Notes and observations: Michigan football Thursday practice for College Football Playoff
TEMPE, Ariz. — Michigan football was back on the practice field on Thursday as the team readies for the College Football Playoff semifinal in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
Taking place again at Tempe Diablo Stadium, where the Angels minor league team plays and the parent club holds spring training, the Wolverines opened practice to the media for the first 15 minutes.
We had a more detailed report from Tuesday’s practice, and while there wasn’t much to glean on Thursday, we still had a few takeaways. Wolverines Wire’s Isaiah Hole was on hand, here is some of the things that he noticed.
Players returned to practice
Photo: Isaiah Hole
On Tuesday, we saw multiple players wearing T-shirts and shorts in lieu of uniforms, but most returned to practice on Thursday.
Wide receivers Andrel Anthony, A.J. Henning and Amorion Walker were back in shells and working out, though Walker was working out with special teams instead of receivers (h/t MVictors’ Greg Dooley). Anthony had his ankle wrapped, but was catching passes with the rest of them.
The only potentially returning player we saw in street clothes was, again, linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green, who was rumored to be available for the bowl game. Again, he was acting as a player-coach.
More early enrollee observations
Photo: Isaiah Hole
Thursday provided another opportunity to see some of the early enrollees in action, and there were a few things that impressed us.
Wide receivers Semaj Morgan and Fredrick Moore certainly looked the part in drills. There was not much difference between them and the established players from what we saw. Of course, they weren’t getting any resistance, as it was individual drills and not 7-on-7-type situations, but they held their own. Morgan, who is diminutive in stature, is actually about the same height and build as players such as A.J. Henning, which appeared to be the case when they stood next to each other. Moore also did a good job in some of the sideline drills in which players received a catch heading out of bounds but cut back to run toward the end zone.
Observing running back Benjamin Hall (pictured above), he has legs like tree trunks, reminiscent of former tailback Chris Evans. It will be interesting to see if he’s able to create an early niche as a power back.
George Helow is a great teacher
Photo: Isaiah Hole
We observed linebackers coach George Helow working with the group, and spending a lot of time with Jimmy Rolder. Helow comes across as more of a teacher than anything, working with the entire group to observe and analyze each rep. “Tell me why that happened?” he asked. He patiently waited for the right answer, and when he didn’t get it, he instructed: “He was low hip. Let’s do it again.”
It was very professorial and hands-on, while also allowing the players to give their own analysis of the situation.
Additional notes
Photo: Isaiah Hole
Kenneth Grant somehow looks like he’s gotten bigger, if you can believe that. He looked almost double the size of Mason Graham when they were standing near each other.
Former Michigan offensive lineman and NFL journeyman Patrick Omameh was on hand to catch practice.
Donovan Edwards’ cast looked about the same size, though he was wearing an extra protective ace bandage over the top of it.
Even when the receiver drills moved onto a combined unit with the quarterbacks from individual drills, we only saw one ball not caught (it was more of an errant throw than a drop). Most did a good job on the sideline drill, but not all were able to stay in bounds.
