8B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - April 12. 2004
Spring
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ByG
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Offense
Michigan should have an excellent
passing attack, but success will likely
depend on how it runs the football.
The Wolverines return one of the best
receiving corps in the country, but are
going to have some new faces up the
middle at quarterback, running back
and center. David Underwood broke a
couple of big runs on Saturday, but the
running game will likely be by com-
mittee. Alabama native Max Martin
fits the profile of a Michigan running
back at 6-2, 210 pounds, and he also
runs a 4.5 40-yard dash. Syracuse,
N.Y., native Mike Hart ran for more
touchdowns than any high school
player in history (203), but will likely
be featured just in certain situations if
he plays this season because of his
smaller size (5-foot-9, 185 pounds).
Sophomore Jerome Jackson looked
good on Saturday and
should also compete.
Redshirt sopho-
more quarterback
Matt Gutierrez
never lost a
game in high
school, and
looked to have a solid
grasp of the offense at
the Spring Game.
Gutierrez also showed
some of his mobility,
something Michigan
fans haven't seen since
Drew Henson. While
Gutierrez
(FdFZ tua
V - A" 'ta
redshirt freshman
southpaw Clayton
Richard got a
number of snaps,
it's Gutierrez's job
to lose.
Although
Gutierrez will be
protated by return.
ing starters leftu
guard David Bass,;
right guard Matt Lentz
and left tackle Adam
Stenavich (who was held
out Saturday because of
injury), there will be
someone new snapping Underwood
him the ball. Senior Leo Hinge started
at center on Saturday, but junior Mark
Bihl may also compete for the position.
The Rock 4
If there is one thing the Wolverines
do not have to question, it's their
receivers. Braylon Edwards's
announcement on Detroit television
that he would return for his senior
season solidified an outstanding
returning group of Edwards, Jason
Avant, Steve Breaston and Carl
Tabb. Incoming freshmen Doug
Dutch and Adrian Harrington could
also receive some playing time if they
do not redshirt. Edwards's return
means that Gutierrez or Richard will
Breakout
' player
On the field after the Spring
Game, David Underwood compared
his upcoming battle to start at run-
ning back to a gazelle being chased
by a lion every day in Africa. Under-
wood never solidified himself as the
true backup to Chris Perry last sea-
son, but he ran on Saturday like he
has to potential to start. It was diffi-
cult for Underwood to show all the
strides he has made in Spring Prac-
tice on Saturday because there was
no tackling. But Perry improved
immensely between his junior and
senior seasons, so there's hope that
Underwood can do the same.
b Defense
Two words best describe the Wolver-
ines' defense: experience and speed.
Michigan has eight players on The
Michigan Daily's projected No. 1 squad
that started at least one game last sea-
son. And many players that saw regular
action in all 13 games are back in
2004. Michigan returns its leader in
tackles (Lawrence Reid with 82),
leader in sacks (Pierre Woods with
seven), leader in tackles for losses
(Woods with 14) and leader in inter-
ceptions (Leon Hall with three).
Burgess enced cover corners -
Marlin Jackson and
Markus Curry - and a
speedy front seven, the
Wolverines should enjoy
great success blitzing and
apply frequent pressure on
opposing quarterbacks.
With Jackson moving
back to corner, sopho-
° more Ryan Mundy -
one of plenty talent-
ed underclassmen in
the secondary -
worked with the start-
ing defense at free safety
in the Spring Game.
Young linebackers
Shawn Crable and
Prescott Burgess, who came to Michi-
gan as a safety, worked with the second
defense on Saturday. But both players
look to see significant time. Incoming
freshman Tim Jamison could make an
instant impact. The 6-foot-3, 230-
pounder boasts a 4.8 40-yard dash.
for most career starts. In 2002, Jack-
son had three interceptions and set
a Michigan record with 18 pass
breakups at corner. But, Jackson
will be hard-pressed producing
numbers anywhere close to those
achieved in his sophomore season
- the Sharon, Penn., native's repu-
tation will force opposing quarter-
backs to look away from him.
Jackson carries the swagger of a tal-
ented cover corner, as he referred to
himself as "the best corner in the
country" following Michigan's 28-
14 Rose Bowl loss to USC.
Breakout
' player
A USA TODAY high school first-
team All American and Michigan's
Gatorade Player of the Year in 2002,
LaMarr Woodley came into Ann
Arbor as one of the nation's top
recruits. And he didn't upset, record-
ing 23 tackles, 4 tackles for loss and
two sacks. The 6-foot-2, 268-pound
specimen played in all 13 games
last season, and started two at
defensive end as a true fresh-
I man. "Wood" had his best
game against Minnesota,
using his noticeable speed
on the Metrodome turf to
compile nine tackles,
including one tackle for
loss. Looking to start at
outside linebacker, the
light-footed 19-year-old boasts
sheer power and explosiveness
off the edge that's rare for a
player of his age.
01
The Rock
After playing free safety last
season in order to give Michi-
gan an opportunity to start its
four most talented defensive
backs, Marlin Jackson moves
back to the position where
he earned second team All-
JASN
R/Daily'
son.
have favorable matchups to throw to This athletic crew may be the fastest America
all over the field, as Avant and Breas- defense Michigan's ever had. Defensive ciated Pr
ton will likely face single coverage. coordinator Jim Herrmann introduced season. H
This will make the new quarterback's many new schemes to his players dur- over thre,
job much easier. ing spring practice. With two experi- senior ist
mato 2004 Projected Starters
honors from the Asso-
ess in his sophomore
aving made 27 starts
e years, the
tied with Baas
Photos by
COOPER
Jack
2004 Michigan Schedule
Date
Opponent
TB
5 Underwood
FB
32 Dudley
QB
1.2 Gutierrez
Sept. 4
Sept. 11
Sept. 18
Sept. 25
Oct. 2
(>,- 0
Miami (Ohio)
Notre Dame
San Diego State
Location
Ann Arbor
South Bend
Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor
Bloomington
Ann~r Arhncr
FL
8 Avant
Iowa
SE
Z Edwards
RT
76 Kolodziej
RG
67 Lentz
C
65 Henige
LG
75 Baas
LT
79 Stenavich
TE
88 Massaquoi
Indiana
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