The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 75 WIDE RECEIVERS note that experience comes via pain. The Wolverines are hoping to avoid as much of that discomfort as possible in 2017. "We've heard stories in the past about which quarterback showed up for seven-on- sevens, which quarterbacks called receivers and said, 'Let's meet at Glick and Schem- bechler Hall, and let's run timing and routes, work on chemistry and reading defenses. Let's look at film together,'" Karsch recalled. "Those stories are yet to be told for this coming team. We'll find out who is really serious about making an impact. There is just no substitute for experience. "I know it's fun to get excited about in- coming talent, but there's got to be a crash course. They've going to make mistakes. Michigan fans need to hope that they win while making mistakes, because those mis- takes with skill position players often result in turnovers." Those can turn a season. So the summer months, fall camp and early games will mean a lot for a fast group that wants to fast forward past that potential pain. ❏ Eddie McDoom racked up 160 yards rushing on 16 jet sweeps as a rookie last year, but is out to prove he is a complete receiver in 2017. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN Maurice "Mo" Ways celebrated when March 24 rolled around. The day marked a full year since he'd broken his foot in spring practice, an injury that affected him throughout the offseason and into fall camp in 2016. He returned to see game action early last season, but was clearly playing from behind. Now, the redshirt junior is hoping to find his way through a talented- but-shy-on-experience group of wideouts. "I'm a big, physical receiver, who can go up and get the ball," he said. "My routes are getting better. My football IQ has been improving over the past four years. "My goal is to get better every day and be the biggest playmaker I can be." That physicality is no small item when it comes to Michigan receivers. Those who are ball catchers only will likely get left on the sidelines, Ways pointed out. "They assume you can catch the ball," he said. "If you can't block, that's going to make it hard for you to play. A lot of our offense is run driven and play action. If you can't block, you handicap yourself. "As a receiver, you have to take that personally. It's an effort thing, a desire to be physical and help the offense in different ways. It's very important as a receiver, especially at Michigan. "That's what got me on the field when I started playing the first time, a couple of years ago. I'm going to try to get that better, make sure I make it a point of emphasis. I'm making it a personal vendetta to be physical, be a big guy and help them move the ball in the running game." Ways isn't under any illusion that the incoming freshmen are no consider- ation here. They've not only been hyped for their high school prowess, two of them were on hand early for winter workouts and spring practice. The veteran knows as well as anyone that preps making the transition to the next level aren't what they used to be. "The caliber of athlete these days is different from four years ago," he said. "These guys are bigger, faster, stronger, more athletic. Whatever they're feed- ing these guys in high school is working. They're really talented, very athletic, and they make plays. "There's no scrub in that locker room. Everybody can play at a high level. You have to push yourself every day to be the best player you can be." That said, Ways watched carefully while players such as Amara Darboh and Jehu Chesson worked their way through the Michigan football program over the course of five years. He saw when they weren't getting much run and how they blossomed later in their careers. "That's probably the biggest thing I learned from them is trusting the pro- cess," he said. "It's kind of like wait your turn, but still work hard and compete with the guy in front of you. When your number is called and the spot opens, you've got to jump through. "That's what they did. That's what I'm hoping to do this year." — John Borton Ways was hampered by a broken foot he suffered during spring practice last year, but is healthy again and ready to compete for playing time in 2017. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN Maurice Ways Knows The Score On Competition