REVENGE OF THE HERD NO (FAT) JOKE, MICHIGAN LINE IS DOMINANT.Byline: Walter Hammerwold Staff Writer DANA POINT - Michigan tackle Tony Pape Tony Pape (born September 29, 1981) is an American football player for the San Diego Chargers. He became a free agent after his practice squad contract expired on January 8,2007. Pape signed with the San Diego Chargers on February 14, 2007. anchors a starting offensive line that checks in at 1,527 pounds, so he doesn't argue when the Wolverines' defensive front equates his unit to a cattle drive. ``The defense thinks it's funny, because we always have to end up running to the other end of the field when there's a drill or something,'' Pape said. ``We always have to run here, run there. And we don't run very fast. We kind of trot. So whenever we trot past a defensive scrimmage or a drill, we hear 'Mooo.' '' ``We do a little bit of that,'' defensive lineman Grant Bowman admitted. ``We like to have fun. If you let things get stale, it's just too tough to go through hard times and practices. But, yeah, we like to make fun of each other, and they're so fat, it's easy to do.'' Does the offensive line have a retort? ``No,'' Pape said with a laugh. ``We're too tired to talk.'' Pape's comeback generally comes on the field, and any anger he might feel at his teammates' jokes is generally displaced onto opposing lines. More often, it is the those defenders, not the Michigan linemen, who are grazing on a facemask face·mask n. A protective or disguising cover for the face, often enveloping the entire head: wore a facemask while diving; a skier's facemask; armed robbers who wore facemasks. full of grass when Pape is through with them. Pape's appetite for defensive linemen has helped the Michigan offense swallow up Verb 1. swallow up - enclose or envelop completely, as if by swallowing; "The huge waves swallowed the small boat and it sank shortly thereafter" eat up, immerse, swallow, bury 457.2 yards per game this season and a berth in the Rose Bowl, where the Wolverines will face top-ranked USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. on Thursday. Pape and Co. have led running back Chris Perry Chris Perry is the name of:
v. vaunt·ed, vaunt·ing, vaunts v.tr. To speak boastfully of; brag about. v.intr. To speak boastfully; brag. See Synonyms at boast1. n. 1. line, in a conference renowned for its ravenous trenches. ``He's a veteran, he's got the most experience,'' center Dave Pearson Dave Pearson (born March 29, 1981) is an American football offensive lineman who is currently a free-agent. said of Pape. ``He's shown great leadership, and we like running the ball behind his side of the line.'' Pape's strength is run blocking, and his ability to knock defenders backward has been essential on a team whose running back prefers to move inside. Although Pape lacks the speed and explosiveness of some of his linemates, his long reach and strong arms have helped him push back quicker linemen when they get the jump on him. ``He brings a good mentality to the line,'' Pearson said. ``He has great technique and knows how to make the line play as one unit.'' The 6-foot-6, 304-pound senior was a unanimous Big Ten Conference first-team selection and made the Sports Illustrated Sports Illustrated is the largest weekly American sports magazine owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. It has over 3 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men, 19% of the adult males in the country. second-team All- America list. But it is the awards the team's skilled players garnered that Pape considers the true mark of his line's worth. ``We get our accolades through everybody else,'' Pape said. ``When Chris gets an award, we feel it's our award as much as it's Chris'. When John has a great game, we feel just as responsible for that. We don't need our personal trophies or anything like that. ``We know what happens within our group, watching the film. We're happy with what we get inside of our program.'' Perry credits the offensive line for much of his success, and Navarre, perhaps because of the intimate relationship An intimate relationship is a particularly close interpersonal relationship. It is a relationship in which the participants know or trust one another very well or are confidants of one another, or a relationship in which there is physical or emotional intimacy. a quarterback shares with his line, is roommates with Pape and counts him in his inner circle. ``They block well,'' Perry said. ``And when they're blocking well, it makes it easy for me to do what I do.'' Fittingly, Michigan's herd will play against a defensive front named after a Western in Pape's final game at the helm. If the Wolverines line plays as well in the Rose Bowl as it did in the regular season, the Wild Bunch II will be headed for the toughest roundup they have seen all year. Walter Hammerwold, (626) 962-8811 walter.hammerwold(at)sgvn.com OFFENSE TOP TARGETS BRAYLON EDWARDS Braylon Jamel Edwards (born on February 21, 1983 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American football wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns of the NFL. His father, Stan Edwards, played football at the University of Michigan (1977-1981) and with the Houston Oilers (1982-1986) and Detroit Michigan's brightest receiving talent logged more than 1,000 yards for the second consecutive season and reached 100 yards five times. The junior, who also competes on the Michigan track team, has been haunted by dropped passes but is a big-play threat when he catches them. JASON AVANT Jason Avant (born April 20, 1983 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American football wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League. High school Jason Avant attended Carver High School in Chicago, graduating in 2002. The Wolverines' second option is also their most consistent. The sophomore averages a team-high 16.5 yards per catch and has lit up the Michigan highlight reel with acrobatic plays. STEVE BREASTON Steven William Breaston (born August 20, 1983 in North Braddock, Pennsylvania) is an American football wide receiver, kick returner, and punt returner who plays for the Arizona Cardinals. He was drafted by Arizona in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. The sophomore's numbers (32 catches, 383 yards) might not rival Edwards and Avant, but his moves and potential make him the future of the team. Breaston is the first Michigan player to record touchdowns on four different types of plays: punt return In American and Canadian football a punt return is one of the punt receiving team's options to respond to a punt. A player (usually a second or third string wide receiver or running back) positioned many yards from the line of scrimmage will attempt to catch or pick up the ball , run, pass (he threw to QB John Navarre John Robert Navarre (born September 9, 1980) is an American football quarterback who most recently was in training camp for the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL, although the Colts subsequently waived Navarre on Tuesday, August 8, 2007. He is currently an NFL free agent. on a trick play A trick play, also known as a gadget play, is a play in American football that uses deception and unorthodox strategies to fool the opposing team. Trick plays are highly risky, usually with a large potential for a loss of yards or turnover, but the payoff is often high with against Minnesota) and receiving. DEFENSE Three to watch MARLIN JACKSON The top-rated cover cornerback's numbers took a hit when he moved to safety to shore up a weakness in the Wolverines' secondary. But his play at the new position is almost as strong. Injuries and legal troubles limited Jackson's action this season. But he should be healthy and clear-headed by Thursday. LEON HALL The freshman, despite starting only three games, recorded 22 tackles and tied for the team lead in interceptions with three. Coming home to California should help the Vista native, who appears poised for a breakout game. PIERRE WOODS The 6-foot-5, 244-pound linebacker was the Wolverines' sackmaster, averaging one every two games. The junior proved just as adept stopping the run with 63 tackles, including a team-high 12 for a loss. CAPTION(S): 8 photos, 3 boxes Photo: (1) Tony Pape (left) clowns with John Navarre during team portrait and protects Michigan QB on the field. Jerry S. Mendoza/Associated Press (2) GARRETT RIVAS (l.) vs. MINNESOTA Associated Press (3) BRAYLON EDWARDS (4) JASON AVANT (5) STEVE BREASTON (6) MARLIN JACKSON (7) LEON HALL (8) PIERRE WOODS Box: (1) OFFENSE (see text) (2) DEFENSE (see text) (3) PERFORMANCES WE WON'T SOON FORGET |
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