The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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wr "That's exciting. They're both making strides. They should both be involved in helping us win football games." At the other end of the hype spectrum, fifth-year senior walk-on Joe Reynolds (6-1, 200) made three grabs for 22 yards a year ago. Reynolds asserted himself in the spring game and will again before all is said and done, according to his position coach. "Joe is that guy," Hecklinski said. "Everywhere I've been with Coach Hoke, we've always had guys that have been walk-ons, that came out of nowhere and helped us win football games. "You have guys that know what the expectations are, and step up and fill those roles. Joe was one of those guys last year for us. He made some catches. "I always thought Joe would be an individual who would play and help us win football games. His work ethic, his determination and the things people don't see are different than anybody else's." Hecklinski welcomes a trio of lanky true freshmen when fall camp arrives. In Da'Mario Jones (6-2, 185), Csont'e York (6-3, 185) and Jaron Dukes (6-4, 197), Michigan introduces the next wave of potential pass catchers. They'll get adjusted in their own time, and in their own way, Hecklinski noted. They'll also do it without extensive hype or commentary from him. "We'll let them be freshmen," Hecklinski said. "Obviously, we like them. Obviously, we think they're very talented. But how they learn, how they progress, how they become comfortable in their new surroundings … We will not know that until they get here. "What are they willing to do? Are they willing to play special teams? Will they give us the effort we need? From that standpoint, it's best just to let them figure it all out for themselves." Hecklinski expects the freshmen to be split in some fashion like Darboh and Chesson were. Two might play and one redshirt, or one play and two prepare for the future without foregoing eligibility. Either way, they'll be learning to be Michigan receivers, a job description that does not require players to be photogenic — only ready to take defenders out of the picture. "Drew will hit anybody," Hecklinski said of one of the smallest wideouts. "Drew does a great job of hitting 230-, 240-pound 'backers. For where he has to play, Drew might have the toughest job. He's the one that actually has to take on the Mikes and the Sams. "They'll all hit. We've got the four seniors, and we know what we're going to get out of them. They're getting better every day. You've got a group of guys coming in, and the nice thing is, you've got guys like Gallon and Dileo that are here for another year to continue to teach the young kids what the expectations are, too." ❑ Air Attack Should Take Off In 2013 Michigan has thrown for 3,000 or more yards in a season just four times in its history. The 2013 crew, led by redshirt junior quarterback Devin Gardner, looks to be a strong candidate to make it a handful. Not only does Gardner fit as the centerpiece in Michigan's move back to a pro-style offense, he certainly demonstrated the ability to find U-M's array of receivers down the stretch in 2012. The Wolverines averaged 171.5 yards passing per game in the eight contests prior to Gardner taking over at quarterback. Once he slid behind center, Michigan averaged 243.8 yards per outing over the final fivez. Projected out over a 13-game schedule, that's 3,169 yards. Those numbers, of course, don't count a potential appearance in the Big Ten championship game, a extra date upon which the Wolverines have set their sights. Fifth-year senior wide receiver Jeremy Gallon benefited from Gardner's promotion like a caged bird set free. He made 31 of his team-high 49 catches over the last five games, along with piling up 511 of his team-high 829 receiving yards over that same span. "Jeremy is obviously a guy Devin feels confident and comfortable with, and Jeremy has made plays for us," U-M head coach Brady Hoke noted. The Wolverines could be on their way to a host of performers making plays. With four senior receivers led by Gallon, a pair of lanky, talented second-year performers in Amara Darboh and Jehu Chesson, and three incoming freshmen pushing for time, Gardner won't lack targets. The re-emphasis on the passing game will no doubt thrust U-M's efforts in that area back into the stratosphere — provided, of course, that Gardner stays healthy. Here's a look at Michigan's passing numbers over the past 20 years: Sophomore Amara Darboh created plenty of buzz inside Michigan Stadium when he hauled in a sideline bomb from quarterback Devin Gardner on the very first play of the spring game. photo by per kjeldsen U-M Annual Passing Totals YearYards YearYards YearYards 19982,931 20052,672 20122,591 19972,464 20042,795 20112,377 19962,568 20033,520 20103,252 19952,519 20023,026 20092,380 19942,528 20012,595 20081,718 19932,596 20002,772 20072,862 19993,177 20062,538 No Michigan team had ever thrown for 3,000 yards in a season until the 1999 crew, led by senior quarterback Tom Brady, broke that barrier. The all-time record for Michigan passing yards in a season (3,520) occurred in 2003, when senior quarterback John Navarre led the Wolverines to a Big Ten championship. U-M also threw for 3,252 yards in Denard Robinson's junior season, in part through trying to keep up with the 35.2 points opponents averaged that year. Now, the Wolverines 104 ■ The Wolverine 2013 Football Preview are looking for balance all around — passing, running and defense. It appears they could threaten to make 3,000-yard passing seasons the new norm, given an extended schedule and a renewed emphasis on throwing the football downfield. "Now you see the transition, because now you have a quarterback who really has taken ownership of it with the receivers, and they're really working together," wide receivers coach Jeff Hecklinski said. "I can't tell you how many times Devin has come up to me and said, 'I've got it, Coach. Let me talk to them.' "That's great. Those are the two that, at the end of the day on Saturday, have to be on the same page. As long as they are, they'll work it out themselves. That's what you want as you go through this. That's the transition we're working on right now." — John Borton