Michigan Football Q&A: Jehu Chesson
10/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 12, 2015
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan players and coaches will sit down with Steve Kornacki of MGoBlue.com weekly during the 2015 season to discuss Wolverine football. Senior wide receiver Jehu Chesson spoke on Sunday (Oct. 11) about the 38-0 win over Northwestern, this Saturday's (Oct. 17) home game against Michigan State and his 96-yard kickoff return touchdown.
The last Wolverine to take the game's opening kickoff the distance was current running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley, who went 99 yards against Houston on Sept.7, 1992.
Q. Jabrill Peppers said he knew the opening kickoff was coming to you when he saw the kicker position the tee. What did you guys talk about before the kick, which you fielded near the left sideline?
A. (John) Baxter (special teams coach) called the return. He said before kickoff, "Regardless of who they kick it to, we're going to let it eat." That means we're not going to check into anything else. As soon as the kicker put down the tee, we looked at each other and knew who they were kicking it to. They weren't going to kick it to (Peppers).
The return was designed to go right. You have to do what's called "setting the coverage" and glue those blocks together. If I catch the ball and just run to either direction (horizontally), those blocks are only happening for a split second. But if the ball carrier can push vertically and close the angles on the coverage contingent to getting to the ball, it makes it much harder for them to re-track and get to the ball.
What happened was what we call a "Perfect Storm." Jarrod (Wilson) got the first key block and there were so many key blocks. Jarrod's block was the one that made it happen. It enabled me to not get tackled at about the 10-yard line. I tried to hold that block as long as possible, and he did a great job of extending the guy and letting go and not getting the holding penalty. I pushed horizontally and I knew "Pep" (Peppers) was going to seal it for me. He hit his guy pretty hard and out of the corner of my eye, I said, "I've just got to run now and do my job."
Then Mason Cole delivered a huge block with me coming around the end, and Jake Butt had a great block that enabled his guy to not get back into the play. He sealed him back toward the student section. I read the crease, and was just doing my job. This play was kind of like the quarterback getting too much credit or too much blame for plays. Everybody did their job and that's why I got a touchdown.
Q. Northwestern defenders dove for your heels at your own 40-yard line and again about 17 yards from the end zone. Did you know where they were?
A. Once they are out of my vision, I can't see them. I just tell myself, 'Don't get caught from behind.' I felt like I was gone. And I don't normally hear the crowd, but I was hearing them. And I could see a whole bunch of blue jerseys on my sideline yelling, "Go! Go!" Jabrill has such great speed that he was the first one to greet me in the end zone. It was such a special feeling.
I thought back to spring football with Coach Baxter saying, "Trust what I tell you because I know it works."
Q. What were the sensations you were realizing?
A. When I caught the ball, it was kind of quiet. But when I turned the corner, I heard the eruption of the crowd. It's like a crescendo that really rises, and everything is just buzzing. It's awesome. Now, you can check the jumbotron as you're getting close. But I don't because I don't think I'm ever going to be caught, and my track mentality tells me that if my head is looking left or right then you slow down naturally.
Q. You'd never been one of the deep kickoff returners here. Did the fact that you won the races with every teammate during spring practices influence Coach (Jim) Harbaugh in putting you there?
A. It might be a part of it. But the biggest thing you have to know is that when you are back there, you don't just have the ball in your hand. You have your team in your hand. It doesn't have all to do with talent. It's how disciplined and focused you are out there. You can't turn the ball over, but sometimes "Murphy" happens.
Q. Is that a reference to Murphy's Law, where anything that could go wrong goes wrong?
A. Yeah, it is. It started with (passing game coordinator Jedd) Fisch. When somebody drops the ball, he just says, "Murphy." But you don't want to hear "Murphy" too much or you'll be on the bench.
Q. What did you do after the game?
A. I had family and friends over, and my dad (Jehu Sr.) cooked some great hamburgers. My brother, Dale, is a freshman in high school and broke his leg. And he was really encouraged and happy to see us do well. It was good to see a smile on his face, and that made me feel good. He's a receiver and safety just like I was in high school.
Q. You've got two touchdown runs on sweeps and now one on a kickoff return. But none of your 13 catches (for 132 yards) have gone for touchdowns. Can you talk about that?
A. I'm probably one of the few receivers in the country with three touchdowns and none of them receiving. But we play some pretty good defenses in the Big Ten.
Q. How has Coach Fisch helped you this year?
A. He pushes us to be more than average and it's because he sees something in us that's special. He's very charismatic and brings energy every day. He keeps things exciting. He challenges us to be better and help each other out.
He's really helped me with reading defenses. And like with Coach Baxter, they both have an HD movie in their head of what they want us to look like. The struggle is getting that image from the coach's mind to the player's mind, and Coach Fisch puts the best film up there of the best guys doing this.
Q. What's an example of how Coach Harbaugh works with the team?
A. After every practice, he asks one player to come up front, and he asks, "What are your wise words for the team?" They are as deep or simple as we want them to be. And something like back in the spring, when he heard guys saying, "I'm the fastest guy on the team." He said, "OK, let's find out." And so he raced us. With him, you always know where you stand.
Q. You redshirted in 2012, and so you've not played in a game against Michigan State that Michigan won. What does this game mean to you and your team?
A. I didn't know much about the rivalry when I got here, but this rivalry has grown on me. When you fall in love with Michigan, you love what Michigan loves. And you start to dislike what Michigan dislikes. So, I've really embraced the rivalry over the past couple of years and the passion for the game.
They have a great bunch of guys up there that compete day-in and day-out just like we compete day-in and day-out. And what makes it great is when two opponents both think they are going to win. That's what makes it special.
Q. In recent games in this rivalry, people gave you little chance to win. But now that's changed, hasn't it?
A. It goes back to what we say about not listening to external voices. The battle belongs to the guys in the ring. So, I don't read about what other people say because it's a waste of time. What somebody says doesn't affect how Jake Rudock throws the ball or how I catch it or Amara (Darboh) catches it.
Q. Dan Dierdorf mentioned during the radio analysis of the game that his home is a half mile from your high school in Ladue, Missouri. Did you meet Dan while you were at Horton Watkins High?
A. No. The first time I met him was at (teammate Jack) Wangler's (family) tailgate party. My dad was talking to him and he let me know Dan Dierdorf was there. He carries himself so well, and has that big, bold voice. He's one of those great, selfless guys for Michigan and why we have a great program.
We have the distinct honor every Saturday to represent the program. He's a living legend and represents what you play for. It always helps to get a couple words of wisdom from him.
Q. One last question about your kickoff return touchdown. What's been the most unique comment you've received about it?
A. Coach Wheatley came up to me and said, "Join the club." At first, I didn't know what he was talking about. But then Drake Johnson told me, "Coach Wheatley was the last one to do what you just did."
Those individual accolades are what Coach Harbaugh loves to reward us (Wolverine helmet) stickers for. He feels if we work hard we should be rewarded. But at the same time, you're always hungry. But you're always humble, too.
