The Wolverine

that. It has worked out much better that Jake and Cam have a lot more hands-on and attention-to-detail coaching than what they were get- ting early last season. "And when Jake goes down and plays on the line of scrimmage, that's where it has been nice that he is with Coach Mattison. A year ago, when he was off the ball, he'd be with me, and when he practiced moving up to the line, he'd be with Coach Mat- tison. That was tough to do with film and everything, so it's much better for him." knows what the offense is telling him before the ball is snapped. "He's stronger than he was a year ago. Jake is a pretty powerful kid to begin with, you add that strength and speed together and it's fun to watch." Although he is in just his second year as a letter winner, Ryan has built enough experience and playing time to feel like a veteran. "I feel like more of a leader. I know what's going on and I know the de- fense," Ryan said. "I can help people out. Yeah, it was a weird transition, because I'm still young and learning. Coming in from last year and go- ing throughout the offseason, I was telling people what to do. That was never something I had done — but I feel like I have grown into it." The coaching staff has certainly taken notice of Ryan's growth, both on the field and off. "You saw Jake really mature this summer," Smith added. "He has a whole different look and feel about him, that he's much more knowl- edgeable and confident, that every time he goes out there he knows what he is supposed to do, and he The entire Michigan defense is still very much a work in progress. As the linebackers are working on their deficiencies, the defensive line, which is working in three new start- ers, is doing the same. WORKING IN TANDEM that they're going to do what they're supposed to do and that we're going to do the same. "A year ago, they had Mike Martin, All of their jobs work in concert — and they all have to get better. "We count on them, and they count on us," Smith said. "But it is the job of a linebacker to be a line backer. You're backing up the line, and your job is to get to where the ball is going. It's a relationship that has to be good, because you have to know and trust Ryan Van Bergen and Will Heininger, and they had played a whole lot of football. The guys up front this year have improved dramatically, but that all goes together. What goes on in front of them affects how they need to react, the looks they're getting and what's coming out quickly and what's not. So I would like them to be further around than they are, but some of that is not their fault." "It's all about gaps," Ryan added. "If you're not in your gap, you're kind of screwing the other guys. If you don't have the edge, you're screwing the guy outside you. Every- thing we do affects the guy next to you, and it's huge, because the front seven is such an important part of the defense." u Linebackers Not Producing Big Plays for loss. The team, as a whole, had accounted for 21.0 and will need more from the linebackers. Redshirt sophomore strongside linebacker Jake Ryan had tallied two thus far, Through four games, the Michigan linebackers had produced just 7.5 tackles collecting 0.5 tackles for loss versus Alabama, one versus Air Force and 0.5 versus Massachusetts. He did not record one in the Wolver- ines' 13-6 loss at Notre Dame, breaking a nine-game streak of getting at least 0.5 tackles for loss in a game, dating back to last season's Purdue contest. Just two other linebackers tallied ule, the Wolverine linebackers were on pace to collect just 24.4 tackles for loss this season. In the last 15 seasons, Michigan line- backers collected fewer than 24 tack- les for loss just twice. They picked up 23 last year and 17 in 2008. The Wolverine linebackers were also struggling to get to the quarterback, combining for just 1.5 sacks through the first four games. Ross had 0.5 and freshman middle linebacker Joe Bolden had 1.0. more than one in the first four weeks: sophomore weakside linebacker Des- mond Morgan (2.0) and freshman weakside linebacker James Ross (1.5). Fifth-year senior middle linebacker Kenny Demens had yet to tally a tackle for loss. Projected through a 13-game sched- Year TFL Sacks TFL Sacks 2012* 24.5 5 68 10 2011 23 8 72 30 2010 32 7.5 70 18 2009 31 7 84 22 2008 17 3 77 29 2007 42.5 10.5 91 33 2006 32 12 86 42 2005 40 13 65 26 2004 43 9 78 21 2003 28 10 84 29 2002 26 10.5 84 42 2001 60 24 107 50.5 2000 53 11 102 21 1999 49 19 86 31 1998 54 22 105 37 1997 35 10 102 42.5 * 2012 numbers projected from first four games for a 13-game season SACKS BY LINEBACKERS IN THE LAST 15 YEARS Linebackers Team TACKLES FOR LOSS, Michigan linebackers coach Mark Smith said of the contributions made by some young, talented players in his position group, "The depth has been awesome." PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN But the lack of sacks is a team-wide problem. Michigan was on pace to tally just less than 10 sacks this season. In the last 15 years, the Wolverines have notched fewer than 20 sacks just once, getting 18 in 2010. — Andy Reid OCTOBER 2012 THE WOLVERINE 39

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