FootballSaturday, October 22, 2016
8
What to Watch For: Kicking game,
Peppers, Bushell-Beatty, Johnson
Two weeks ago at Rutgers, the
Michigan football team laid it on
fast. By halftime, the Wolverines
were up 43-0, and most fans
probably changed the channel
before the game was over.
Saturday, No. 3 Michigan will
play another low-ranked Big Ten
opponent, but this time it will
be at Michigan Stadium. The
Fighting Illini (1-2 Big Ten, 2-4
overall) will look to extend their
win streak to two after coming
off a 24-7 win over the Scarlet
Knights.
Here are some reasons to stay
tuned into this game, even if
things get out of hand like they did
two weeks ago:
1. Will Allen or Nordin be
kicking field goals?
Fifth-year
senior
Kenny
Allen missed two field goals
against Wisconsin, and he hasn’t
attempted another one since.
Sophomore walk-on Ryan Tice
was given a chance later in that
game, but he missed his lone
attempt, creating panic among the
Michigan fan base.
At the time, freshman Quinn
Nordin wasn’t even dressed on
the sideline, but he was dressed
and warming up at Rutgers
the
following
week.
In
the
Wolverines’ 78-0 blowout of the
Scarlet Knights, they did not
attempt any field goals. But after
the game, Michigan coach Jim
Harbaugh said Allen would have
been given the opportunity if
the field-goal unit was needed.
Perhaps Saturday, especially if the
Wolverines are comfortably ahead
again, would be a good time to
give Allen a chance.
The
competition
is
raging
on this week in practice, and
Wednesday,
linebackers
and
special
teams
coach
Chris
Partridge restated the difficulty of
handling all three kicking duties
at once. He complimented both
Allen and Nordin, but wouldn’t
name a starter.
2. Will Jabrill Peppers throw
for a touchdown?
Tuesday, redshirt sophomore
Jabrill Peppers told reporters
that he can throw the ball 65
yards on a good day. He’s listed
as a linebacker, but he plays three
ways and can apparently do even
more than what he’s shown six
games into the season.
Against
Rutgers,
he
lined
up at wildcat quarterback and
cut through defenders for two
touchdowns. After the game, it
was revealed that he was supposed
to throw the ball on two of the
plays, but instead saw open space
and ran it in.
He hasn’t disclosed whether
the Wolverines will try it again
this season, but most football fans
wouldn’t mind seeing Peppers do
even more on offense.
3. Does Bushell-Beatty look
more comfortable?
Wednesday,
offensive
coordinator
Tim
Drevno
got
choked
up
as
he
discussed
sophomore
Grant
Newsome’s
horrific,
season-ending
knee
injury. Losing Newsome left a
big hole to fill at left tackle, and
redshirt
sophomore
Juwann
Bushell-Beatty
was
the
next
player up.
Bushell-Beatty notched his first
career start at Rutgers, but was hit
hard on the second play of the game.
He was slow to get up and needed
to be helped off the field, but came
back into the game a few plays later.
Junior Mason Cole moved over to
left tackle in his place, but Drevno
said Wednesday that Cole is still
considered a center.
Drevno
stated
that
he’s
comfortable with keeping Bushell-
Beatty at left tackle, and all
Bushell-Beatty needs to do to keep
his spot is continue to improve at
the position as he has been doing.
4. Will veteran running back
Drake Johnson get a chance to
play?
Not
that
Michigan
needed
another running back to add to
its four-man rotation of Karan
Higdon, Chris Evans, De’Veon
Smith and Ty Isaac, but fifth-year
senior Drake Johnson may finally
be healthy enough to play this
week.
Last spring, Johnson was run
over by a forklift while working
out. The extent of his injury was
never revealed, but he hasn’t yet
seen game action this season.
Harbaugh said on this week’s Big
Ten coaches teleconference that
Johnson has been “chomping at
the bit” and that he may finally be
ready to go against Illinois.
Last season, Johnson recorded
six touchdowns — two of which
were receiving — while averaging
five yards per attempt. Despite
his impact last season, he’ll have
to compete with the others for
carries now that he’s healthy.
True freshman Evans leads the
pack with 400 rushing yards, but
Smith, Isaac and Higdon all have
over 250 as well.
Fifth-year senior Allen tries to make first field goal since Sept. 17 after going 0-for-2 in past three games
KELLY HALL
Daily Sports Editor
FILE PHOTO/Daily
Fifth-year senior Drake Johnson could see his first action of the 2016 season on Saturday after suffering months of hard luck with injuries.