The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 113 DEFENSIVE BACKS forming in 12 games with nine tackles. But Partridge and Michigan's defensive coaches continue to stress going beyond the kill shots and making sure on takedowns. Woods made progress in that area this spring. "Going in, we needed him to make sure he concentrated on his man-cover skills," Partridge said. "He worked on that. "Tackling-wise, J'Marick will take your head off. We've just got to make sure he puts his body in the right position. In open space in college football, it's not always an easy tackle. It's just closing ground the right way and being in that tackle position. That's where he took his steps this spring." Sophomore Jaylen Kelly-Powell also got his feet wet last fall, performing in 10 games and making a pair of stops. He's taking the natural steps toward seeing the field more in his second season. "I really love him, because he's a guy who can go anywhere," Partridge noted. "Josh goes to corner, Jaylen goes to free, Jaylen goes to nickel. He's doing some good stuff for us. "We love his natural cover ability. He can do so much stuff with different things on the field. He's so smart and so attentive. He lis- tens to everything you say. He's got a bright future." Sophomore Brad Hawkins played in 12 games with a pair of tackles in 2017. He's settled back in at safety, after time spent backing up the viper spot last fall. Partridge has some high praise for the sec- ond-year Wolverine, who possesses skills in the refining process. "He's probably our best natural athlete," Partridge offered. "He does things back there where you just say, 'Wow!' When it clicks, when it comes together for Brad, he's going to be a helluva football player. "He's working. We moved him up to viper last year and then back to safety. I've had him both years, and we have a really good rela- tionship. Brad wants to be great, and that's really important. "He might have been the best one the last two practices. He might have graded out the best. The last two practices of the spring, he shot out of nowhere. When he gets that overall grasp of the defense, and it clicks, his athleticism kind of takes over. "Brad has to have a big summer and a big camp. He might find himself on the field." Michigan also has some insurance coming in Utah grad transfer Casey Hughes, who made 2.5 TFLs among 35 tackles and forced a pair of fumbles for the Utes last fall. "We've got the one guy that's an ace in the hole who hasn't been with us yet," Brown said. "We've got to sit and talk with Casey and figure out his role." QUICK FACTS Position Coaches: Mike Zordich, corner- backs (fourth season); and Chris Partridge, safeties (third season, first with DBs). Returning Starters: CB David Long (13 career starts), FS Tyree Kinnel (13), CB Lavert Hill (12), SS Josh Metellus (12). Departing Starters: None. Projected New Starters: None. Top Reserves: CB Brandon Watson (1 start), S J'Marick Woods (1), CB Ambry Thomas, S Jaylen Kelly-Powell, S Brad Hawkins, DB Casey Hughes (11). Wait Until 2019: CB Benjamin St-Juste. Newcomers: CB Myles Sims, DB Vin- cent Gray, DB Sammy Faustin, DB Gemon Green, DB German Green. Moved In: Hughes (grad transfer from Utah), Hawkins (from LB). Moved Out: Jordan Glasgow (to LB). Rookie Impact: Sims. Most Improved Player: Metellus. Best Pro Prospect: Hill. FYI Michigan's four returning starters took the field first in a combined 50 out of 52 chances during the 2017 season. Junior cornerback Lavert Hill missed the game at Wisconsin, and junior strong safety Josh Metellus did not start against South Carolina in the Outback Bowl. Last year's unanimous All-Big Ten first-team wideouts, D.J. Moore of Maryland and Simmie Cobbs Jr. of Indiana, combined for just nine receptions, which gained 76 yards, against Michigan. Neither had a touchdown or a catch longer than 14 yards versus the Wolverines. In their other 22 games played (11 each), they combined to post clips of 13 catches, 163.4 receiving yards and 1.4 touchdowns per contest. The Wolverines have led the country in passing yards allowed each of the last two seasons — giving up just 142.5 yards per game through the air in 2016 and only 150.1 in 2017 despite four new starters last year. Both times, all four secondary starters earned some level of All-Big Ten recognition. Despite Michigan's national-best showing in surrendering passing yardage in 2017, it came away with only 10 interceptions, which tied for No. 67 nationally. Iowa led the nation with 21 pickoffs. Chris Partridge made the move to coaching Michigan's safeties follow- ing the departure of Brian Smith, who was in Ann Arbor for one year before becoming the defensive coordinator at Rice. Partridge mentored a very strong group of linebackers last season, including captain Mike McCray and returning All-Big Ten juniors Devin Bush and Khaleke Hudson. According to Pro Football Focus, junior cornerback David Long leads all returning college cornerbacks in passer rating allowed last fall (11.9). PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN