The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/106890
The Wolverines welcomed four freshmen, but could not likely count on them. With redshirt freshman Chris Bryant shelved the entire year due to injury, Michigan's depth took another hit. However, the Maize and Blue stayed injury-free for most of the year — their five starters started every game at the same position. Perhaps the true frustration for the way this unit played, then, arrives from the knowledge that they spent 13 game days together, yet showed little improvement from week to week. Redshirt junior left tackle Taylor Lewan played at a high level, earning All-America recognition and Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year honors, but his colleagues up front could not match him for consistency. Fifth-year seniors Ricky Barnum (left guard), Elliott Mealer (center) and Patrick Omameh (right guard), along with redshirt junior right tackle Michael Schofield, did not play with the physicality Hoke demands, losing the fight along the line of scrimmage while Michigan's running backs floundered behind them. There was some good — the line was solid in pass protection, yielding just 1.4 sacks per game, and the five blocked more ably for Robinson, who couldn't rush for 1,266 yards all on his own. But, in the annals of U-M football lore, 2012's line play will rank among the worst. Grade: D Defensive Line Summary: Michigan's defensive MVP in 2011 was Mike Martin. Its Senior defensive tackle William Campbell had his best season at U-M in 2012, making 11 starts, posting 44 tackles and earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. photo by per kjeldsen second-best defensive player was Ryan Van Bergen. Both were linemen, and both graduated, leaving tremendous holes for the Wolverines to fill. Coordinator Greg Mattison was creative in the spring, moving senior Craig Roh from rush end to strongside end to assume Van Bergen's critical post while junior Jibreel Black moved from rush end to defensive tackle. Senior Will Campbell would also step up at defensive tackle, redshirt