The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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rupt an offensive plan seldom used in today's college football. "The 4-3 under is schematically sound to defend two-back sets and one- and two-tight-end sets," said former U-M linebacker and current analyst Obi Ezeh (2007-10). "You're going to get that when you're playing against a lot of teams that play power football. "You generally want a hard-hitting middle linebacker, and what you really need is a bona fide Sam line- backer because that guy has to walk up on the line of scrimmage over the tight end to harass the tight end all day, hold his leverage out there — he is the contain player when it comes to the run — and he also has to rush the passer. "When Shawn Crable [2004-07] was playing Sam for us, we were spoiled. He got it done. He was big enough to handle power plays coming right at him, and he was fast enough to be a speed rusher off the edge, and he was athletic enough to cover the tight ends that are becoming more and more athletic themselves these days." A year ago, Michigan faced only two offenses — Michigan State and Iowa — that could be lumped into the power category, with the rest run- ning variations of a spread or option attack. Against the Maize and Blue, offenses also schemed to run away from U-M's strongside linebackers, recognizing them as Michigan's best defender. "The problem with our defense and the way offenses are going now, Jake was always out in the flanks," Mat- tison said. "He was spread out, so if they're not running at them, your best player is not as involved in the game as he should be. "Brady and I talked and thought it was the good move to move him to Mike so he was right in the middle of everything." In a 4-3 "over" defense, the respon- sibilities and playmaking opportuni- ties also change for the middle line- backer. "In a 4-3 'under,' the A gap is open on both sides of the center, and your middle linebacker is responsible for those two gaps, so any blocker com- ing his way, he has to beat that block head up and be able to shed it anyway possible to make a play," Ezeh said. "Now, with the way the line shifts to the strongside in the over defense, you protect the middle linebacker a little more and the Mike plays inside- out — more 'See ball, get ball.' "If you have a really talented Mike that can recognize quickly and at- tack, you have a player that can re- ally, really be around the ball on every snap." RYAN IS THE KEY The Big Ten's starting Mike line- backers averaged 81 tackles, 6.5 tack- les for loss and two sacks per player last season, but the elite — Michigan State's Max Bullough, Wisconsin's Chris Borland and Iowa's James Mor- ris — were good for 98 stops, 12 tack- les for loss and four QB takedowns in 2013, and it is that latter group that Michigan's linebackers aspire to equal or surpass. "In most defenses, you want to get your best playmakers … and you