The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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APRIL 2021 THE WOLVERINE 45 MICHIGAN FOOTBALL as far as how we play and build out a defense — there will be no tweak- ing. It's very much expected they're going to learn what we're putting in. We expect the guys to learn all the concepts. When we figure out who is good at those concepts, not whether or not you can do them, that's when we start to tailor it." While Macdonald was understand- ably tight-lipped on exactly what his defense will look like, he did provide some insight — including that the Wolverines will use different fronts, blitzes and coverages based on the given situation at hand. "We're going to be multiple," he said. "… The thing about our de- fense that I think makes us unique is a series of concepts we teach. There are things we'll teach our guys that there's no call even involved with this concept. We're teaching this con- cept today, this tomorrow, then we marry them together. "There's going to be more of that, layer them over time and that gives you the flexibility to build certain fronts with certain coverages, pres- sures that allow you to, one, let your guys do well what you do, and two, stop the offenses you're seeing." Macdonald was adamant that the entire scheme will be installed before the opener against Western Michi- gan Sept. 4, and they're aiming to do so at a pace that ensures it all goes smoothly and the players pick it up properly. "We're going at a pace where guys can get good at each thing before we move on to the next thing," he said. "The beauty of spring practice and having it early is we don't have to take the field in two weeks to play defense against all the teams we're about to face. We have some time on our hands to take it at a correct pace. We're not going too fast." He said he feels like U-M's defen- sive staff is a "start-up business," one that is working furiously to create a vision and make it become a reality. "We're 10, 11 guys sitting in a room, dreaming up what we want it to look like and how we want to operate," Macdonald noted. "We're literally working from the ground floor — what do we call this forma- tion, what do we call this receiver to what we'll call on third-and-11 in a critical situation. It's a blank canvas." — Clayton Sayfie ANDREW STUEBER, RONNIE BELL ASSESS MICHIGAN'S QUARTERBACKS Redshirt junior right tackle An- drew Stueber and junior wideout Ronnie Bell each spoke to the media March 11 and discussed how Mich- igan's quarterbacks had been per- forming in spring practices. The position is low on experience, with redshirt freshman Cade McNa- mara possessing just 71 career pass attempts, and freshmen J.J. McCarthy and Dan Villari zero. The most expe- rienced option for next fall — Texas Tech transfer Alan Bowman — will arrive on campus this summer. "Cade is finally taking a more com- manding role," Stueber revealed. "It's different when you think you have the starting job and command of the offense, because you then take more pride in it. "I love how poised Cade is and the decisions he makes. There hasn't been a starter named because Coach [Jim] Harbaugh likes to keep it a meritocracy. J.J. is still learning the playbook but has shown impressive stuff, scrambling and making people miss. "Dan Villari is impressive with his read option, making moves outside the pocket. We do a move-the-ball drill with each quarterback at the end of each practice, and they've all taken great pride in it." Bell has developed a tighter on- field chemistry with the signal-callers than Stueber, having caught passes from all three of them in practice. Most of Bell's 401 receiving yards last season came from former U-M quar- terback Joe Milton (who transferred out this winter), with McNamara only throwing for 425 yards in 2020. "I feel lucky because whoever is in the game, there's no hesitation as a wide receiver having a quarterback with that much skill next to you," Bell said. "My first impression of J.J. was that he was taller than I thought. I remember first walking into the locker room and meeting him, and thinking that. "Even when Cade didn't have the job before, I knew about the way he attacked every day. That's the kick he's always had to him and is what makes him special — he's never scared or shy." — Austin Fox Redshirt freshman Cade McNamara debuted last year by completing 43 of 71 passes for 425 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions in four games. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL MICHIGAN ADDS TROPHY GAME WITH NORTHWESTERN Michigan has added a new trophy game to its schedule. U-M and Northwestern will play in the first rivalry trophy game named for an African-American player in Football Bowl Subdivision history, originating the George Jewett Trophy. Jewett was the first African-American to play football at each institution and was the first black player in the history of the Big Ten Conference. The George Jewett Trophy will be the prize each time the two programs meet on the football field, beginning with this fall's matchup in Ann Arbor Oct. 23. Jewett played for U-M during the 1890 and 1892 seasons. Jewett stood out at fullback and halfback and was the team's main kicker, all while studying medicine. He left Michigan for Northwestern in 1893 to finish his medical degree. While in Evanston, he also lettered and starred in football for the Wildcats for two seasons. — Clayton Sayfie MICHIGAN'S TROPHY GAMES Trophy Opponent Year Started Little Brown Jug Minnesota 1903 Paul Bunyan Trophy Michigan State 1953 George Jewett Trophy Northwestern 2021