The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1503142
THE WOLVERINE 2023 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 43 not to make that play, when to check down, when to get to the primary or sec- ondary reads. Just going through those things and being confident in the whole system … seeing blitzes, adjusting pro- tections. "He did it all at a very high level this spring. There were times I'd just say, 'All right — he's good. He doesn't need to practice the rest of practice.' He's taken great steps, and he just keeps working. He never stops. That's what you love about him. He's so infectious as a player, but more even as a person. You want him all around you all the time. That's why I just love being around the kid." The Wolverine: J.J. has spoken glow- ingly of new quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell. How much were you in favor of the hire after he helped you guys as an analyst last year? Moore: "I was a huge advocate for him. Kirk worked hand in hand with me last year. His desk was right where I sit most of the time. His office was the offensive staff room, and my office is connected to that. He's a tremendous teacher and coach, but he's an even better person and just an outstanding addition. He adds so much value on and off the field for us. "When you have a guy that's been in the building, the familiarity for kids and the staff is always good. Coach Harbaugh saw that, and that's why he's made that deci- sion to promote him. There are other guys involved, but I'm very excited for Kirk, his family and our university for Kirk to be part of our group, because he's done an outstanding job in spring with our guys." The Wolverine: What's it mean to get Blake Corum back, and what's the next step for this offense? Moore: "Blake Corum is a guy that ar- guably could have won the Heisman if he didn't get hurt. Whenever you get a player of that caliber back, you're always going to be extremely happy. We're extremely fortunate to have him not only as a player, but as a person. That running back room alone with all the other weapons on our offense — quarterback, our tight ends room … we have about four or five that will play — the receivers. Everybody. "It's a very dangerous offense. At the end of the day, we want to be balanced. It's very cliché to say, but if you're not, you're predicable. We don't want to be predictable. We want to do everything we can to attack defenses and attack weak- nesses. We'll attack in different ways whether it's run, pass, play action, screen, perimeter run, downhill run. Whether it's over the top, intermediate. We just have all the tools available to us to attack defenses anywhere we need to in order to get the 'W' at the end of the day." The Wolverine: Speaking of defense, the line seems to be as stout as ever in the middle, even with Mazi Smith moving on to the NFL. What kind of challenge did they present your group this spring? Moore: "The inside guys are as twitchy and as fast and physical as we've had since I've been here. We're just excited. [Senior] Kris Jenkins and [sophomores] Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant … [junior] Ray- shaun Benny might have been the most improved player on defense. [Grad stu- dent] Cam Goode played his best ball. "Those guys have taken a huge leap from what they've been. Those guys are all very talented, but the physicality [going against the offensive line] — iron sharpens iron. "They just go after each other in a great way, a competitive way every day. I'm very excited for our team that all five of those guys are playing so well. [Second- year defensive line coach] Mike Elston has done a really good job." ❑ As the team's offensive line coach, Moore has led Michigan to unprecedented back-to-back Joe Moore Awards in 2021 and '22, honoring the nation's best offensive line unit. PHOTO BY DOMINICK SOKOTOFF