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M Working On Plays to Spring Doughty

M Working On Plays to Spring Doughty image
Parent Issue
Day
11
Month
September
Year
1969
Copyright
Copyright Protected
Rights Held By
Donated by the Ann Arbor News. © The Ann Arbor News.
OCR Text

When Glenn Doughty is asked a question, his answer seems to contradict that he's a green sophomore trying to replace a football legend in the Michigan backfield. "Sure, everyone talks about me replacing Ron Johnson, but it doesn't bother me," offers the 196-pound tailback. "We have a balanced attack this season and everyone is going to share the responsibility of moving the ball. I really don't feel any pressure at all." Johnson was the prime mover for Coach Bump Elliott's forces in 1968 when the Wolverines won eight of 10 games. He broke all Tom Harmon's rushing records and shattered the individual and season rushing records in the Big Ten. Johnson's 347 yards gained from scrimmage against Wisconsin stands as an all-time NCAA high. When Bo Schembechler took over for Elliott last winter, his first consideration was finding a tailback. "Just watching Glenn walk around campus and knowing we needed a runner, it was a natural decision to switch him to tailback," Schembechler says. Doughty came to Michigan from Pershing High in Detroit where he was a split end and linebacker. He played split end with the Wolverine freshmen and had thoughts of going on defense when Schembechler opened his first Wolverine drills last spring. "I actually wanted to be that Wolf Man (roving defensive back) that coach had installed on defense," recalls Doughty. "I had more confidence on defense, because I played a lot of it in high school." But Schembechler immediately sent Doughty to the tailback position last spring and he has remained there with impressive results. For an athlete who had never run from the line of scrimmage, Doughty appears to have found a home. He has exploded for long runs repeatedly in scrimmages and, of course, is a natural receiver. Doughty feels his biggest adjustments will have to come in timing, both on his blocking assignments and in running. "Timing is a big thing, especially when you go after a defensive man and in trying to cut off a block," he says. Progress in establishing this timing has not been helped by a minor shoulder injury suffered last Saturday in a scrimmage. Schembechler has kept him out of heavy contact work ever since, but he is expected to be ready for a closed, full-dress scrimmage in Michigan Stadium Saturday. While there have been problems for Doughty in adjusting to a new position, the super-quick sophomore has found one area where he is at ease. "When I get past that line, I feel at home running," he offers. Schembechler agrees and that is what those late evening meetings with his staff are all about - springing Doughty past the line and letting him run. The new Michigan staff has balanced off the offensive attack this season, but there remains a considerable weight for sophomore Doughty to carry and so far he gives every indication of being up to the task. M Scrimmage Closed To All Michigan's final scrimmage in preparation for the Sept. 20 home opener with Vanderbilt will be held in secret in Michigan Stadium on Saturday. The general public will not be admitted, nor will those holding practice passes. All gates will be locked. Next week the Wolverines will launch heavy concentration on defensing the Vanderbilt attack while designing their own particular offense to try and advance the ball against the Commodores.