.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
Spring review: Looking back at five questions for Michigan football
With Michigan wrapping up spring football Saturday with a defense-dominated spring game, we take a look back at the five questions we had before things got started.
1. Who will throw the passes?
Veteran Shane Morris looked much better than true freshman Alex Malzone in the spring game, and head coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed afterward Morris is in the lead at this point. Morris completed 11-of-24 passes for 135 yards, showing off his powerful left arm on more than one occasion. He completed the only touchdown pass of the day while Malzone (15-of-27 for 95 yards) looked very much like a guy who should be contemplating what to wear to his senior prom rather than competing for a starting quarterback job in the Big Ten, both in terms of delivery and decision-making.
Also figuring to be part of the mix this fall will be redshirt freshman Wilton Speight and true freshman Zach Gentry, while Jake Rudock is also widely expected to join the battle as a senior transfer from Iowa.
"If I looked at it overall (through) spring ball, Shane would be ahead," Harbaugh told reporters in Ann Arbor on Saturday (via MGoBlog). "And the competition will rage on, though starting tomorrow and into April and into May and certainly into June and July and August."
2. Who will catch the passes?
Neither of the quarterbacks got much help from the receivers in the spring game. There were several drops, including a ball that went off the chest of Jaron Dukes up into the air for an interception by a safety, and playmaking appears to be in short supply.
Dukes came back to post the only TD reception of the afternoon, though, easily outmuscling converted wide receiver/kick returner Dennis Norfleet along the sideline for a 14-yard score. Maurice Ways also had a pass knocked out of his hands for an interception, and leading receiver Amara Darboh (four catches for 75 yards with a long of 37) saw his day marred by a dropped deep ball.
"I think we can make improvement in our receiving corps too (with) those guys making the contested catch," Harbaugh said. "Making it when it's tighter coverage and being stronger, plucking the ball. We've got room for improvement there and I think we'll get it."
Tight end Jake Butt provided a reminder he could be a weapon in the passing game by catching four passes for 30 yards, including a 16-yarder.
3. Who will break up the other team's passes?
This is one of those double-edged issues of spring. Both quarterbacks appeared to have trouble finding open receivers much of the afternoon, but was that more a positive indicator for the coverage units or a negative reflection of the ability of the receivers?
One thing is for sure: the secondary was more aggressive as a whole, getting in the face of receivers from the get-go.
Highly touted redshirt freshman Jabrill Peppers flashes his ability on a couple of occasions both in coverage and run support, and sophomore Brandon Watson had an impressive interception and a pass breakup while Jourdan Lewis had six tackles.
Norfleet, listed at only 5-foot-7, was picked on throughout the afternoon, but Harbaugh gave his overall spring positive reviews after the game.
4. What does Ty Isaac bring?
The USC transfer was limited in what he could show this spring because of an injury, and the running game struggled mightily in the spring game after a 34-yard run by De'Veon Smith on the first play of the afternoon.
That did not come as much of a surprise, however, with the defense so familiar with what the offense was running and both offensive lines composed of a mishmash of starters and reserves as a result of the draft format used to put the teams together.
Isaac and the run-blockers get an incomplete at this point.
5. What will Jim Harbaugh say next?
His postgame commentary was rather subdued following the spring game, but Harbaugh certainly did a good job of keeping his name in the headlines.
Whether he was helping motorists on the highway, bantering with Judge Judy, joining the Oakland A's for spring training, admitting he could be overpaid, mimicking how a recruit asked a girl to prom, lamenting his finish in the Michigan student government election or just offering advice for an Easter egg hunt, there were not many dull moments.
