The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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10 THE WOLVERINE DECEMBER 2022 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Michigan linebacker Michael Barrett picked off two passes in a win over Rut- gers, returning one for a touchdown. He's shining in the middle of the defense in his final year, and he talks about his jour- ney and more in this Q & A: The Wolverine: You were competing with Nikhai Hill-Green to start, but he's been hurt all year. How has that changed your mindset, going from possible starter to sure starter? Michael Barrett: "Coming from training camp and through this summer, we had a self-competition going in the locker room. Everybody was neck and neck with each other, and we all were just thriving off that competition. "Before coming in [to the season], we thought it was going to be a rotation of three or four guys going in and out. Unfortunately, we don't have them all right now. But what we have, where we're headed, I feel like we're in a good place." The Wolverine: What do you make of your five-year journey at Michigan, from safety to viper to inside linebacker … finally a full-time starter? Barrett: "I just make of it how I've been taught my whole life. Just keep working … keep being me. Keep doing all the things I was taught, and everything will play out for the better. I just stayed the course, kept my head down, stayed focused, and kept working. I thank God it's playing out for the best. "It's always difficult, especially being the competitor I am. I always wanted to be on the field — to be able to make those plays, be able to have my name called and make it happen. You've just got to stay focused, stay humble, and your oppor- tunity will come." The Wolverine: How has first-year defensive coordinator Jesse Minter put his stamp on this highly ranked defense? Barrett: "He just adapted the nature of the defense we had from last year, and just kind of kept it pushing. He allowed coaches to coach, players to play. He just brings that intensity, knowledge that helps the whole defense as a unit. "He's just been able to trust the guys, then gives us the information and every- thing we need to go out and play." The Wolverine: Why did you stick it out when you were buried a bit on the depth chart? Barrett: "Just the culture … in the build- ing, the culture of Michigan football. It's just a place that's hard to leave. I knew once everything changed, it changed for the better, honestly. I just feel like that culture change here made me want to stay even more. "The new coaches came in with new schemes, systems. I feel like it brought new life into the program. It gave us that spark we needed to get back on track to where we wanted to be." The Wolverine: How did playing quar- terback in high school prepare you to play linebacker? Barrett: "Playing linebacker is the quarterback of the defense. It's kind of like you get the same point of view from the op- posite side. Those years of playing quarterback have helped me read offenses better, read run plays, read routes, different things like that. "Being able to anticipate what the offense is going to do based on movement, motions, different things they can do based on formations. I'm seeing it from the opposite side of the ball. I feel like that just helps me to anticipate things." — Chris Balas In five years at U-M, Barrett has moved from safety to viper to inside linebacker. He had 2 interceptions at Rutgers Nov. 5, including a TD return. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Michigan has been in some tight games early on, but it has pulled away late to win in blowout fashion. The Wolverines were tied 10-10 at halftime at Indiana Oct. 8, up 16-14 versus Penn State Oct. 15, beating Michigan State 13-7 Oct. 29 and down 17-14 at Rutgers Nov. 5. The total first-half margin in those contests was U-M by three points. The second halves have been completely different stories. During the month stretch from Oct. 8 to Nov. 5 that included the aforementioned wins, the Maize and Blue outscored their op- ponents 100-3 after half- time — 21-0 (Indiana), 25-3 (Penn State), 16-0 (Michi- gan State) and 38-0 (Rut- gers). The Maize and Blue won those tilts by a total margin of 102 points. During those second halves in that time frame, U-M averaged 25 points to the oppo- nent's 0.75 and 242.5 yards to the other team's 83.5. There are 43 teams in the FBS that are averaging fewer points per full game than the Wolverines were in second halves during that span (25). Second-half success has really been a trend all season long, too, with the third quarter being Michigan's signature time to pull away for big leads. Through nine games, U-M had out- scored teams 84-6 in the third quarter. The Wolverines had just one game decided by single digits — a 34-27 victory over Maryland Sept. 24 — and no opponent has had the ball with the chance to tie or take the lead in the fourth quarter all season. — Clayton Sayfie MICHIGAN TURNING ON THE JETS IN SECOND HALVES Sitting Down With Grad Student Linebacker Michael Barrett Here are some key stats from Michigan's second halves during this four-game stretch. Game U-M Points U-M Yards Opp. Points Opp. Yards at Indiana 21 263 0 29 Penn State 25 289 3 185 Michigan State 16 198 0 63 at Rutgers 38 220 0 57