Michigan Wednesday: Spring Practice Update

photo courtesy of the Det News


RR met with the media on Tuesday and let loose a ton of information on injuries, Spring Game and much more.

Highlights:

• The Spring Game will have donations set up for Mott's Children Hospital. Game is still free but donations are welcomed.


• New Injuries: Vladimir Emilien and Jared Van Slyke have sprained knees. Je'Ron Stokes has a sprained ankle. Anthony LaLota banged up his elbow.
  
• With two safeties out with injuries Cameron Gordon is getting a ton more reps at safety. Anyone else getting time at safety? "Well, because of that injury, we moved Brandin Hawthorne, who was kind of an outside linebacker. We're probably going to play him at both the safety position and the hybrid position. He's a guy that has looked pretty good the first couple of days. We're going to try him back there."
  
• Due to injuries they might not be able to have two full squads for the Spring Game.
  
• On Big Will: "With Mike Martin being out, he's getting a lot of reps. I think he's gotten better each day. We've still got to get Will to play a little lower at times, and he's using his hands a lot better. "He's had a pretty productive first three days. I think he's going to continue to get better."


• Mike Cox and Mike Shaw are stepping up at running backs.
  
• New things on defense? 3-3-5? "Really, what we're trying to do is just tweak a few of our packages to fit different types of schemes that we'll be facing offensively. I think it's probably common knowledge that everybody uses a variety of offense. You go from a power base to a west coast team to a spread team. It changes from week to week.
  
  "Even in the Big Ten, there is a lot more variety than what people assume. We've got to have enough in our package that is simple enough for our guys to understand, yet have enough schemes to be in the right type of defense to face those offenses. Coach [Greg] Robinson and the defensive staff have kind of got a plan for that this spring, to practice a couple of things, whether it's against a spread or against a west coast type of team, or a power football type of team.
  
• Taylor Lewan and Michael Schofield are playing well at the offensive tackle positions.
  
• Linebacker play?: "Jonas Mouton and Obi Ezeh are two veteran guys that have played a lot of football for us. This is going to be their senior year, and we're expecting a lot out of them. I'm really pleased with what they've done the last seven weeks in the weight program, and with what they've done in the first three practices."
  
• Denard has only been lining up at QB this Spring.
  
• JT Floyd has played well at CB
  
• Devin is learning the offense and has improved his throwing motion.