The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/137378
fall camp this year. Competition is high, and with fifth-year senior anchors back on either end of the line of scrimmage, the head coach expects to see improvement. "The competition level that we have is better," Hoke insisted. "The genetics of some of the guys — Ben Braden is a 6-7, 320-pound offensive guard who is pretty daggone athletic. Kyle Kalis and Blake Bars, and [Kyle] Bosch being here early, Graham Glasgow, Chris Bryant, [Joey] Burzynski … it's changed. When you look at the center position with Jack Miller and Glasgow and Burzynski — those three guys are fighting like hell every day. "The depth that we're getting and the competition level … when you have a guy like Taylor [Lewan], who came back and who has played a lot of snaps, and Mike Schofield, you've got two really solid leaders who have matured enough and are old enough to understand the expectations." Those expectations get conveyed from the oldest to the youngest. For decades, Michigan offensive lines provided a roadgrading presence that opponents respected, and some even feared. Lewan and Schofield have been challenged to lead the charge toward making the line feared once again. Hoke assured: "If you ask either one of them, 'What's the first thing Coach is going to talk about from an offensive line perspective?' They're going to say, 'We have to have more toughness. We have to knock people. We have to have the mentality of doing that every play.'" The head coach admitted, late last year, he wasn't getting everything he wanted in that area. He's ready to feel the difference up front, and throughout Michigan's entire team. "We've got unbelievable competitiveness," Hoke said. "I know after the spring, I said I liked our team. And I do like our team. "Last year, we didn't believe as a staff, and I didn't believe as a head coach, that we were a competitive football team. That message has been heard. The thing that helps is, you've got competition. That's a big part of it, and that's a big part of why I like our team." Rise Of The Tailback Despite redshirt junior quarterback Devin Gardner's athleticism and running ability, he won't lead the Wolverines in rushing, like Denard Robinson did the past three seasons. In that respect, it's a whole different ball game. Now, Hoke cautions the Wolverines will still retain some read-option elements to the offense, because they can prove effective at times. But Gardner's runs — and Quarterback Devin Gardner (shown under the watchful eye of Hoke) has scrambling ability, but he is more in the pocket-passer mode the Michigan coaching staff prefers. photo by per kjeldsen presumably his trips to the training room — will be limited, while a stable of backs steps forward to pile up the yards. The Wolverines feature depth, but other than fifth-year senior Fitzgerald Toussaint's 1,000-yard season in 2011, they haven't demonstrated a high level of achievement from the position. Then again, when Robinson is racking up 2,000-plus yards over the course of the last two years, opportunities are limited. Now, Michigan coaches are looking for someone to step into the void. Toussaint could do so, depending on how fully he bounces back from the devastating leg injury he suffered late last season. So could freshman Derrick Green, the 5-11, 220-pound bruiser whom Rivals.com dubbed the best prep back in the nation a year ago. So could fellow freshman De'Veon Smith (5-11, 218), who averaged 13 yards a carry last year for Howland High in Warren, Ohio. So might one of the other half-dozen backs already on the roster. "The wild cards in the whole deal are the two freshmen coming in, and then Fitz," Hoke stressed. "Through spring, I thought 38 ■ The Wolverine 2013 Football Preview Justice Hayes was a much-improved running back. He got bigger and he got more physical. "Drake Johnson is a guy we really liked in bowl practice, really liked what he did on the scout team. He reminds me a little bit of Chris Perry, with a little bit of [Tshimanga] Biakabutuka, because he's a physical, slashing kind of guy, and he does have some top-end speed. Thomas Rawls' vision was much better in the spring." Hoke has no doubt upgraded the competition — both at tailback and along the offensive line — and Michigan's emphasis on its backs running the football will make a huge difference. It has to, he stressed. "I've just always been a believer that you play really good defense when you have an offense that controls the football, and controls it by running the football, by taking time off the clock, by having drives down the field and also having the ability to strike fast," Hoke said. "I've always been a guy who thinks the physicalness of your offense, of your front, is important. "I'm sure people will argue, but I don't