The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/213966
Ross, Morgan Lead The Team In Tackles Football has changed drastically in the last 50 years, but at least one constant remains: linebackers are going to do the heavy lifting, tackle-wise. "At linebacker, that's a big job, keeping them from running the ball," sophomore weakside outside linebacker James Ross III said. "If they can't run the ball, they're one dimensional, and then our secondary is pretty talented and can get an interception, or the defensive line can get sacks." But it's not every year that two linebackers sit atop the team's total for tackles. Ross led Michigan in tackles through 10 games with 75. Junior middle linebacker Desmond Morgan was not far behind him with 69. If the numbers hold up, it would be the second straight year in which the Wolverines' top two tacklers were linebackers, after strongside outside linebacker Jake Sophomore linebacker James Ross III posted a Ryan posted 88 and middle career-high 13 tackles in the triple-overtime win linebacker Kenny Demens over Northwestern, and through 10 games this season, he led the Wolverines with 75 total tackles. chipped in 82. photo by Lon horwedel That hasn't happened since 1996-97, when Sam Sword (91 tackles in 1997 and 109 tackles in 1996) combined with Dhani Jones (90 tackles in 1997) and Jarrett Irons (100 tackles in 1996) to lead the team in tackles. The Michigan statistical archives keep defensive stats back to the 1966 season. In that time, the team's top two tacklers have been linebackers 22 times (see chart). In recent years, safeties have provided a lot of help. Safety Jordan Kovacs (now with the Miami Dolphins) was No. 2 on the team in tackles in 2011 (75), 2010 (116) and 2009 (75).