The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/213966
U-M's Top Two Tacklers Are Linebackers, 1966-2013 Year 2013* 2012 2008 2006 2003 2001 1999 1997 1996 1994 1988 1986 1985 1984 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1975 1973 1972 No. 1, Tackles OLB James Ross III, 75 OLB Jake Ryan, 88 MLB Obi Ezeh, 98 MLB David Harris, 103 ILB Lawrence Reid, 82 ILB Larry Foote, 82 ILB Ian Gold, 95 ILB Sam Sword, 91 ILB Sam Sword, 109 ILB Steve Morrison, 128 ILB Erick Anderson, 77 ILB Andy Moeller, 137 ILB Andy Moeller, 138 ILB Mike Mallory, 148 ILB Mike Boren, 171 ILB Mike Boren, 152 ILB Andy Cannavino, 168 ILB Andy Cannavino, 151 ILB Ron Simpkins, 168 OLB Calvin O'Neal, 151 MLB Steve Strinko, 137 OLB Tom Kee, 116 No. 2, Tackles MLB Desmond Morgan, 69 MLB Kenny Demens, 82 OLB Jonas Mouton, 76 OLB Prescott Burgess, 48 OLB Pierre Woods, 68 OLB Victor Hobson, 80 ILB Dhani Jones, 90 ILB Dhani Jones, 90 ILB Jarrett Irons, 100 ILB Jarrett Irons, 115 ILB James Grant, 77 ILB Andree McIntyre, 76 ILB Mike Mallory, 101 ILB Timothy Anderson, 110 ILB Paul Girgash, 157 ILB Paul Girgash, 129 OLB Mel Owens, 89 ILB Ron Simpkins, 150 OLB Jerry Meter, 79 MLB Dave Devich, 113 OLB Carl Russ, 66 MLB Craig Mutch, 89 * Through 10 games; Stats for the team's annual top tackler are provided in the Michigan record book and are entirely accurate. The team's No. 2 tackler was found on the MGoBlue. com Statistical Archive, and total tackles numbers may be slightly off before 1985. backer position, played by redshirt junior Jake Ryan and fifth-year senior Cam Gordon, the Mike and the Will are essentially the same position. The Sam will split out wide, walk up to the line of scrimmage, play man coverage with tight end and is generally a more malleable spot on the field. The Mike and the Will, however, will almost always play in the box. They read the same keys and fill gaps the same way. The biggest difference is in pass coverage, where the Will has more responsibility in the flats, whereas the Mike will play the middle of the field, with deeper drops. All three players know both spots, but Morgan is the grizzled veteran, and the coaches feel comfortable throwing him out there in any situation. "Desmond has played a lot of football here already in three years," defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said. "He's kind of the glue in there. He's the one that has been in there in the big games and stuff like that, so that's why we like to keep him in there as much as we can."