The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1477128
SEPTEMBER 2022 THE WOLVERINE 25 practice battles have been outstanding. Even in the spring, when the offense with more returning starters would have been expected to dominate, they simply didn't. That's one of the reasons Harbaugh isn't concerned about this year's de- fense. The big question, of course, is 'Where is the pass rush coming from?' But the coaches like their options. "It creates more competition within the positions," Harbaugh said. "Guys are hungrier. [Grad students] Taylor Upshaw, Julius Welschof … [senior] Mike Morris, [juniors] Jaylen Harrell and Braiden McGregor … they're just right there. We're talking edge guys. That's quite a group. And then some real good young guys, too. [Sophomores] T.J. Guy, Kechaun Bennett, [freshmen] Derrick Moore, Micah Pollard … I'm lik- ing some things I'm seeing from them. "I think that edge position is going to be good. I know to judge with our own team … the edge rushing felt the same as it did last year at this time. They're tough to block. We'll keep at it, but there are some real good signs there." They knew heading into last year how good Hutchinson would be, and that Ojabo could be great. They showed it early in camp, too, against an offen- sive line that would win the Joe Moore Award as the nation's best. That it looked so similar the first week of camp — to the point Harbaugh said they appeared to be "ahead of last year" at that point — is a great sign given the star power lost. The defensive line is playing well, and the linebackers will likely be called upon in the pass rush game, too. Harbaugh said they've already implemented more blitz packages than they had at this point last year. Sophomore Junior Colson is one who will likely make more of an impact in that area. He's a freak athlete, and there are several ways they could use him as a blitzer. The All-Big Ten candidate is "very much on track" for a huge year, Harbaugh said. "Junior Colson had an outstanding freshman campaign. He just contin- ues to excel, and it's not hard for him," the coach said. "The game wears peo- ple out, ages some people — ages some coaches. And some players and some coaches, it just doesn't. "He's just got one of those [looks] like he's swimming. Smooth, strong, effi- cient strokes. He just goes about playing the game and getting better." The secondary has several options, too. Junior Makari Paige continues to make strides at safety, defensive backs coach/co-coordinator Steve Clinkscale said, as has junior R.J. Moten. Sopho- more Rod Moore has returned from in- jury and is starting to get his groove back, too. At corner, there's legit competition. "It's very competitive," Clinkscale said. "[Grad student] Gemon Green, I felt, had a better spring. And we chal- lenged [senior] DJ Turner from the spring. He got better … this summer, getting back with him, you could see the challenge between him, Gemon and young guys like [freshman] Will Johnson. And definitely [senior] Mikey [Sainristil]. "Those guys have really, really pushed each other. No one feels they're really just 'the guy.'" That should set up what should be a great back end to complement a talent- laden front seven and give Minter plenty of weapons to work with. ❏ Interior Defensive Line Should Be A Team Strength The Michigan offense is expected to be dynamic this year without a weak spot at any position. The Big Ten Network's Dave Revsine, in fact, said he expected the group to dominate when he watched practice on the crew's road tour Aug. 17. That wasn't the case, possibly lending credence to Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh's comments at Big Ten Media Day. The coach said he believed this year's defense could be even better than last year's, and its early fall performance backed him up. The strength starts on the interior defensive line, which has a chance to be out- standing. There's a blend of veterans and newcomers that could be as talented and deep as Michigan has seen. "Defensively, we have made some real strides in the interior defensive line," Har- baugh said. "[First-year] line coach Mike Elston is doing a tremendous job coaching them. [Senior] Mazi Smith is doing a tremendous job coaching guys out there." The offensive line won the Joe Moore Award as the nation's best last season, and it's a potentially elite group again. They've been tested by the Michigan defensive line, however. "A couple of days ago, it was super noticeable — our defensive line got the better of an offensive line that was pretty well thought of," Harbaugh said. "We've made some real, real improvement in the defensive line interior." Junior Kris Jenkins has excelled in fall camp, and senior Mike Morris can play any- where on the line. Sophomore Rayshaun Benny is also coming on, and two true freshmen have also helped. Mason Graham (6-3, 317 pounds) was outstanding in the spring, and he's picked up where he left off. Mammoth lineman Kenneth Grant (6-3, 356 pounds) ran a sub-5.0 40-yard dash and has been outstanding in Michigan's fall camp. "He's a tremendous athlete for any size," Harbaugh said of Grant. "If he was 100 pounds lighter than what he is, you'd say, 'Man, he's a really good athlete. He's really light on his feet.' And it's important to him. He really studies the game. "I really love both those players. They're both going to play a lot of football at a position of real need." The goal, Harbaugh said, is to play complementary football. That means controlling both lines of scrimmage to help Michigan win another Big Ten title. It won't be easy. But there's a wealth of talent on this Michigan team and still time to jell before the opener, even more before Big Ten season. It's an encouraging start for a defense with plenty to replace and a lot to prove. — Chris Balas Harbaugh "There are more guys hun- gry like David Ojabo was a year ago — a hunger to be great. As I watch it, I just have a sneaking suspicion that we could even be better on defense."