Michigan Football: Players Who Need to Step Up the Most in Spring
The Michigan Wolverines start spring practice on Feb. 24, meaning that coach Jim Harbaugh has roughly two weeks to develop a game plan for Phase 1 of development for his new-look team.
He has no clear favorite at quarterback. The running back situation isn't as iffy, but it’s certainly open for discussion. Now that Devin Funchess is off to the NFL, Harbaugh needs to find another nightmarish mismatch at receiver.
And that’s only the beginning, as defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin and defensive line coach Greg Mattison certainly have a lot on their to-do lists.
Of course, every player on every team across America has to “step up” as he heads into spring practice. No one is looking to “step down.” That’s for sure.
This slideshow focuses on former blue chips who could get left behind and a couple of players who have unfinished business from 2014.
With a stockpile in every direction, Harbaugh will force players to either perform or make way for someone who will.
Which Lane for Derrick Green?
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Two years ago, Derrick Green was the running back of the future. Today, the junior-to-be is in danger of becoming yesterday’s news.
With sophomore transfer Ty Isaac in the mix, the Wolverines now have an unquestionably worthy candidate for No. 1 duties. And there’s always De’Veon Smith, who had a team-high 108 carries for 519 yards and six touchdowns last year. But there is slight upside for Green, who looked the part of a No. 1 back during spurts and stretches this past season.
Prior to his season-ending injury at Rutgers, Green was just about “there” in terms of progression. Now months removed from the broken clavicle, he has not only something to prove to himself but also to his new coach.
Before being sidelined, Green carried the ball 82 times for 471 yards and three touchdowns, a mere fraction of what was expected.
At one time, Green was considered the best running back in his class. Now, in February 2015, he can’t even be tabbed as the No. 1 back on his team’s depth chart. Green, beyond a shadow of a doubt, has the most to prove of any running back—if not the most to prove overall.
But the next candidate’s case could slightly trump that of the 5’11”, 227-pound running back.
Shane Morris Is Running Out of Time
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As mentioned earlier, there isn't a No. 1 quarterback in Ann Arbor. However, there is a group of at least three who could earn that role: Shane Morris, Wilton Speight and Alex Malzone.
Speight’s a redshirt freshman, Malzone’s an early enrollee and Morris is a former 5-star out of Warren De La Salle who was once hailed as the savior of Wolverines football.
In 2012, the name “Shane Morris” was the only name.
This year, the 6’3”, 204-pound lefty could be leapfrogged by a freshman from Brother Rice or a 6’6”, 234-pound former 3-star from Russell Wilson’s old high school. And that's just spring. Zach Gentry, a 6'7", 230-pounder, arrives in August.
None of the above would be a desirable scenario for Morris, who could encounter many of the same coaching-change-related problems as his predecessor, Devin Gardner. Gardner went through a pair of coaching changes and played for three offensive coordinators before ultimately underachieving.
A quick start would do wonders for Morris' confidence and career. He needs to claim the perch, now or never. It'd be hard to imagine Morris accepting the role of second or third fiddle. This spring is absolutely sink or swim.
Where Does Ondre Pipkins Fit?
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During the summer of 2014, Mattison excitedly described the development of his defensive line, and Ondre Pipkins was mentioned as one of the quickest learners.
As a freshman, he was hospitalized after suffering a neck injury during summer practice. He appeared in 13 games that year but didn't see enough regular action to make a true impact. The future looked bright, though, and Michigan had Pipkins ready to go as a sophomore.
But then the 6’3”, 306-pound defensive tackle was limited to five games due to an ACL injury. This past fall, he also played in only five games.
That makes a grand total of 23 games for a former blue-chip recruit. Bryan Mone, a 6’4”, 312-pound sophomore-to-be, is waiting for an opening. Meanwhile, Ryan Glasgow, a 6’4”, 296-pound redshirt sophomore, also stands in the way of top reps.
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Downfield Dynamics
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At 6’5” and 235 pounds, Funchess was a quarterback’s dream. He wasn’t always the most consistent, evidenced by a rash of drops during the past two years, but he was incredibly difficult to defend.
The Wolverines won’t have such an option this fall, but they’ll have Amara Darboh—the undisputed No. 1 target until someone says otherwise.
At 6’2” and 211 pounds, the redshirt sophomore has a great balance of speed, power and vertical ability. He can absorb hits while catching the tough ones over the middle, and he’s fast enough to get a step on defensive backs while going for the deep sideline throws.
Second to Funchess, Darboh finished with 36 catches for 473 yards and two touchdowns in 2014. He has a habit of wowing during camp, too. Keep an eye on his progress.
If not Darboh, Jehu Chesson has to be the guy. This past season, he caught 14 passes for 154 yards. Chesson represents Michigan’s last line of receivers, relatively speaking.
Depth, talent and "just wait" have been the story of just about every position group for the past three years. Frankly, it’s getting a bit old, and this spring is the perfect time for the Wolverines to start singing a new tune—one of what is, not one of what could be.
Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and references were obtained firsthand by the writer via press conference, press release or other media availability. All recruiting information comes courtesy of 247Sports. Stats were obtained from Michigan’s ESPN.com page and MGoBlue.com.
Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81.
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