Michigan football: Spring Preview, Part VII, receivers

(Note: This is the last in a series concerning potential starters for this fall’s Michigan football team. Here, we’ll look at the receivers. Below are the links to the previous articles).

With Devin Funchess headed for the NFL, Amara Darboh returns as Michigan’s leading receiver.

Darboh’s 36 receptions may be tolerable, until you consider ex-Wolverine Marquise Walker (1998-2001) made 30 catches in just two games during the 2001 season.

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At tight end, Michigan returns promising junior Jake Butt, who has 41 receptions in just under two seasons.

Mandich caught 50

Those statistics, too, seem adequate until you consider that former Michigan tight end Jim Mandich (1967-69) caught 50 during the historic 1969 season.

To help decide who may be Michigan’s starters in 2015, figure Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh running a multiple offense, which isn’t exactly the three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust attack that Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler adapted in the late 60s and 70s.

Sure, Michigan will run an I-formation based attack, but it just might do it with bits and pieces of iconic coach Bill Walsh’s famed “West Coast” offense.

Instead of constantly banging heads with a smash-mouth running game, the West Coast accomplishes the same thing by utilizing a short (east-west) passing game. The quarterback operates with more three and five-step drops, taking pressure away from the offensive line.

Spreads the field

The scheme is designed to spread the defense, which aids the rushing attack and even the vertical (downfield) passing game.

If Harbaugh decides to introduce the West Coast at Michigan’s spring game (April 4 at Michigan Stadium), look for the tight ends, slot receivers and h-backs to get more of the action.

At this point, Darboh (WR), Chesson (WR), Freddy Canteen (SL) and Butt (TE) have a good chance to be Michigan’s starters when Michigan opens the season Thursday, Sept. 3, at Utah.

H-back in motion

Since Chesson has the reputation of being a good blocker, he could move over to the slot instead of Canteen or Dennis Norfleet.

If a second tight end is in the cards, A.J. Williams could line up as an extra lineman, or someone like Wyatt Shallman, Ian Bunting or Brady Pallante could play an h-back position where motion becomes part of the game.

Then you have the fullbacks who rarely touched the ball under Brady Hoke.

Between Shallman, Sione Houma and Joe Kerridge, they had 14 receptions and five carries after three seasons.

By the way, don’t forget your roster when you attend the spring game.

Versatile Jabrill Peppers may lineup as a wide receiver in addition to playing in the defensive backfield.

Here’s how the 2015 receiving crew shapes up:

WR1. Amara Darboh, Drake Harris, Brian Cole, Jaron Dukes

WR2. Jehu Chesson, Maurice Ways, Da’Mario Jones, Grant Perry

SLOT. Freddy Canteen, Dennis Norfleet, Bo Dever

TE. Jake Butt, A.J. Williams, Khalid Hill, Ian Bunting

H-BACK/FB. Joe Kerridge, Sione Houma, Wyatt Shallman, Brady Pallante

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