The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/666058
BY JOHN BORTON M ichigan isn't going to a 56 defense (five defensive linemen and six defen- sive backs) despite seeing its entire starting linebacker corps wiped out by graduation. Instead, the Wolverines are reloading via players and coaches. Veterans are stepping up to take the places of Joe Bolden, Desmond Morgan, James Ross and Royce Jenkins-Stone on U-M's second line of defense. The fresh wave is also receiving different input, working with new linebackers coach Chris Partridge and hands-on defensive coordinator Don Brown. The crew proved anything but a "woe is us" crowd this spring with players seizing opportunity and coaches liking what they witnessed. "It's awesome," insisted Partridge, who made the move from recruit- ing coordinator in 2015 back into the coaching mix. "It's a challenge. We've got to get some young guys ready to go, and we've got some great guys that are coming back that have played a lot of football, too." "I think the defense is going to be really good," stressed redshirt junior linebacker Mike McCray. "We had a great defense last year, but I feel like we could be a lot better this year. "For the linebackers, I feel like the inexperience doesn't matter — we've got a lot of young guys and a lot of athletes at linebacker. We will be per- fectly fine." That's the sort of talk most would expect coming out of the ever-hope- ful spring practices. That said, those involved seem convinced they are going to make the words ring true throughout the 2016 season. Part of the reason might be Brown, whose attacking style of defense calls for fewer reads and more downhill attacks by linebackers. That can help the backers play faster and with more confidence, and the new defensive coordinator isn't a bit shy about div- ing right into the teaching process. Brown acknowledged going to work on personnel and schemes while the Wolverines were ready- ing for their Citrus Bowl ambush of Florida. It quickly became apparent he had big plans in mind when Jim Harbaugh's crew took to the field at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., to open spring practice. A SURPRISE WEAPON Redshirt sophomore defender Ja- brill Peppers proved the talk of those early practices in the Sunshine State. He moved up into a strongside (Sam) linebacker spot, showing off what he could do closer to the line of scrim- mage. That's plenty, according to his teammates. The cheetah-quick, savvy defender can confound offensive tackles, getting to the quarterback in a flash, according to Partridge. Peppers snuck close to the line on a number of occasions a year ago and made some huge stops on quarter- backs who opted to keep the football. Now, he could see even more oppor- tunities to make things happen. "I'm definitely more mature, and I've adjusted to how [Brown] wants to run things," Peppers said. "My