The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/653976
INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS tive was to create absolute chaos in the offensive backfield by coming at the ball carrier with everything he had. Peppers will probably play with a little more discipline, but the goal is the same — to disrupt the quarterback or running back by using speed as a weapon. First-year defensive coordinator Don Brown has a unique philosophy with his Sam linebackers, employing them like pass rushers to productive results. In the last two years at Boston College, Brown's strongside linebackers com- bined for 10.5 sacks, with Matt Milano leading the team in QB takedowns in 2015 with 6.5. Milano was by no means an overwhelming physical presence either, checking in at 6-1, 218 pounds, but reached the quarterback with frequency thanks to a blitzing scheme that throws more at offenses than they can handle. This year's defensive line is poised to be one of the best in Michigan history, and seniors Chris Wormley and Taco Charlton could each challenge for double- digit sacks. That is a lot to ask of Peppers, but the combination of Brown and Peppers together should raise the Sam's numbers to new heights. Too Much Talent By Brandon Brown History seems to favor Peppers because of what Don Brown was able to do in the past at Boston College, but Peppers leading the team in sacks? Not so fast. Michigan's defensive line was solid last year with Willie Henry, Chris Wormley and Taco Charlton leading the charge. Henry notched 6.5 sacks in 2015, and while he's off to the NFL, Wormley and Charlton both return as seniors and had 6.5 and 5.5 sacks, respectively, last season. Add in healthy returning defensive tackles redshirt sophomore Bryan Mone and fifth-year senior Ryan Glasgow, along with a continually improving redshirt junior Maurice Hurst, and Michigan is poised to trot out one of the best front lines in all of college football. Sprinkle in the nation's top recruit, Rashan Gary, and Michigan should be special up front. All of that adds up to what could be field days for Charlton, Wormley and Gary coming off the edge. Peppers will be very good in his new role and should provide a nice jolt to Michigan's stout defense, but there simply won't be enough sacks to go around once Wormley, Charlton and Gary — not to mention Mone, Glasgow and Hurst — get theirs. The position change should be good for Peppers and Michigan's overall success on defense, but he's not a true linebacker. He won't be involved in run support and blitz packages on every down because he's still too valuable in pass cover- age, on special teams and occasionally on offense, which will limit his overall opportunities at the line of scrimmage.