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Bracing for Breaston: a week inside a seemingly overmatched MAC cornerback's preparation to take on a Mac Daddy receiver

Sporting News, The, Sept 30, 2005 by Tom Dienhart

Duan Bracey isn't walking with a limp. He's eating an apple, so he must not have lost any teeth. And forget the fake beard and sunglasses ... Bracey has no reason to hide as he strolls toward the Eastern Michigan bus with a big black duffel bag slung over a shoulder.

Bracey made it. He survived one of college football's ultimate tests: He wasn't burned by Michigan's Steve Breaston, one of college football's ultimate weapons.

Sure, the Eagles lost, 55-0, to the Wolverines--honestly, it wasn't even that close--and there were lots of things for the EMU coaches to circle in red on the final stat sheet. But they could put the pen down when they got to Bracey. He was nicked here and dented there, but it was difficult to find many cleat marks on his back as he emerged from the shadow of Michigan Stadium last Saturday afternoon.

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Bracey survived Breaston.

"He wasn't as fast as I thought he would be," says Bracey. "He didn't impress me that much."

Maybe Bracey got lucky. Maybe not. One thing is certain: Breaston has wowed before--and he'll wow again. He was the co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2003. He caught 72 passes his first two years at Michigan. And he has been every bit as deadly as a return man, taking back three punts for touchdowns in his college career. That's enough to make any MAC cornerback run for cover.

And get this: Breaston is aiming to be the first Big Ten player ever to accumulate 1,000 career yards as a receiver, as a punt returner and as a kickoff returner.

Breaston will get his stats--he just didn't against Bracey. And here's how a too-small, too-slow cornerback from a school that has too little of everything survived Breaston.

Bracey leans forward in his chair as he prepares for the Breaston barrage. Michigan's 1 No. 15 is one of college football's "haves," and he has a lot of it. High school hero, heralded recruit, cover boy. Heck, coeds probably even coo over him. Bracey knows all that. Has a headful of Breaston. Could start his own scrapbook on the guy. "He's not just a receiver; he's an athlete," says Bracey, a sophomore who switched to corner from wide receiver just this season. "He's a speedster who can do multiple things." All that's left is for Breaston to be stamped an All-American and forwarded to the NFL with a briefcase full of money.

Bracey nods. It's Thursday, and practice is an hour away. He knows what's coming: more Breaston for his brain. It began on Monday, which is supposed to be an off-day. Didn't stop Bracey from coming in on his own to watch No. 15. Rewind, play; rewind, play.

Tuesday? Different day, same deal. More film. Rewind, play; rewind, play. Bracey also practiced and got the Michigan scouting report from his coaches. No doubt, Bracey highlighted the parts about No. 15. Just in case he got bored while on campus, Bracey jammed the report into his backpack. Might as well get used to having Breaston on his hip ... he was going to be there on Saturday.

"Sometimes after I make a play in practice, I'll say 'da-da-da ... da-da-da' just like the song they play on SportsCenter," says Bracey. He smiles, leans back and tugs at the green muscle shirt that barely contains his muscles. "In practice on Tuesday, my intensity turned up," Bracey says. "I told our receivers they weren't going to catch a pass. Things went well yesterday, too."

They ended up catching a couple. No big deal. Wednesday was the last intense day of preparation. It went well for Bracey--and then Thursday stares him in the face. And Breaston still hasn't beaten Bracey. Breaston still is in front of him, right there in color on the video screen and over there in black and white in the scouting report. Bracey still has a chance. It's time for another meeting before practice. It's time to get more lowdown on the guy who could make Bracey feel low down.

Bracey nestles in a cramped meeting room in a deep, dark corner of EMU's Convocation Center. He grabs a seat up front. Good idea. On this Thursday afternoon, all eyes are on cornerbacks coach Joe Palka. He points. He scribbles. He questions. So, what's the plan, Coach? EMU will press Breaston and the Michigan wideouts, playing zone behind them to offer help. The idea is to disrupt Breaston's timing. It seems risky. Then there's another revelation: Breaston isn't EMU's biggest worry ... it's Jason Avant.

Avant has been the main man in Michigan's first two games, catching a team-high 14 passes for 217 yards with one touchdown. EMU will roll a safety to whatever side of the field Avant is lined up. Breaston? Mr. All-American? Before the season, some touted Breaston as the nation's best receiver, but he has only three catches for 24 yards and no touchdowns.

Bracey knows a frustrated Breaston could be a dangerous Breaston. Bracey likely will be on Breaston for just 15 or so plays on Saturday. Still, Bracey knows the danger involved. Avant is good now, but Breaston likely will be great at some point this season. Will it start Saturday?

Bracing for Breaston: a week inside a seemingly overmatched MAC cornerback's preparation to take on a Mac Daddy receiver

Sporting News, The, Sept 30, 2005 by Tom Dienhart

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