The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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Sophomore linebacker Joe Bolden was U-M's fifth-leading tackler through 10 games this season, with 20 solo hits and 21 assists for 41 total tackles. photo by per kjeldsen linebackers or the linemen. "Those guys up front, they're the ones that set the tone, because if they're playing well, the linebackers' jobs are easy." Although there isn't a senior among them, the linebackers have built up plenty of experience, playing with each other and the rest of the front seven, and now how to talk to each other in games. "It has gotten to the point where we can point things out to each other the others might not see, or suggesting ingame adjustments that are helping," Morgan said. "With the rotation, you don't see every snap, so it helps a lot." Although an entire Big Ten schedule can wear on linebackers, who are in there knocking heads on every snap, the Michigan defense is not about to slow down. And you can chalk that up to the rotation at Mike and Will. "By rotating guys, if you're playing a game that has 70 plays and guys are getting 30-35 plays, you're going to keep guys fresher in the game," Smith said. "You're going to keep them healthier over the long haul of a season, where you don't have the injury situation that can occur if a guy has to play every snap. It's critical for all those guys. "Desmond has had a few injuries during his career here and had to miss [two] games. At this point, he's been out there every game, and hopefully that will continue, because you always want your best players on the field. We won't play a guy just to play him. They have to be good enough to help the team. Right now, I feel very good about our guys." ❑