Monday, August 13, 2001- The Michigan Daily- 15
ack in Blue: Backus proves self with Lions ( s
Seth Klempner
Sports Editor
SAGINAW - On April 21, a life long dream
r Jeff Backus came true as he made his official
try into the world of professional football. The
idland native stood up on the NFL Draft podium
aming with pride as he held up his No. 76 Hon-
ulu blue and gra Lions jersey.
as the combination of one National title,
o first team All-America selections, five
ars of hard work at Michigan,
imerous Big Ten honors and 49
nsecutive starts in his collegiate carri-
(one short of record holder Jon Jansen)
at led him to this point.
After Michigan's 31-28 win over Auburn at the
trus Bowl, Backus went to work on improving
s stock as the NFL combine and draft day,
proached.
All this hard work resulted in a No. 18 overall
tion by the Lions, only one after fellow line-
n, Steve Hutchinson, was selected by Seattle.
This began a honeymoon where Backus would
ceive a five-year contract from the Lions and
gan to adjust to life in the NFL. But with July
me the beginning of the Lions' training camp
d a Midwest heat wave that brought an abrupt
d to that honeymoon.
With temperatures piquing in the mid-90s,
Backus started learning the hard knocks of being a
rookie in the NFL - a rookie, no less, who is
expected to start at left tackle, the most important
position for an offensive linemen with a right hand-
ed quarterback.
As the left tackle, Backus is quarterback Charlie
Batch's blind side blocker. A misstep or delayed
reaction on Backus' part likely results in a sack or
broken play. Furthermore, as a tackle, Backus will
be facing some of the fastest defensive linemen
in the league. .
Luckily for Batch, Backus is improving
and increasing his confidence with each
practice. His improvement would not be so
evident if not for Backus' tenacious work
ethic.
On Sunday, he could be seen on the field after
practice working on his footwork and technique
with fellow offensive tackle Ray Roberts.
"It is difficult at any position (to adjust to the
speed of the pros)," Lions' head coach Marty
Mornhinweg said. "Much of it is how fast they can
leam or master the techniques and those types of
things. Some guys it takes a little time to learn'
those things and some guys snap to it."
Backus seems to have made the adjustment
smoothly, having displayed the skills needed to
start at tackle in the Lions' first preseason game,
and will hold up in the Lions' new west cost
offense.
'The level of the athletes you are playing against
(is the biggest difference between the NFL and col-
lege)" Backus said after his first NFL exhibition
game. "The players are both stronger and faster.
You have got to be ready to go on every snap."
Backus played the entire first half with the
Lions' first-and second team, displaying good foot-
work and agility. He was completely in control of
the defensive linemen he was assigned.
During that first half, the Lions rushed for 19
yards and passed for another 100 while putting up
17 first-half points.
"I think he is working hard," Lions running back
James Stewart said. Stewart is entering his second
year with Detroit. "He is competing and he is
going to get better as the year goes along. I think he
is the type of guy that will gain in maturity as he
gets games underneath hit belt"
The high intensity practice schedule and level of
complexity of the plays are inportant steps in the
-adjustment from college to the NFL. Most impor-
tantly, on the professional level everything is
expected to be perfect from the start, and players
do not require the amount of training they
encounter at the college level.
"He has developed beautifully," Mornhinweg
said of Backus' improvement. "He has had his ups
and downs, which is normal and expected, but I
know he is going to be able to help us during the
year so Iam very pleased with him."
NSON
Inued from Page 13
ell phone to notify them of any
gress made.
'(I call) once every two or three
s," Robinson said. "I call them
en he (Henson) hits well and I don't
1 when he doesn't do well."
e might not be winning many fans
er with his work at the plate, but
llman has been very impressed with
lay at third base thus far.
efensively, his development has
gressed further than I would have
ected it to (even) knowing what a
at athlete he is," Hillman said. "He's
t an above average arm and he's got
ve average range. Generally, you
n't see 6-foot-5 guys move laterally
way he can."
The former high school co-Valedic-
n has realized his job isn't going
as easy as school.
"It's the same type of thing (college
minor league baseball) - you can
y-up'as late as you want, you get to
bep in - but you have a job to do
you have to look at it that way. You
n blow off some days at class but
u have to come to the park. You've
t to be professional, be ready to play
ch day."
With that attitude, Henson is already
I-liked in the clubhouse despite his
lems at the plate.
"He's one of the youngest guys, (and
tgets along with everyhody very
11 because his teammates really
specs his work ethic and te way he
s sbout his business," Hillman said.
illman also added that Henson is
ne of the best workers I've ever
n.
After the Triple-A season ends, the
ees will send Henson to play in
e Anzona Fall League to gain some
ore expeice. He will join one of
e Yankees' top prospects-Nick John-
n, who has played 239 more minor
ague games, despite siting out all of
last year. The six-team developmental
league runs until Thanksgiving.
Coincidentally, two days after the
holiday is the Ohio State-Michigan
game, which Henson hopes to attend.
"It would be a little tough and
maybe a little weird to be there, but
I'm going to watch every (Michigan
game) and I'll probably go to the Ohio
State game if at all possible," he said.
While speaking of football, Henson
denied a report in Ohio State's student
newspaper, The Lantern, about his
decision to abandon his pigskin career.
The Lantern reported he left Michigan
because he feared injury behind an
inexperienced offensive line.
"I never talk to them and I never
said that," Henson said. The offensive
line "wasn't an issue at all."
Henson also plans to graduate this
May from Michigan despite playing
baseball on an every day basis. Henson
said he needs 16 credits to graduate. To
finish his graduation requirements, he
will take eight credits of correspondent
courses in the fall and another eight
credits in the winter.
Once he finally gets a break, Hen-
son will be in his new 3,500 square-
foot-home he bought for $995,400 in
Tampa, Fla. this past June. There, he
will be minutes away from the Yan-
kees' training facility.
"I'll give myself every opportunity
to be there as much as possible," Hen-
son said.
He still has three weeks before the
season closes out. But if not this year,
Robinson believes it is just a matter of'
time before Henson starts to feel com-
fortable playing Triple-A baseball.
"I'd like to say tomorrow, but you
can't really put a timetable on it," he
said. "Certainly, he needs to play and
he will continue to play. All of a sud-
den everything will click for him and
he'll be up with the Yankees."
Cantbuy a hit
the the Yankees AAA
affiliate, the Columbus
Clippers. Below is a 4
look at his statistics
through 49 games this
season:
- Henson
I A g. H li Ifl It A
49 1 213 m 225 a
The University of Michigan WJIAT'S
REC Department of Recreational Sports
st INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM HAPPENING
THANKS!
To all the Students, Faculty and Staff who participated in
the Intramural Sports Program during the
2001 Spring and Summer Terms.
Enjoy the remainder of the summer.
The IM Staff looks forward to seeing you in the Fall.
UPCOMING
FALL TERM ACTIVITIES
Start planning for the
2001 Fall Term activities offered by the
INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM.
Soccer 3-on-3 Basketball Broomball Track & Field
Roller Hockey Softball Tennis- SgIs & Dbla
Team Tennis Golf (Two-Person Team Scramble) Flag Football
Cross Country Run Pre-Season Flag Football Ultimate Frisbee
Wallyball Ice Hockey Wrestling Pre-Season Basketball
OFFICIATING OPPORTUNITIES
Officials will be needed throughout the Fall and Winter Terms.
If you are Interested In sports and would like to earn some extra
spending money, attend the clinics and become an IM Official.
FALL TERM IM OFFICIATED SPORTS
Soccer Broomball Roller Hockey Softball
Flag Football Ice Hockey Pre-Season Basketball
For Additional Information Contact: Intramural Sports Program, IMSB, 606E. Hoover,
AnnArbor, MI 48109-3717, (734)763-3562 http:/wAww.recs orts.umich.edu
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