Page 10 -The Michigan Daily-Thursday, January 7, 1988
QB quandary
If the 1987 Michigan football
season proved anything, it proved
that the Wolverines still have a
quarterback problem. Not a
controversy, but a problem.
Wasn't it about this time last
year that the biggest question in Ann BY ADAM
Arbor was: "Who is going to replace
Jim Harbaugh?"
Well, the same question is still Shuffling Demetrius Brown
being asked. Michael Taylor against Alaba
Without an interception here, or a worked only because Michigan w
misread there, this 8-4 team could Neither quarterback seemed thri
have easily been 10-2. While all the when he was pulled during the ga
blame cannot be levied on one and having a rotation at this posi
position, the truth remains that is not like switching tight end;
offensive turnovers by the down linemen from play to p
quarterbacks, and not injuries, were Putting Taylor in for running p
the reason that the team failed to and Brown in for passing pl
meet expectations. doesn't give a team much confid
And expectations could be even in its "field general."
greater with the cast Michigan Brown played most of this sea
returns next season. Sixteen of 22 and looked great at times (Iowa
Hall of Fame Bowl starters return for one play against Alabama), horr
another year, and the Wolverines at others (Michigan State, N
seemingly have able backups for Dame).
those who will depart. A pre-season In limited action, Taylor sho
top 10 ranking is almost a certainty, what most already knew - he n
and the last time a Michigan team work on his passing. While ac
disappointed head coach Bo head coach Gary Moeller sak
Schembechler, the following year's Tampa that Taylor "is as goo
team finished 10-1-1 and ranked we've ever had at getting us into
second in the country. right play," Oklahoma gives pi
Here is a preview of how the that you need some semblance
Wolverines may look when they passing attack to win the nati
take the field in South Bend, Ind., championship. And with Michig
against Notre Dame on September talent, Bo's first natio
10. championship may well be in rea
The offenw eThe answer may lie in on
1 Quarterback: The most three players who were redshirte
Important position on the field, and this their first season - Eric Bt
still the biggest question mark. Ken Sollom, and Wilbur Od
lingers into
'88
zantly Speaking
A OCHLIS
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While Bush was listed as the third-
stringer all season, all three will be
given a chance to gain the number-
one spot.
"We definitely want to look at the
young kids," said Moeller. "We're
very excited about them and we
wanted to see what they can to do."
Receivers: Greg McMurtry,
John Kolesar, Chris Calloway, and
Tripp Welborne comprise the best
quartet of receivers in the country,
and an even bigger reason why
Michigan will have to get better
production from its QB. The
receivers weren't used as much as
they should have been due to the
quarterbacks' inability to get them
the ball.
McMurtry runs after the catch as
well as anyone in the nation.
Kolesar, when healthy, is a great
deep threat. Calloway saved two
games just this season (Minnesota
and Illinois) with clutch fourth-
quarter receptions. And Welborne,
when he committed to Michigan in
April, was rumored to be the best of
the lot.
Offensive line: While fifth-
year senior Jumbo Elliott received
all the attention, it was Mike Husar,
Dave Chester, John Vitale, and
Michael Dames who opened the
holes for Jamie Morris against
Alabama. And all are back as
experienced seniors, with a number
of talented younger players to back
them up.
Running Backs: Morris will
leave for an NFL career, leaving his
spot seven yards behind the line of
scrimmage to a bigger, faster, and
more explosive back in Allen
Jefferson. If Jefferson had not broken
his arm, and had he been given a
chance to play as much as Morris did
in his first year, Jefferson may have
had a chance to break all the records
Morris just finished setting.
Jarrod Bunch and Leroy Hoard.
played well at fullback in their first
year. Highly-touted Tony Boles will
back up Jefferson at tailback.
The defense
Defensive Line: As long as
Mark Messner is here and healthy,
this unit will continue to shine.
Messner has developed into the
nation's premiere lineman, and just
his presence makes the other
linemen better. He should be the pre,
pre, pre-season favorite for the
Outland Trophy, awarded to the best
lineman in college football.
But Messner will have some
help. Nose tackle T.J. Osman, who
played well when replacing Billy
Harris, will almost certainly step
into that position as the starter.
Brent White, Warde Manuel, and
John Herrmann will fight it out for
the final defensive end starting
position, although all will get
significant time.
Despite playing with four down
lineman on a couple of occasions,
Moeller indicated that Michigan will
return to its standard 3-4 alignment,
assuming everyone is healthy.
Linebackers: Gone are Andree
McIntyre and Steve Thibert, but they
didn't play after the Long Beach
State game, and that, in fact, was the
problem with this unit. Injuries
decimated this crew. Along with the
experience of McIntyre and Thibert,
the Wolverines lost Marc Spencer,
who, at 6-5, 235 pounds, is a big,
bruising player that will remind fans
of the Denver Broncos' Karl
Mecklenberg.
While this was probably the weak
link of the defense, the year provided
J.J. Grant, Cornelius Simpson, John
Milligan, Bobby Abrams, and Keith
Daily Photo by JOHN MUNSON
Michigan quarterback Michael Taylor (shown against Ohio State) shared
the position with Demetrius Brown in 1987. Next season, Taylor and
Brown will battle with three newcomers for the quarterback job.
p
Cooper (who played out of position
the entire season) with experience
that can only help in the future.
Secondary: If anything, next
year's unit will be faster than this
year's. Gone are Doug Mallory, Erik
Campbell, and Allen Bishop.
Replacing them are Vada Murray
(who won't have played a live game
for almost three years after being
Prop 48-ed and then redshirted), Otis
Williams, and David Key, among
others. The possibility of moving a
quarterback or wide receiver to the
Recreational
Sports
secondary is there, although remote,
according to Moeller.
Special Teams: If Mike
Gillette can become as good a punter
as he is a place kicker, then
Michigan will have the best kicking
game in the country. Monte
Robbins, though known more for
the "Monte Roll" rather than for his
booming kicks, departs as one of
Michigan's best-ever punters,
leaving the job to the most
proficient field-goal kicker in
Wolverine history.
." " .. . ... .. ........ .. . "r&** iii .""
Yankees talked and almost immedi-
ately reached an agreement.
"This is one of the quickest nego-
tiations I've ever been involved in, or
will be involved in, as general man-
ager," the Yankees' Lou Piniella
said.
The 32-year-old Clark, injury
prone throughout his career, missed
the 1987 playoffs and World Series
for the Cardinals because of an in-
jured ankle.
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Clark inks
two -year
pact with
Yankees
NEW YORK (AP) - Slugger
Jack Clark signed a two-year contract
with the New Y ork Yankees on
Wednesday. New York will pay
Clark a reported $1.5 million for
each year of the contract, plus
incentives.
Clark, one of baseball's most
feared hitters, recently rejected salary
arbitration from the St. Louis Cardi-
nals, who belatedly offered a similar
$3 million, two-year contract after
learning of the Yankee's interest.
Clark said that, had the Cardinals
made that offer sooner, he would
have stayed in St. Louis. But, Clark
said, "It was too late."
"I had a better offer from St.
Louis for the money, but this is
where the deal was." Clark said. "I
came here essentially on a hand-
shake."
After negotiations with the Cardi-
nals bogged down, Clark and the
. . . ..:....:::.::. . .."".:::::."...........:":::.......:...:::.". .""" . . . .."s. . . . . . . . . . . . iii" "' i"" "" ' i i i ii ""'u" i" i" i "" "" "" " "
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