The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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APRIL 2020 THE WOLVERINE 39 senior tackle Carlo Kemp — a 2019 captain — will help, along with the development of younger performers. "When you look at getting Carlo Kemp back, getting a leader back, getting a guy back that is as solid and as tough as they come, it's a huge ad- dition," Jansen said. "[Defensive line coach] Shaun Nua described him as the tip of the arrow. "Nobody is going to talk about Carlo Kemp and what he did well. They're only going to talk about him when somebody runs for 200 yards. He's a guy that continually takes up two blockers and allows a guy like [red- shirt sophomore linebacker] Cam Mc- Grone to run around and make tackles. "Cam McGrone and [redshirt ju- nior linebacker] Josh Ross, I think, are going to have big-time seasons, because of Carlo Kemp." The Wolverines need more up the middle, and a pair of second-year big men should play a big role there. "The other two guys inside, that I think are going to be major contribu- tors, are [sophomore] Chris Hinton and [redshirt freshman] Mazi Smith," Jansen said. "They're big, they're strong, they're good athletes. For them, it's just understanding their role in the defense and not trying to do too much. Last year when you saw them play against Ohio State, there were guys that were over-run- ning plays, they were out of position, because they just wanted it so bad. "You've got to try and harness that. You don't want to take that desire away, but we've got to play with dis- cipline. You have to understand your role as a backside end, as a front-side end, as a three-technique, as a nose. This year, having those two guys in there with their size and their strength, and their understanding a little bit bet- ter what their role is, it will be a huge addition for this defensive line." They'll ease the burden of the aforementioned McGrone, who broke into the starting lineup against Rutgers in game four last year and just kept getting better at middle linebacker. "I loved watching him play," Jan- sen said. "Now you give him an- other spring, another offseason, time to look at himself on film, playing out there, going back and saying, 'Okay, what was called on this de- fense? What was my responsibility? What should I have told the defen- sive line?' "He's the quarterback of the de- fense, and having that experience is going to be huge. He's a guy that, much like [former U-M star] Devin Bush, has a great feel for the game. Now it's a matter of harnessing that to try and play like a Devin Bush. "He's got the speed, he's got the strength, he's got the feeling. Now it's making sure you're in the right place at the right time." Ross redshirted in 2019, and he'll be hungry to dive back into action at the other inside linebacker spot. Redshirt sophomore Michael Bar- rett likely gets first crack at replacing Khaleke Hudson at viper, but compe- tition will abound. "Michael Barrett has that same speed, and we'll see if he has that same knack for rushing the passer," Jansen said. "We won't know that until we see it. Barrett gives us a little more size to be able to use him in a number of different ways." Shoop inherits sophomore safety Daxton Hill and senior safety Brad Hawkins, while cornerbacks coach Michael Zordich has seasoned per- formers in senior Ambry Thomas and redshirt sophomore Vincent Gray. "I could not be more excited about Dax Hill," Jansen said. "He is a guy that has every tool in the toolbox, from speed to quickness to flexibility to movement, athleticism. He is ev- erything as advertised. The growth potential of him from year one to year two is awesome. "You take a look at the corners, and you've got Ambry Thomas and Vin- cent Gray, and some of these young guys coming in. Our speed is going to be really good in the secondary, when you're talking about playing man-to-man. "I like it that we've got a guy coach- ing those guys in Mike Zordich that has produced really good football players — guys that are now playing on Sundays. With the talent and the speed and the tools Zordich has at the corner position, I'm really excited to see what these guys do. They're going to be faster than what we've seen." The Wolverines need to be faster, quicker and better in many ways to stop the crew that has been keeping them out of the Big Ten title game and the College Football Playoff. They know it, and they're gearing up once again for that challenge. Again, it can't only involve the de- fense, Jansen stressed. Michigan's of- fense has to play a role, as well as those the Wolverines trot out on spe- cial teams. It's a joint effort and begins not at the end of the season, but at the beginning, with Michigan playing at Washington in the season opener. The Wolverines will again be se- verely tested in the Big Ten opener by Wisconsin, this time in Michigan Stadium. Then Penn State comes to town, followed by road trips to Mich- igan State and Minnesota. In other words, U-M can't wait long to develop the defense-offense syn- chronization for success. And every- one knows what's waiting at the end. "For Don to be successful against Ohio State, we also have to have suc- cess on the offensive side of the ball," Jansen reemphasized. "We have to catch the ball when we have it in our hands in the end zone. It doesn't mat- ter — it's open opportunities against Penn State. It's open opportunities against Ohio State. It's opportunities against Alabama, against Wisconsin. "Those were the games where you look and say, how did it get out of hand? You automatically point to de- fense. It's not just defense. You've got to be able to score as well." ❏ Former U-M All-American Jon Jansen said of junior defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (No. 97): "I think he is going to be a special, special player. … I think he is going to have a breakout, dominant season [in 2020]." PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL