The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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M Rush Is On For Four-Man Pressure, More Turnovers Head coach Brady Hoke is talking about from 2012. The 2011 crew finished a plusany differently, but creating turnovers is a it. Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison seven in turnover margin, while last year's mindset you've got to have. stresses it every chance he gets. The heat group plummeted to minus-nine. "When you're able to rush four and drop is on to get more heat on the quarterback That's the biggest difference in an 11-win seven, you're creating more interceptions, through a four-man rush. season versus an eight-win disappointment, deflected passes or things that can happen The Wolverines know they need to from that standpoint. One of the get more pressure on quarterbacks, things we always stress here is that period, after a year in which they pursuit to the ball is imperative." finished tied for eighth in the Big Ten Sometimes, pursuit comes more in sacks. It's not all about takedowns, naturally, he acknowledged. Michigan's coaches point out, but "When you watch this team run, they didn't feel U-M forced the issue we're much faster, a much more enough anyway. athletic team than we have been," Michigan linebackers coach Mark Smith pointed out. "You would like Smith knows what that means for to think that is going to translate into his crew. Hoke expects better playmore turnovers, whether we cause making ability out of them, and it Michigan recovered this fumbled punt in the Ohio State game, but fumbles, balls being pulled out, could happen through a combination the U-M coaches are looking for even more takeaways this year. tipped balls that guys get to. Photo by lon horwedel of factors, Smith explained. "A lot of times it's hard to under"With the athleticism we're starting to get Hoke insists. He's looking to see Michigan stand why one year you did a great job with out there, we need to become better playnot only take care of the football better, but turnovers and the next year you didn't. It's makers and create minus-yards plays," Smith also dislodge it far more often from foes. something we emphasize in practice — we said. "Those could be tackles for loss, sacks, Emphasis is important, Smith noted. But always run to the ball, we pick up any loose interceptions, pass breakups, quarterback then again, Hoke's crew always emphasizes ball that's lying on the ground. The turnover hits. Whatever it might be, we need better turnover margin. statistic will be much better, just because the production out of the linebacker position, "When you look at what we did the first kids understand that's an important part of where they help turn the tide of the game. year, turnover-wise, to the second year, we winning a football game. We've got to get "If we're rushing four, we're probably didn't coach the kids any differently," Smith the ball back for the offense. I think that will playing zone coverage behind it, which gently reminded. "The kids didn't prepare be an improved area this year." means we need to be better zone-coverage players. That is an area we've made improvement, particularly this last spring, with guys seeing the ball being thrown and understanding that the quarterback tells you where the ball is going to go, not the receiver. Make sure you're seeing where the quarterback looks. "If you're going to use a four-man rush, you can play man or man free, but most of the time you're playing a zone behind it, so now you've got to be very good at being able m i c h igan to break on the ball." a u t hentic game - used Smith knows well another essential to the f o o t balls , basketballs & uniforms four-man rush. Whatever else the quartet does, it has to give the blues to the other team's signal-caller. "Greg and Brady have both emphasized the pressure of the four-man rush is critical to a zone coverage," Smith said. "You can't give them all day to throw back there. They believe in each other. The linebackers know that ball is going to come out, because we're going to get pressure. "They take care of each other. The fourman rush causes the ball to come out, and the guys playing zone get their eyes back available at and see the ball being thrown. It keeps you rock from having to always put those guys in the paper back end in harm's way, where they're alscissors ways in man, and we can still get pressure." 216 South Main Street, Ann Arbor Pressure leads to turnovers, and that's anby 102 W Chicago Bldv Ste #1, Tecumseh other sore spot for the Michigan defense The Wolverine 2013 Football Preview ■ 27