Hart was prepared to leave
CHICAGO - University of Michigan tailback Mike Hart is well versed in trailing the blocks of All-America left tackle Jake Long.
Apparently, Mike Hart was prepared to follow Long into the NFL a year early, too.
"When we were making our decision last year, he came up to me and said if I'm leaving, then he's gonna leave,'' Long said Tuesday. "If I stay, then he's gonna stay.''
As he spoke, Long glanced at the table in the Hyatt Regency Hotel meeting room where Mike Hart was surrounded by reporters.
"You can't lose your right tackle (and) lose your left tackle and come back and have the same season you had the year before,'' Mike Hart noted.
With four-year starters Mike Hart, Long and quarterback Chad Henne representing the Wolverine players at the Big Ten's media days, it was obvious what choice Long made. Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, however, admitted he had his doubts at a certain stage in the decision-making process.
"Jake Long, I thought at one point was going to leave. I always meet with the seniors the Monday after Ohio State to talk about what their plans are, because it impacts recruiting. Jake Long, on that day, he was undecided (whether to turn pro),'' Carr recalled. "But when he came back, the first reason, he said, 'I'm just not ready to leave college and my teammates.' That speaks to who he is. How many guys would turn that down? ... Mike Hart, he never hesitated. Henne talked about graduating and a championship. You want guys like that.''
Insuring his future
Considered a possible top-10 pick had he entered the 2007 NFL Draft, Long decided to protect himself financially in case he gets hurt before the league's 2008 draft arrives. After getting guidance from recruiting coordinator Chris Singletary - who previously worked with the sports agent firm IMG - Long purchased an insurance policy, the details of which he's keeping private.
"(I did it) just so I can go out there and not worry about getting injured,'' he said. "Just go out there and focus on football and not worry about the repercussions of getting hurt.''
Muscling up
Off-season shoulder surgery left Mike Hart on the sidelines during spring practices, but didn't keep him from attending to his weight room duties.
While the shoulder healed, Mike Hart emphasized lower-body workouts. When he could perform upper-body lifts, he did more weight work than ever.
The result? He's stronger, heavier (about 202 pounds, up from 196) and, by Long's account, even quicker.
"This is the fastest I've seen him,'' Long said of Mike Hart, who rushed for 1,562 yards last year. "He's in the top five in all our (summer conditioning) runs.''
Offensive line updates
The left side of Michigan's offensive line is set, as is the center spot, where Carr praised the performance of sophomore Justin Boren. The right side, however? Many questions remain. The most notable development is that Alex Mitchell has lost his grip on the starting right guard position, Carr said. The issue seems to be Mitchell's conditioning.
"It's fair to say the pressure is on Alex Mitchell,'' he added.
Redshirt junior Jeremy Ciulla is pushing for the job. At the right tackle position vacated by Rueben Riley, many inexperienced players are in the mix.
Going with the gun
After wilting under Southern California's pass rush in the Rose Bowl, the University of Michigan attack is expected to dust off an old passing game feature this season: The shotgun.
All but ignored by the Wolverines last year, shotgun formations give the passer more time to scan for open receivers. "We definitely incorporated that,'' Henne said. "Because instead of going to the huddle, doing our cadence and people picking up on our cadence, we can go down the field and score.''
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