The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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APRIL 2022 THE WOLVERINE 21 Jim Harbaugh insisted he didn't see the departure of of- fensive coordinator Josh Gattis coming. But like any good signal-caller, Harbaugh didn't hesitate with an audible for 2022. The head coach promoted a position coach, quarterbacks mentor Matt Weiss, to share the duties as offensive coordi- nator with offensive line coach Sherrone Moore, who served as co-offensive coordinator with Gattis last year. However, Harbaugh remained intentionally vague about the nuts and bolts of their duties. Asked directly how the play-calling would be handled on game day, he noted: "That's going to be determined, in a collaborative way." The Big Ten championship season of 2021 certainly in- volved no small amount of offensive collaboration. Gattis came to Michigan touting the speed-in-space philosophy, heavily geared to the throwing game and explosive plays. The Wolverines featured plenty of offensive explosions in 2021, but also a heavy dose of old-fashioned power foot- ball. Former Wolverine offensive lineman and The Wolverine contributor Doug Skene delightedly witnessed blocking schemes against Ohio State that harkened all the way back to the Bo Schembechler years. The 42 points the Wolverines piled on the Buckeyes spoke volumes, especially when combined with a much better de- fensive effort against OSU. Harbaugh knows what he wants his offense (and his team) to look like. That was it. There's little question the head coach will have an exten- sive say into how the offense shapes up. So will running backs coach Mike Hart, wideouts coach Ron Bellamy (who switched sides of the ball after coaching defensive backs last year) and new tight ends coach Grant Newsome. U-M's attack will be, according to the head coach: "Just completely collaborative, with the offensive staff and the two offensive coordinators." Michigan will also feature a majority of position coaches on the offensive side of the football who are former Wolver- ines. Hart earned his wings as a record-setting running back for the Wolverines, while Bellamy is back to coaching the position he played at Michigan. Newsome had served for two seasons as a graduate assis- tant coach for Harbaugh, working with the offensive line. He made a seamless transition into coaching after a devastating leg injury cut short his playing career. Harbaugh noted he likes the Michigan flavor to his staff. "It kind of reflected more of who I was," he said. "I love Michigan. I love everything it does for our players. It's our university, and it's just more people that have that love-love feeling about Michigan and about the program, as opposed to the love-hate." — John Borton Edwards will gobble up many of the carries Haskins leaves behind, while fellow sophomore Tavierre Dunlap will look to build on his rookie-year effort (seven carries, 51 yards). Freshman run- ning back CJ Stokes will join the roster in the fall. It's hard not to see some falloff after what Haskins accomplished a year ago. But it wouldn't surprise many if Corum and Edwards were able to pull off an- other 2,000-plus-yards combo. TIGHT ENDS Junior tight end Erick All enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2021, finishing second among all Michigan pass catchers with 38 receptions for 437 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He then delivered a pleas- ant surprise in announcing he intended to be all in for 2022, despite speculation that he might try for the NFL Draft. All's presence will lead an increasingly veteran crew of tight ends into action. Redshirt junior Luke Schoonmaker (17 catches, 165 yards, three TDs) began to make his presence felt last season, while sixth-year senior converted offensive lineman Joel Honigford (one catch, 10 yards) is back to add blocking muscle. Redshirt freshman Louis Hansen and sophomore Matthew Hibner will look to break through in a top-heavy lineup. All the position groups on offense will add to what Harbaugh describes as a "scary good" state of Michigan foot- ball. "Just the whole state of the program," he mused. "There are people who want to keep different stories going, or love to hate us, hate to love us. We're having a blast. The word 'tumultuous,' I think, was used, in the offseason. "If guys are bringing the energy and having fun, the momentum the program has … whatever word you want to put on that, that's what we're having. That's scary good. You know something's go- ing to happen at some point. The law of averages will catch up to you. But that's the place you want to be." ❑ Tight end Erick All was Michigan's second-leading receiver last season with 38 catches for 437 yards. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Michigan Coaching Staff Gets A Shakeup