Michigan Football: Coach’s Corner — Coach’s Clinic — Breaking down the CB’s

Posted at 6:00am — 4/15/2008

Michigan Football: Coach’s Corner — Coach’s Clinic — Breaking down the CB’s

Several of us went to the Michigan Coach’s clinic and were able to watch the practices and drills. The first day was shorts and helmets, second day was full pads, and third day was scrimmage. Of course, the players need to continue to work hard and keep on developing, but this is what we saw so far this spring.

If season started today:
Warren (CB), Trent (CB).

Michigan’s starting Corner-backs are very good. The big concern is depth, but should improve when Boo Boo comes in this fall. Warren and Trent continue to stand out in practice and if any concern it is the fact we have a huge drop off from our first and second teams.

Corner-backs:

Morgan Trent:

Strengths:
He has good combination of size and speed. Michigan’s new emphasis on press coverage seems to fit Morgan well this year. He is definitely one of the three or four fastest Michigan players with straight ahead speed. He has really improved his overall conditioning, looked a good ten pounds lighter. You have to love his effort and have shown to be leader in defensive backfield and Morgan is quite possibly our best tackler at corner-back, but that might be because of his size. His work ethic has really improved as well. He has turned into a good fundamental corner that thrives more in zone coverage. He has good hands and instincts and exhibited in his interception on Friday.

Weakness:
He does not have the best hips and reactions are not the best. His one on one ability he is not as quick or has the hips as Warren, but not the prospect Warren is.

Donovan Warren:

Strength:
He has great skill set, great feet and very good closing speed, fluid backpedal, and outstanding hips who is a true cover corner who is much more comfortable in man coverage than zone. He has very good size and has gained the necessary weight. He never quit or stopped working hard. Probably our best NFL talent on the team right now. Coaches liked to put him in tough situations in practice (like matching him one on one with Stonum. Do not know where the rumors of him leaving have come from. Maybe he was upset when English left, but seemed to be really into practices this weekend.

Weakness:
He is having a little trouble with the footwork Coach Shafer is teaching (very understandable) and press coverage. A good summer of S&C would be huge help. He still is a little bit on the thin side. Did get beat a couple times going deep, but mainly because coaches wanted to work on footwork off the ball. Warren gets into some trouble is because he still has problems with the jam. He gets muscled and put into less than desirable position.

Troy Woolfolk:

Strength:
Each rep you could see him getting better and better. He has Good feet, hips and speed. Probably our number two cover corner prospect. He is physical for his size and not afraid to mix it up. He could be a solid third corner-back before seasons end. It should be a good battle for that third spot with Boo Boo. On Friday a completely different player he had an interception and seemed to get more confidence.

Weakness:
He had some tough times and hard learning curve. He was been beaten badly a few times. Wow what a difference a day makes on Thursday he was Mr. Toast. Beaten regularly by wide receivers and had a hard time keeping his feet. He has not shown that great speed he has that reputation. He needs to gain weight and get a ton more reps. Main thing is just getting enough playing time to gain confidence. He is thinking too much instead of just playing.

Doug Dutch:

Strength:
You have to love this kid’s effort and guts. It would have been very easy for him to quit. He comes out and works his butt off every day and he is improving.

Weakness:
Just not sure, he will ever get over the hump and see major playing time. Needs to learn position and play with more discipline. He was caught out of position multiple times.

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Written by GBMWolverine Staff

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