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Michigan sideline reporter Doug Karsch joined TheWolverine.com’s John Borton for a podcast. Here is the audio, and highlights.
Karsch talked about, position group by position group, what his expectations are for the 2017 Wolverines. Here are some segments from the discussion.
On redshirt junior quarterback Wilton Speight losing 23 pounds in the offseason: “The whole loss of weight … who knows how that’s going to impact him? It could be the kind of thing that makes him more mobile and quicker, which is a standard line of thinking.
“But what’s important to point out here is that Wilton Speight used an offseason to do something to prepare himself for the next year, and rather significantly. He lost 23 pounds. Isn’t that indicative of what this guy is doing to get himself ready to play?
“That would also fall in line with Wilton Speight watching a ton of film. It would fall in line that Wilton Speight is throwing to his receivers on his own.
“Losing 23 pounds is no joke. To be able to show that kind of commitment to be ready to play … I’m sure there are other commitments to make himself ready to play that came with.”
On the right side of the offensive line: “I found it was interesting that they brought [redshirt sophomore offensive tackle] Jon Runyan out to meet with the media this week. He’s obviously a real factor there at the right tackle spot.
“If Coach [Greg] Frey and Coach [Tim] Drevno get the call right, and come up with five guys at the beginning of the year that stay together all year, that would be great. I would bet that whoever starts in the Florida game, there would be some experimentation.
“They’ll have some games against lesser opponents where they’ll say, ‘Let’s try a different combination here.’ That should come in week two and week three. This will be a work in progress for several weeks before they settle on exactly what they want to do.”
On his growing confidence in the wide receivers: “I am buying into the hype. I think this position is going to hit the ground running. I think Michigan wide receivers are going to be very good from day one…
“Wide receiver is a spot that I think is in good hands. As far as who is going to start, it’s going to be a flat-out guess, but I’d go with [sophomore] Kekoa Crawford and [freshman] Tarik Black.”
On Michigan’s linebackers: “I don’t worry about it too much anymore. [Devin] Bush [Jr.] got some valuable playing time last year, so he won’t be too wide-eyed when he takes the field. It’s going to be interesting to see that speed.
“You think about one thing about that position over the last couple of years. There were some guys trying to cover running backs out of the backfield and they just couldn’t stay with them, stride for stride. That should not be an issue with Devin Bush.
“[Fifth-year senior Mike] McCray is as solid as can be in the middle. He’s a guy that is emerging as an incredibly important piece to not get hurt this year.
“[Sophomore viper] Khaleke Hudson … people have gotten as excited about this guy as anyone on the team. We hear about [freshman wideout] Donovan Peoples-Jones being a Frisbee-catching dog, but Khaleke Hudson just seems to be a freak.
“That’s a position where you can allow a player of his talents to be showcased in a variety of ways — getting to the quarterback, in the pass defense. That’s a guy who has a high, high ceiling.”
On Michigan’s kicking game, especially regarding redshirt freshman placekicker Quinn Nordin and freshman punter Brad Robbins: “I’m buying all of it. I’m buying all that hype. I think Nordin is going to be just fine. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Michigan kicker with one more impressive, overpowering kick [than Nordin’s] in the spring game.
“That was wind-aided, of course, but that looked like it would have been good from 70.
“I’m buying the Robbins hype as well. There is something to be said for standing in Jerry World a week from now, and the most people you’ve probably ever played in front of is measured in the singular thousands, but there is some talent there, that will, again, probably come with some growing pains.
“But there is an abundance of talent. I don’t spend much time worrying about Michigan’s kicking or punting.”
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