Thursday September 7, 2006 sports.michigandaily.com sports@michigandaily.com SPORTS 4 DAVID) TUMAN/aily Senior Adam Kraus (57) and the rest of the Michigan offensive line have embraced a new blocking scheme Varsity off and running By Kevin Wright Daily Sports Editor Senior left guard Adam Kraus noticed it. The Michigan fans definitely saw the effects of it. And Michigan coach Lloyd Carr and offensive coor- dinator Mike DeBord decided to change it. After suffering through a 7-5 season last year, Carr promoted DeBord from special teams coach to the man overseeing the offense. And Debord adopted a new run- blocking scheme. "I think everybody knew that something needed to be changed,'"Kraus said. "Coach DeBord wanted to find the offense that fit us the best, and I think he did a good job. I think we found one." Last year's totals speak for themselves. Just 94 rush- ing yards in a 23-20 loss to Minnesota. A measly 32 in a 25-21 loss to Ohio State. But this past offseason, DeBord brought in Alex Gibbs, an assistant coach for the Atlanta Falcons, to implementa zone-blocking scheme that could open up the running game. The scheme, which has been used to great success by the Denver Broncos as well as the Falcons, requires the offensive line toblock "landmarks" (a certain spot on the defenders jersey) and get a quicker jump off the line. "I was excited when they told us we were going to change to a zone scheme "Kraus said. "I'm a lighter guy. I'm not as big as some of the past offensive linemen. This scheme really fits me and our offensive line." Even though the jury may still be out as to whether or not the new zone-blocking scheme will continue to work against tougher competition, DeBord's system made a nice debut last Saturday. From the first play from scrimmage when junior run- ning back Mike Hart took the ball for an l-yard gain to the 19-yard touchdown run from sophomore running back Kevin Grady, there always seemed to be room for the backs to run. The 246 yards the unit racked up eclipsed all but one of last year's game totals. "If you have great vision, this is a great offense for you," Grady said. "It's not really likea set offense where you have tobe in a certain gap all the time. You got land- marks and courses you have to stay on, but for the most part, it's you being out there being able to see the blocks and how things are set up." DeBord - Michigan's offensive coordinator during the 1997 National Championship team - regains the reigns of an offense that struggled to control the clock late in games when the running game especially seemed to falter. This year, the team committed to losing weight and leaving training camp in better shape. And it's a good thing, because the new scheme forces the offensive line- men to be quicker up front, so they're able to get off the line and create multiple gaps that the running back can hit. "What you're trying to do as a coach is find thingsthat fit what your players can do," Carr said. "I think that this scheme does give our linemen an opportunity because one of the reasons we wanted to get our weight down up front (was because) this scheme requires offensive line- men who can move, (who) have quickness." But for all the hype surrounding the new scheme and the boost it's given to what once was a stagnant running game,the offense knows thatbeing a good running team comes down to more than just Xs and Os. "Running the ball is an attitude," Grady said. "As an offense we've developed an attitude to be able to, every Saturday, commit ourselves to go out and run the foot- ball. That's where it all starts, being able to run the foot- ball and control the clock." OT goal snaps streak By Chris Herring Daily Sports Writer Michigan dominated for the first 60 minutes of yesterday's match against Kent State. There was just one slight problem: field hockey games last 70 minutes. In the final 10 minutes of regu- lation the Wolverines let a 2-0 lead slip away, and the Golden KENT ST°E 2 Flashes forced overtime by tying the score at two. But just four minutes into the extra session, senior Mary Fox scored her first goal of the season to wrap up Michigan's first win of the year, 3-2. The victory came as a relief for the Wolverines, both because they had held a comfortable lead and because they lost their first four matches. "It's a huge confidence boost;' Fox said. "We hadn't won yet this season, so knowing what it feels like to win again is great." Michigan (1-4) completely con- trolled the first half of play. The team fired 13 shots in the first period and managed five penalty corners, and kept the Golden Flashes (0-5) from taking any shots or corners. Freshman Kelly Fitzpatrick scored the lone goal of the half on a cross pass from freshman Paige Laytos in the 21st minute of the game. The Wolverines continued to out- play Kent State for much of the sec- ond half. Junior Kristen Tiner gave the team a 2-0 advantage when she found the back of the goal off of a corner nearly 50 minutes into the game, making Michigan's first cor- rMMAFx d dhW s s K Ln MIta /ODily Senior Mary Fox helped lead the Wolverines past Kent State in overtime 4 ner conversion this season. "We have a very young attack- ing line, so we are looking to our corner unit to convert" Michigan coach Nancy Cox said. "Your cor- ner unit should be converting on at least 20 percent of its tries, and we're not there yet. We're (1-for-33) right now. But then Michigan lost its way, and Kent State climbed back into the match. The opportunistic Golden Flashes cut the lead in half in the 60th minute when an airborne shot got past senior goalkeeper Beth Riley to make the score 2-1. And with less than five minutes left in regulation, Kent State scored again off of a rebound to knot the game at two apiece. The quick change in the momen- tum shocked the Wolverines. "I think we were all a little bit sur- prised;' Fox said. "At one point, we had been looking to shut them out." But in the sudden-death overtime, the team wasted no time in finishing off the Golden Flashes. Fitzpatrick found Fox in the center of the circle, and Fox nailed the gamewinner into the right corner of the goal four min- utes into the extra period. Cox seemed pleased with the team's ability to bounce back after Kent State tied the score late in the game. "The girls certainly like to keep it interesting," Cox said. "But today, our team responded well to an over- time game on its home field. We're building our leadership, and the team is just going to keep getting better and better with each match. It was a good growth opportunity for us today." Two freshmen starters - Fitzpat- rick and Laytos - have exhibited that growth. Together they account- ed for two of the team's goals in their home debut. They may still be get- ting used to the quicker pace of the collegiate game, but they have been able to make an impact. "Things are starting to come together a little bit better for myself and the other freshmen," Fitzpatrick said. "We have been able to bring a lot of energy to the table so far." While the freshmen have stepped up, Cox called out the team's vet- erans, and said they should do the same. "The seniors have to lead this year;" Cox said. "They've got to find it within themselves to lead because that's what seniors and captains at Michigan do" I Don't get ripped off! Compare 100 bookstore prices before you buy. Get the 10WEST PRICE on textbooks, Any new & used books. 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