The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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30 THE WOLVERINE OCTOBER 2019 and then here comes the guard and he's hitting you in the back of the ankle 22 times during the course of the game. To keep going when know- ing that's going to happen … it's a tough deal. " Those are the kinds of things that intimidate players and make them less than what you want them to be, Brown added. But not Kemp. It was a special ef- fort and provides promise for the line and its leadership going forward, re- gardless of the challenge. Others need to step up, too, and several did. Redshirt sophomore linebacker Jordan Anthony was thrust into action in the second half when junior Josh Ross went out with a stinger and more than held his own, finishing with four tackles and making all the right checks. "He's played this much time since he's been here," Brown said, holding his hands close together. "He had to take over for us. ... He's got to get 11 guys lined up, including himself, then play against the triple option or execute all our blitzes." Army failed to score with Anthony Michigan entered the season with a handful of question marks on defense, and most of them seem to have already been answered through two games. Here's a top-five list of the answers to some preseason concerns: 1. Ambry Thomas is back … and better than ever: Thomas was sidelined for a month this summer with colitis, a stomach condition, and lost 35 pounds. Coaches weren't sure if they'd get him back in time for the Big Ten season, let alone the opener, but he returned against Middle Tennessee State and was the defensive player of the game with a key pick, fumble recovery and tackle for loss. He played well in the win over Army, too. "Everybody's just thrilled for Ambry. Everybody on the team thought that was just a wonderful thing," head coach Jim Harbaugh said after the opener. "He spent a lot of time in the hospital this summer, and to go out and get the in- terception, get the fumble recovery and the tackles … he is really just inspiring for the ball club." 2. Jordan Glasgow at Will (weakside) linebacker: The coaches tried to convince everyone in spring and fall the fifth-year senior could win this job, but most assumed red- shirt junior Devin Gil or redshirt freshman Cameron Mc- Grone would be the guy. After Glasgow was told he was moving inside, he never looked back. Through two games, he is tied for second on the team with 17 tackles, leads the squad with two sacks and is the highest-graded Wolverine on either side of the ball per Pro Football Focus (85.5). "He was willing [to move to Will]. He's a great dude," defen- sive coordinator Don Brown said. "He's the backup out there at viper, too. He eats it, he drinks it and he backs it up. He'll smash everybody that moves. "This guy might be one of the best players in the Big Ten. Watch him run and hit people. Just watch him play." 3. Senior linebacker Josh Uche can be an every-down player: Brown called Uche perhaps the best situational pass rusher in the country in early fall, but the linebacker has al- ways wanted more. U-M's man in charge of the defense told his senior he had an opportunity to prove himself before the Army game … and did he ever. "I told him, 'We're going to find out if you're an every-down football player or not today,'" Brown said after the game. "I thought he played outstanding football for us." Uche finished that contest with eight tackles. 4. Depth at cornerback isn't as big a concern as first thought: Thomas' return proved to be a huge (and neces- sary) shot in the arm, but he wasn't the only one who shined opposite senior corner Lavert Hill. Redshirt freshman Vincent Gray was one of the top defen- sive players in the opener with Middle Tennessee State and has been one of the pleasant surprises through two games. "He played really well. He was another one that was maybe top six for the defensive player of the game," Harbaugh said. "He had four tackles, a tackle for loss and was good in coverage." 5. The interior defensive line has been good — but there are bigger tests to come: Senior defensive tackle Carlo Kemp was a man against Army, taking on so many cut blocks but still clogging the middle to help limit the Black Knights' rushing success. Junior Ben Mason has played more than expected due to injuries to redshirt sophomore Dono- van Jeter and redshirt junior Michael Dwumfour. Wisconsin was going to be the first test against a downhill running team with a big, physical, run-it-at-you attack. That doesn't even take into account the Heisman Trophy con- tender they boast at running back in junior Jonathan Taylor, who has rushed 35 times for 237 yards and scored eight touchdowns through two games in which he has played nowhere close to eight quarters due to the scores getting out of hand. — Chris Balas Five Defensive Concerns That Have Been Alleviated In Two Games Through two games, junior cornerback Ambry Thomas has been targeted in coverage five times and allowed two receptions for just 10 yards while intercepting a pass for a passer rating allowed of only 8.3 per Pro Football Focus. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN