. Junior tailback De'Veon Smith: On a day when Michigan's other tail- backs and fullbacks combined for 39 yards rushing on 32 carries (1.2 yards per attempt), Smith was an outlier for his success. The junior tallied 50 yards on seven carries (7.1-yard av- erage), busting open the scrimmage with a 34-yard gain for Team Maize. On that impressive run, Smith showed patience to wait for a hole to develop, vision to slip two would-be tacklers and the acceleration to accrue 20 more yards before defensive backs closed in on him. The 5-11, 228-pound Smith had more in his repertoire, making some- thing out of a nothing when he recog- nized a cutback lane, collided with a defender and grinded out three more yards for an eight-yard play. On an- other play, he was met by a swarm of three defenders at the line of scrim- mage, but surged for three yards. Smith was supposed to play sec- ond fiddle to junior Derrick Green and redshirt sophomore Ty Isaac, but while they struggled with injuries and ineffective play, he showed an ability to be the first-string back. ❏ Redshirt freshman H-back Chase Winovich: Lined up at tight end and fullback in the spring game, Winovich had one reception for five yards (on a tight end crossing route) and one rush for two yards. A bit undersized at 6-3, 230 pounds, Winovich makes up for his frame with a competitive spirit that endeared him to head coach Jim Harbaugh. Redshirt junior right guard Kyle Kalis: A veteran of 16 starts among 24 career appearances, Kalis has been one of the most criticized linemen on the team for what has been considered a failure to live up to his five-star hype. But he's found new life under O-line coach Tim Drevno, offering more consistent glimpses of the aggressively nasty player he was known to be when he arrived as a well-publicized recruit. Fifth-year senior cornerback Blake Countess: The 5-10, 185-pounder re- corded four tackles for Team Blue in the scrimmage, but showed off a physical presence belying his stature (including a highlight-worthy play in which he tossed Cole to the ground to make a tackle). Behind the scenes, many reported Countess was U-M's top cover corner of the spring. — Michael Spath