The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1523593
D E F E N S I V E L I N E 86 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY CHRIS BALAS I t's not every program that can lose a sec- ond-round NFL Draft pick on the inte- rior defensive line (Kris Jenkins, Cincin- nati Bengals), two of its top edge rushers (Jaylen Harrell, Tennessee Titans; Braiden McGregor, New York Jets), and still have what's considered one of the best units in the country. That's the reality new de- fensive line coach Lou Esposito inher- ited, though, when Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore hired him to replace Greg Scruggs this spring. With all due respect to the players he's coached at his previous stops, Esposito has never seen anything close to the collection of talent he's in charge of now, and he un- derstands that well. Still, as a coach who spent six years as a defensive coordinator at Western Michigan before a few-months- long stint at Memphis (his alma mater), he believes he has a lot to offer a returning line that features two projected first-round NFL Draft picks in juniors Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. "The biggest thing I told them is that we're not trying to reinvent the wheel. I'm just trying to get you better," Esposito said this spring. "Anything I can do to get guys better. … For me, just hearing the same message in a different way triggers some- thing for the guys. At the end of the day, if I can do that for them, which I think I've been doing, it'll help their game out tre- mendously." Esposito found out quickly what Michi- gan fans have known for a while — he in- herited a special group. Pro Football Focus has tabbed Graham (36 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks last fall) the top return- ing defensive tackle in the country, noting, "the rising junior has a relentless motor to combine with ridiculous agility that makes him nearly unblockable. Even if an offensive lineman gets a clean shot on him, he has great power at 6-3, 318 pounds to shed the block and find the ball carrier." Grant (6-3, 339) wasn't far behind, checking in as PFF's No. 6 defensive tackle. He finished with 29 tackles, 5 TFL and 3.5 sacks a year ago. Together, this is arguably — maybe likely — the best pair of interior linemen to have ever played together at Michigan. Both match their immense size and strength with incredible work ethic and "want to," are great teammates, and have become leaders on what should be an outstanding defense. On The Interior Many coaches would say in building a defense they'd start with a pair of NFL- caliber tackles and build around them. To say Michigan is in great shape here would be an understatement, and Moore under- stands it well. "We know those guys [Graham and Grant] are going to get pushed by the guys behind them, but those guys have set a high standard for what their play is going to be like," the head coach said after spring ball. "They just try to define every piece of their games — level hands, footwork, movement and physicality, and they played at an ex- tremely high level. They want to set the standard for that." To win titles, though, you need depth. Michigan's defensive line had plenty of gas left in the tank in the national cham- pionship win against Washington for one big reason — the guys behind "the guys." Elite players like Graham, Grant and Jen- kins were able to share time with senior Rayshaun Benny and grad Cam Goode and weren't overworked in the regular season, and the plays they made in the playoff were BEST IN CLASS Michigan Might Have The Top Starting D-Line In The Country QUICK FACTS Position Coach: Lou Esposito (1st year at U-M) Returning Starter: Mason Graham (15 career starts). Departing Starters: Kris Jenkins (33), Jaylen Har- rell (30), Braiden McGregor (18) Projected New Starters: Kenneth Grant (5), Der- rick Moore, Josaiah Stewart (17 at C. Carolina) Top Reserves: Rayshaun Benny (1), TJ Guy, Enow Etta Newcomers: Devon Baxter, Manuel Beigel, Ma- son Curtis, Lugard Edokpayi, Ted Hammond, Dominic Nichols, Deyvid Palepale, Owen Wafle Moved In: None Moved Out: Reece Atteberry Rookie Impact: Nichols Most Improved Player: Moore Best Pro Prospect: Graham Pro Football Focus ranked Mason Graham as the top returning defensive tackle in the country, noting, "the rising junior has a relentless motor to combine with ridiculous agility that makes him nearly unblockable." PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL