The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/178977
X-Factor: With redshirt junior Jake Ryan out with injury, all eyes shifted to Ross because the second-year defender possesses the quickness, athleticism and instincts for the ball that could have filled some of the difference-makingplay void vacated by Ryan. Ross has played well, but hasn't been a significant playmaker, notching 1.5 tackles for loss without a sack thus far. U-M needs more from him. Overall — 4 stars: Steady. That is the one word to best describe the linebacker play this season. Considering the unit is missing its best player (Ryan) that is not a bad thing to be. However, with so much experience and talent on the field, the linebackers are capable of more. So far they've made the plays they're expected to make, but they need to start making more of the momentum-changing plays, like Morgan's critical fourth-quarter interception against Connecticut. Secondary Starters — 3 stars: On the surface, this unit is loaded, with three returning starters — senior safety Thomas Gordon, junior cornerback Raymon Taylor and redshirt sophomore cornerback Blake Countess — plus an emerging talent in sophomore safety Jarrod Wilson. However, this group has been faulted for playing too soft of coverage, getting shredded on underneath routes by Notre Dame and over the top by Akron. There is too much skill for these four to be the liability they have been over the first few weeks of the season. Depth — 5 stars: In the first three games, Michigan used three different third corners — freshmen Channing Stribling and Jourdan Lewis, and junior Delonte Hollowell — while senior safety/corner Courtney Avery is back to 100 percent and redshirt junior safety Josh Furman filled in admirably in week one with Gordon out. Essentially, the secondary has three or four corners and two safeties in reserve roles it can count on in case of injury or ineffectiveness from the starters. X-Factor: Wilson has the potential to give a Michigan defense what it has been lacking for close to a decade — a playmaking safety. This season he's already nabbed a pick (in the end zone to stave off a touchdown), has a pass breakup and a tackle for loss. Over the past few years, Jordan Kovacs has been terrific near the line of scrimmage but hasn't been able to impact downfield. Wilson has the physical skills, and the developing mental game, to be that guy. Overall — 3 stars: Between Countess and Taylor, Michigan featured two cornerbacks with the ability to be lockdown cover guys, and then also had the experience and moxie at safety to be even better against the deep ball than U-M was in 2012. But like the rest of the defense, the secondary has struggled with its confidence, and hasn't been playing the tight man-to-man coverage expected. Stars are on a 1-5 scale, with five being the best