Michigan football set to rely on deep receiving corps

Expectations are excessive for the Michigan soccer workforce, maybe highest for the receiving corps. It’s a promising unit that returns the majority of final yr’s manufacturing whereas including fifth-year senior Ronnie Bell, who has recovered from his ACL damage. 

Hyperboles and platitudes are at all times tossed round this time of yr, with the receivers frequent recipients. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh just lately mentioned they’ve the “license and the flexibility to be one of the best we’ve ever had.” 

Receivers coach Ron Bellamy — as soon as a receiver himself for the Wolverines from 1999 to 2002 — gave a extra concrete comparability. 

Draped on the partitions of Bellamy’s workplace are photos of his former teammates: Braylon Edwards, Jason Avant, Steve Breaston, David Terrell and Marquise Walker. 

“Only a historical past lesson for the boys,” Bellamy defined to reporters Tuesday. “Anytime they arrive within the workplace, we discuss in regards to the legacy of Michigan soccer and the good custom of large receiver play.” 

Andrel Anthony visited Bellamy’s workplace just lately and, as Bellamy hoped, the sophomore receiver seen the photographs. Anthony, Bellamy says, is striving to emulate Edwards as a tall, lanky downfield risk. 

Bellamy sees a bit little bit of Breaston in Bell, a pair of slippery, savvy receivers. In Avant — a bulldog prepared to do the “soiled work” by enjoying particular groups and making blocks — Bellamy can visualize freshman Darrius Clemons. 

These comparisons could also be rash. Clemons, for one, is but to play a collegiate snap. Anthony is basically unproven, too. 

However in Bellamy’s thoughts, they aren’t a lot comparisons as a blueprint. The historical past classes are designed to open gamers to their potential, what they’ll accomplish as a unit and what they need to be aiming to attain. The truth that Bellamy is prepared to speak overtly about it speaks to the final confidence within the unit’s skill. 

With competitors fierce and enjoying time scarce, presenting a blueprint for fulfillment ought to bode properly. 

“You don’t should be the starter to compete,” Bellamy mentioned. “You need to get on the soccer discipline? No matter it’s important to do — in case your position is obstructing, in case you are a deep ball man, in case you are gonna transfer the chain, no matter it might be, you compete your butt off and attempt to get the chance to play on the soccer discipline. 

“Our guys have that understanding, that one of the best gamers will play and the blokes who do issues properly get a chance to showcase what they’ll do.” 

In such a crowded room, versatility is all of the extra vital. Michigan has embraced flexibility and totally different ability units, with Bellamy mentioning junior receiver Roman Wilson, junior receiver A.J. Henning and sophomore operating again Donovan Edwards as three gamers who stand out in that regard. 

“Our guys are everywhere in the soccer discipline enjoying a number of positions,” Bellamy mentioned. “I believe that’s what you want to ascend to being top-of-the-line place teams, and I believe you’ll put defenses in additional conflicts than not.” 

That’s a luxurious the Wolverines didn’t have final season. Bell’s damage within the season-opener thrust then-junior Cornelius Johnson into the WR1 position. Stiffer competitors honed in on Johnson, usually matching him up with the highest defensive again. And whereas Johnson led the workforce in receiving yards, the group’s general capabilities had been stunted. 

Bell’s return ought to nullify that technique, both on Johnson or any of Michigan’s weapons. This can be a group that’s deeper, extra skilled and extra proficient than a yr in the past — a lot in order that Bellamy calls all of them No. 1 choices. 

“You could have a plethora of fellows, plethora of choices,” Bellamy mentioned. “From a defensive standpoint, decide your poison.”