The Wolverine

May 2012

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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MICHIGAN FOOTBALL Craig Roh, Jibreel Black Adjusting To Changes C tance, when Michigan defensive co- ordinator Greg Mattison approached the senior about changing posi- tions for the 2012 season. Roh was a "quick" in 2009, an outside line- backer in 2010 and a weakside defen- sive end in 2011, and now Mattison was asking him to play strongside defensive end in his final season. He could have shook his head raig Roh had every right to re- fuse, or at least to show reluc- in disbelief, requested he stay put, and the coaches likely would have obliged. But Roh looked his coach in the eye, listened to his pitch, shook his hand and said, "Yes." "It really is the best fit for me," Roh said. "I truly believe it, too. I just need to put some weight on and, from what I've done so far this spring, I really like the position. The ball's coming to me a lot more and it seems like I have the opportunity to make more plays. "Plus I don't have to run as much to get to the ball, which is nice." Once Roh volunteered to move, ju- nior Jibreel Black had little choice but to follow his teammate's lead, accept- ing a move from weakside defensive end to the three-technique defensive tackle. Of course, he would have come to the same conclusion independently. "Coach Mattison called me into his office and said, 'You're going to play three-technique for us,' and I said, 'Yes sir,'" Black relayed. "I was taken aback by it at first, but I played inside at the Sugar Bowl and toward the end of the season, so I was kind of prepared for it, if it happened. It wasn't like, 'Oh, I don't know if I can do this.' It was, 'All right, let's go with it.'" Playing a reserve role each of the past two seasons, Black appeared in 26 games at defensive end and notched 25 tackles, including 1.5 sacks. Mattison feels he can reach his full potential inside. Player POSITION CHANGES THIS SPRING The move to strongside defensive end should help Craig Roh, a three-year starter with 38 con- secutive starts, improve upon his career numbers of 21 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL 32 THE WOLVERINE MAY 2012 R-So. Jordan Paskorz LB R-So. Chris Eddins So. Brennen Beyer Jr. Jibreel Black Sr. Craig Roh R-Jr. Michael Schofield LG RT 5th-Sr. Ricky Barnum LG DE C Old New WDE DT WDE SDE LB WDE TE TE

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