The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/558143
M ichigan's defensive line was expected to be one of the strengths of this year 's team, and it still might be. The group will have to do it without sophomore defensive tackle Bryan Mone, however, after the 6-4, 325-pounder suffered a broken leg in camp that is ex- pected to sideline him for the year. T e a m s p o k e s - men have said they would not comment on Mone's injury un- til "Coach [Jim Har- baugh] chooses to dis- cuss fall camp," which he hadn't yet following the Aug. 6 Media Day. M o n e p l a y e d i n all 12 games in 2012, notching two solo tack- les, seven assists, 1.5 tackles for loss and one fumble recovery. Many e x p e r t s b e l i e v e d h e was primed for a breakout season, a load in the middle who would command double teams. He had been competing with redshirt ju- nior Ryan Glasgow for the starting job. Being the run stopper in the mid- dle of a 3-4 scheme was what he did best, former Michigan All-Big Ten offensive lineman Doug Skene noted earlier this summer. "When he's really playing, there's no way anyone will be able to stop him with just one guy," Skene said after watching him in the spring. " H e ' s g o t t h a t b i g , wide frame and huge lower body that's just going to clog the mid- dle. He'll occupy the center and the guard. "He may not have a lot of tackles or sacks, but the middle line- backers are going to love that kid. He's go- ing to be a great inte- rior anchor for that de- fensive front." Glasgow had been a e x c e l l e n t t e a c h e r, Mone said at the time, and early rumblings out of camp on both were glowing. There are now some depth concerns. "We're competing, and we make each other better," Mone said in the summer. "We're really close. He's like a mentor to me. He's really good at bring- ing out his technique; he's a really tough player who doesn't give up. He's also really good with his pass rush, something I need to work on more along with my speed. "I feel like our job is one of the MICHIGAN FOOTBALL Bryan Mone To Miss The Season With A Broken Leg Sophomore defensive tackle Bryan Mone was thought to be in line for a breakout campaign, but now he is expected to miss the season with a broken leg. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL