The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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NOVEMBER 2018 THE WOLVERINE 31 MICHIGAN FOOTBALL it was on the running back, holding the linebacker," he said. "The whole stadium saw the linebacker tackled our running back. It was a zone-read, they faked it to the running back and then Shea ran for [20] yards. And then tacked on 10 yards for holding. "It was a phantom call." Several days later, defensive coordi- nator Don Brown broke character to go to bat for his guys too. "You know the difficult thing there? You know what's shocking to me? We've played two Big Ten games. We have 10 sacks and 24 tackles for loss, but we don't get held," he said at the time. "Take a look and compare that with the other teams in our league. That one's a little tough. Obviously we go back and forth and study the films very hard on Sunday, so it is what it is. "It's not like for three years that we've been here we don't have sacks and tackles for loss. In fact, that's a measuring stick for us. When you play two Big Ten games and have 10 sacks and 24 tackles for loss, that's a lot. You're upfield doing things, and … I'm not sure of the numbers." It's caused him to change his game planning for the first time in his ca- reer, he added. "This is the first year I feel like I'm transitioning due to how things are officiated," he said. "I don't recall that ever in my coaching career, but now I feel it happening. It's kind of a tough deal, but … get it done. Make the tran- sitions." Winovich put up huge numbers against the Wildcats despite being grabbed, held, cut, and everything and anything else Northwestern line- men could do to slow him. He ex- pressed frustration with the non-calls after the game, especially one on the second-to-last play of the game in which he was tackled right in front of the official for no call. "I was baffled," he said. "I've never played a game where I felt like I've been yanked to the ground and the fact we got two holding calls [called against the U-M offense]. … I've got to be careful. … I felt like some were blatant, but I'm not a ref." Harbaugh likely agreed with him, but instead chose to focus on the fact that Winovich was one of the team's MVPs at the halfway point, no matter what opponents are trying to do to disrupt the star end. "You explain the rules, explain what the issues are," Harbaugh said, biting his tongue. "But Chase is playing at a really high level … he's gaining a lot of attention. Sometimes it's a blocker and somebody that's chipping, or one time he got three guys that were pay- ing him attention. "That's ultimate respect for a de- fensive end or pass rusher. And he's earned it." Winovich had notched 39 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and three sacks through seven games for the nation's No. 6 team. — Chris Balas LED BY TRU WILSON, RUNNING BACKS HAVE IMPROVED DRAMATICALLY IN PASS PROTECTION Some were concerned when Michi- gan head coach Jim Harbaugh named junior and former walk-on Tru Wilson his No. 3 running back coming out of fall camp. Wilson has not only proven himself capable, but he's also emerged as the Wolverines' best pass protector at the position through seven games, helping improve an area of weakness last year. Junior quarterback Shea Patterson has helped with his ability to escape pressure, but there's no question the offensive line and the running backs have gotten better in front of him. "Overall, the protection is a lot bet- ter," running backs coach Jay Har- baugh said. "The numbers show it and, I think, the tape shows it. It's going to keep improving, so we're excited about that. "Shea, he's so special back there. He's able to get us out of bad situa- OFFENSE Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. WR 9 D. Peoples-Jones 6-2 208 So. 80 Oliver Martin 6-1 200 R-Fr. LT 75 Jon Runyan Jr. 6-5 310 R-Jr. 76 J. Bushell-Beatty 6-6 318 5th-Sr. or 73 Jalen Mayfield 6-5 296 Fr. LG 74 Ben Bredeson 6-5 320 Jr. 72 Stephen Spanellis 6-5 300 R-So. C 51 Cesar Ruiz 6-4 319 So. 72 Stephen Spanellis 6-5 300 R-So. RG 50 Michael Onwenu 6-3 350 Jr. 72 Stephen Spanellis 6-5 300 R-So. RT 76 J. Bushell-Beatty 6-6 318 5th-Sr. 55 James Hudson 6-5 301 R-Fr. TE 83 Zach Gentry 6-8 262 R-Jr. 84 Sean McKeon 6-5 251 Jr. WR 4 Nico Collins 6-4 218 So. 88 Grant Perry 6-0 195 Sr. QB 2 Shea Patterson 6-2 205 Jr. 10 Dylan McCaffrey 6-5 217 R-Fr. 18 Brandon Peters 6-5 230 R-So. FB 42 Ben Mason 6-3 254 So. RB 22 Karan Higdon 5-10 202 Sr. 12 Chris Evans 5-11 216 Jr. 13 Tru Wilson 5-10 202 Jr. DEFENSE Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. DE 15 Chase Winovich 6-3 255 5th-Sr. 19 Kwity Paye 6-4 260 So. DT 90 Bryan Mone 6-4 335 5th-Sr. 50 Michael Dwumfour 6-2 285 R-So. DT 2 Carlo Kemp 6-3 280 Jr. or 93 Lawrence Marshall 6-4 285 5th-Sr. DE 3 Rashan Gary 6-5 283 Jr. 97 Aidan Hutchinson 6-6 268 Fr. OLB 7 Khaleke Hudson 6-0 220 Jr. 59 Noah Furbush 6-5 237 5th-Sr. or 6 Josh Uche 6-3 238 Jr. ILB 36 Devin Gil 6-1 231 R-So. 12 Josh Ross 6-2 225 So. or 6 Josh Uche 6-3 238 Jr. ILB 10 Devin Bush Jr. 5-11 233 Jr. 12 Josh Ross 6-2 225 So. FS 23 Tyree Kinnel 5-11 215 Sr. 26 J'Marick Woods 6-3 210 So. SS 14 Josh Metellus 6-0 204 Jr. 20 Brad Hawkins 6-2 213 So. CB 24 Lavert Hill 5-11 181 Jr. 1 Ambry Thomas 6-0 183 So. CB 22 David Long 5-11 198 Jr. 28 Brandon Watson 5-11 204 5th-Sr. MICHIGAN DEPTH CHART (UNOFFICIAL) Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. PK 3 Quinn Nordin 6-1 206 R-So. 2 Jake Moody 6-0 177 Fr. P 17 Will Hart 6-3 192 R-So. 2 Jake Moody 6-0 177 Fr. KO 2 Jake Moody 6-0 177 Fr. 3 Quinn Nordin 6-1 206 R-So. H 17 Will Hart 6-3 192 R-So. Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. LS 33 Cam Cheeseman 6-4 235 R-So. 49 Andrew Robinson 6-0 218 5th-Sr. KR 1 Ambry Thomas 6-0 183 So. 8 Ronnie Bell 6-0 182 Fr. PR 9 D. Peoples-Jones 6-2 208 So. 8 Ronnie Bell 6-0 182 Fr. SPECIAL TEAMS