The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2014 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 27 M Roy Manning spent his first season at Michigan coaching the outside linebackers, and he will spend his second season coach- ing U-M's cornerbacks after head coach Brady Hoke decided to divide secondary responsibilities between Manning and Curt Mallory. "As a coaching staff we took a real hard look at everything we did last season, good and bad. From an efficiency standpoint, we talk about maximizing the time you have out there on the practice field and then in the film room, and having an opportunity to split up that secondary position was the most efficient thing to do," Manning said. "If you're a player, and have an opportu- nity to truly hone in on your skill set work with a position coach more one-on-one, that is something you would want. "With the offenses we're seeing these days, you have three and four wide re- ceivers out there the majority of the time and you will be in more nickel packages. I think it was a great move. It just made sense every way you looked at it. The kids responded well, and it will be good for us this season." Mallory had coached the entire second- ary from 2011-13, but he will work exclu- sively with the safeties now. "It was a great decision by Coach Hoke and Coach [Greg] Mattison, and it's been an awesome transition," Mallory said. "Now, we're able to break it up and Roy can concentrate on more technique at the corner position. The safeties are more about checks, knowing the defense's as- signments and getting everyone lined up properly. "The two positions are so different, and now you're able to manage your time bet- ter and get a lot more done. When you're watching one-on-ones, you can pay more attention. "It was absolutely the right thing to do." Mallory is one of four safety-specific coaches in the Big Ten, with Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin also dividing their secondary between two coaches. In total, nine programs (and Indiana at two spots) split responsibilities at a single position. "When I started working with the secondary guys, I had to give kudos to Coach Mallory," Manning said. "For one guy to basically look after five po- sitions with two safeties, two corners and your nickel is incredible. And he did a great job of it." An outside linebacker during his ca- reer at Michigan from 2001-04, Man- ning has never coached corners before in his brief career. He was Cincinnati's run- ning backs in 2012, while he was a gradu- ate assistant for the offensive line with the Maize and Blue in 2011 — and he's de- termined to be an asset, attending the Bill Walsh Minority Internship Program and receiving an opportunity to work with the Chicago Bears' coaching staff. "Heading into this season I felt it was important to talk to as many people as I can just to develop my- self personally and professionally as well as I can," said Manning, who was mentored by Hoke's brother, Jon, the Bears' secondary coach. "We're going to see a lot of different offenses and receivers this season, and I wanted to do everything I could to better myself so I could help my guys." Coaches Pleased With Responsibility Divide In The Secondary Position Group Splits In The Big Ten School Position Coach Coach Illinois Linebackers Al Seamonson Mike Ward Indiana Linebackers William Inge Brian Knorr Indiana Defensive Line Larry McDaniel Brian Knorr Iowa Defensive Line Reese Morgan Eric Johnson Maryland Linebackers Lyndon Johnson Keith Dudzinski Michigan Secondary Curt Mallory Roy Manning Nebraska Offensive Line John Garrison Barney Cotton Ohio State Secondary Chris Ash Terry Coombs Penn State Secondary Bob Shoop Terry Smith Wisconsin Secondary Bill Busch Ben Strickland Cornerbacks coach Roy Manning said of the decision to split U-M's coaching duties in the secondary, "The kids responded well, and it will be good for us this season." PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL 8,10-12,14-28,30-32.IMA.indd 27 6/19/14 5:02 PM