The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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The entire defense disappointed last fall — U-M fell 28 spots nation- ally after giving up 51.5 more yards per game than in 2012 (320.0) — and head coach Brady Hoke addressed this within his coaching ranks by moving his staff around, including a decision to split the secondary be- tween Mallory (safeties) and second- year coach Roy Manning (corner- backs, formerly outside linebackers). Mallory is now one of four safety- specific coaches in the Big Ten, with Ohio State, Penn State and Wiscon- sin also dividing their secondary between two coaches. In total, nine programs (and Indiana at two spots) split coaching responsibilities at a single position group. "It's been much better compared to the last few years because we get a lot more attention, and as far as last year we didn't," junior safety Jar- rod Wilson said. "Just our technique and fundamentals are a lot better. We hone in on them and we actually get the time to go in and watch the film and watch our mistakes to learn and get better." Manning is the newcomer to the secondary, having previously worked with U-M's strongside line- backers (2013) and offensive linemen as an offensive assistant in 2011, as well as Cincinnati's running backs in 2012. He was a defensive assistant with the Bearcats in 2010. Though Michigan has divided its secondary, it had one focus this spring that will continue into fall camp and the 2014 campaign. "We just want to play physical and not worry about getting beat," soph- omore corner Jourdan Lewis said. "We all like it that way, and that's what was instilled in us this spring by Coach [Greg] Mattison, Coach Roy, Coach Mallory — they want us to be tough and physical, aggressive, and it seems to be working. We're having fun." NEW COACHES, NEW ATTITUDE Hoke often points out that six to eight plays decide a game and that those six to eight plays might de- cide a season, too. One of those plays against Nebraska still haunts Michi- gan fans. U-M led 13-10 late in the fourth quarter with the Cornhuskers driv- ing. NU faced a fourth-and-two at the Michigan 31-yard line when quarterback Tommy Armstrong noted that wide receiver Kenny Bell had a cushion of at least eight yards at the line of scrimmage. He called for a quick snap and drilled Bell for an easy first down. The Cornhuskers scored three plays later and held on for a 17-13 win. Media and fans repeatedly ques- tioned the lack of press coverage, and Hoke acknowledged U-M's corner should have been playing tighter. However, the coaches didn't entirely trust that their covermen could play that type of scheme in 2013. This off- season, they issued a personal chal- lenge to their corners and safeties to gain the required strength and to work on their technique in an effort to become a more aggressive second- ary this fall and in upcoming sea- sons.