The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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SEPTEMBER 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 29 jor blow when senior safety Rod Moore (6-0, 198) tore an ACL in his knee dur- ing the offseason. But in grad safeties Makari Paige (6-4, 208) and Quinten Johnson (5-11, 203), the Wolverines fea- ture strength up the middle. Meanwhile, junior Zeke Berry (5-11, 196) has come on strong at the nickel and sophomore Jyaire Hill (6-2, 185) at corner, giving the Wolverines plenty to supplement John- son, who figures to roam half the field like another famed No. 2 in Michigan defensive backfield history. Plenty of younger players are pushing hard behind those headliners. In other words, Martindale didn't find the cup- board bare when he rolled into Ann Ar- bor from the NFL. Quite the opposite. It's no burden inheriting an estab- lished defense, he assured. BUILDING AND TWEAKING "Most of us, coaching-wise, have been someplace before where we've had No. 1 defenses," Martindale noted. "So, we've had the confidence in what we do and how we do it. I just personally know the two guys who were here pre- viously in this system. And it's a great challenge. I know because they did a great job. But we plan on doing a great job, too. "The players are resilient. You know that they'll adjust however we attack it, and I think the coaches are resilient. We'll just do it all together. I have no problem with a kid coming up to me and saying, 'I don't understand this' or 'I don't feel good about this.' And we make adjustments and I think that Sherrone [Moore] said it best the other day. We're going to have some bouts with adversity until we become adversity, and I think that's the same thing on each side of the ball and special teams. And as a team, I think it's the truth. "Once you understand that, if we all stay together, and we're all happy for each other's successes, that's when you have something special and get it roll- ing. Because we are Michigan. I think I heard Makari say this at the Big Ten media days — we're never the hunted, we're always the hunters. And it's true. I understand exactly what he's saying. Because there's a level of expectation of being at this great university." Martindale bristles just a bit when the pundits suggest he may not adjust his hard-charging, blitz-heavy style when necessary — understandable frustra- tion, given his long-term success. But he bites down hard and explains that Michigan's 2024 defense will certainly be aggressive, but it will be ready to take on all challenges in terms of what op- posing offensive coordinators can dial up. "We'll control the narrative of it," Martindale assured. "Am I an aggressive play-caller? Yes. I'm an aggressive play- caller. We've won a lot of football games calling games aggressively. OK? When it doesn't work, that's when everybody comes down to he's always blitzing too much. You don't hear that at all when you win, you hear about how creative you are. Right? So, you just don't lis- ten to any of that. We'll find that right mix of pressure simulated, all the other stuff. We'll find the right mix and that's what training camp's for. "I know where I stand … it's up to all of us." ❑ U-M Defense At A Glance TOP THREE STORYLINES 1. Wink's Work — New defensive coordinator Wink Martindale has a history of NFL success and is credited for creating much of the defensive style that thrust Michigan to the top of the national stats heap. Some, though — perhaps still suffering from PTSD over ultra-aggressive U-M defenses getting burned by Ohio State in the not-so-distant past — fear a return to seeing the backs of Buckeye jerseys far too often. Many state that's ridiculous and note Martindale will do what it takes to win, while never backing away from aggression. He'll certainly feature a host of talent to put whatever he dials up into piercing effect, and he'll need to do so, given one of Michigan's toughest schedules in memory. 2. Depth In Progress — Everybody knows the Wolverines feature front-liners who starred in the march to a national championship. But it takes more than a one-deep to win, and backfilling for de- parted talent makes a big difference. Michigan features a number of players who will be thrust into the spotlight extensively for the first time. How they fare, and how depth steps up when football's inevitable injury toll occurs, will tell plenty. 3. Helping Hands — Michigan led the nation in turnover margin last season, at a plus-19 overall (plus- 1.27 per game). The Wolverines ranked No. 4 nationally in turnovers produced, hanging 27 takeaways on opponents. Those on the offensive side of the ball plan to more than carry their share of the load, but that load gets much easier when the offense gets the football on the foes' side of the 50. Michigan's continued ability to force turnovers, negative plays, etc., will go a long way in helping its offense build confidence and momentum. TOP THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH 1. Junior DT Mason Graham — When a defensive tackle can become the Most Valuable Player of a Rose Bowl, he's got something going. Graham certainly does, and as disruptive as he was in the battle against Alabama, he figures to turn it up a notch in what could be his final season in a Michigan uniform. Graham turned down major offers to play elsewhere, casting his lot with those who together won it all. He's not going to settle for a big step back. 2. Junior CB Will Johnson — Will Johnson knows very well what wearing the No. 2 jersey at cor- nerback means around The Big House. He doesn't shy away from it, either. A year ago, he performed remarkably well, even though hampered by a nagging injury. This season, he's fully back up to speed and is looking for a dominant junior campaign. He's a difference-maker who will take pressure off the rest of the U-M secondary. 3. Junior transfer LB Jaishawn Barham — Coaches and teammates marvel at Michigan's newest import, who played fiercely a year ago at Maryland. Barham started 23 games in his freshman and sophomore seasons, earning Freshman All-America status his first year. He has the size, speed and ag- gressiveness to both plug the gaps and come hard after the quarterback when called upon. Martindale describes him as "a very good athlete with a mean streak," which the new DC says is "perfect" for a linebacker. FRESHMAN TO WATCH LB Cole Sullivan — The early enrollee rookie out of Pittsburgh Central Catholic comes in at a position where it's very tough to break in right away. Teammates mentioned Sullivan wasn't getting a whole lot of attention at the start of spring practice — not unusual for a freshman. By the end, though, he was turning some heads. In the spring game, he assisted on a fourth-and-1 stop, and gained multiple mentions afterward when top rookies were asked about. — John Borton