Michigan Football: What To Do With What Is Left -- Defense

GBMWolverine Michigan Football TidbitsPosted at 1:00pm — 2/18/2015

Michigan Wolverine Football: What To Do With What Is Left — Defense

Phase Three: What To Do With What Is Left — Defense?

The last section ended with the small proclamation that the defense was a better scenario than the offense.

For the first time in several years the defensive tackle play of Michigan was above standard, not spectacular, but pretty good. And the talent and experience returning can only produce preseason optimism. Coach Greg Mattison knows the ups and downs of this group; some would cite an advantage; some may take an opposing view.

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Bryan Mone is a big time player waiting to happen. He is not Vince Wilfork, but no one is calling him tiny, at least not within close range. Ryan Glasgow, like his brother, just keeps hanging around, getting bigger and better. Ondre Pipkins needs a big year, the clock it is a ticking to the future. He has had sufficient time to regain strength and will actually have to compete heavily to break the starting lineup. Matthew Godin, depending on the front scheme, can play at a solid level and provide some versatility. He still has plenty of work to get to a near impact starter, but as in the past gives Coach Mattison a guy who can start or be first man in off the bench. Chris Wormley has the potential to play several positions on the line, and with all of the options available to Coaches D.J. Durkin and Greg Mattison just forget the speculation, the line will play out.

The defensive end position is not as dire as the quarterback situation, but like the gunslingers and manager gang, this group needs a big ol’ question mark attached. Next year, get bigger, get stronger, and get experience. Well, just get better is this year’s mantra. Listen to the following names: Taco Charlton, Mario Ojemudia, add newcomer to the mix Lawrence Marshall, and the still to be determined fate of quick Henry Poggi, who may up somewhere else on the line, and then gasp just a little.

Linebacker time will depend on Coach D.J. Durkin wishes, or on what is the best overall group balance, or who may just want to separate from the pack. Gone is Jake Ryan and back is Desmond Morgan. This is certainly not a straight up trade, but Morgan is pretty decent if left inside. Joe Bolden will just play football, the way coaches want him to, where they want him to, and the results will be positive.

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Now on to the two elevator guys, Royce Jenkins-Stone and James Ross III; both have demonstrated the good and the bad; both have warts, and both have yet to reach those dreaded expectations. Both may end up playing situational football unless they display a more well rounded linebacker game. Michael Ferns fled the pack, leaving Chase Winovich as the most promising newcomer.

But just do not be mega shocked if Michael McCray makes far more of an impact this year. He just seems to figure it out when the game comes around and he can lay the wood.

Besides McCray, newcomers from the defensive back corps may arrive as reinforcements, most hypothesized is Jeremy Clark and Dymonte Thomas, both decent hitters.

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Michigan may be able to put together a nice front line of defensive backs in Jourdan Lewis, Blake Countess, Jabrill Peppers, and Jarrod Wilson. Then, it is a collection of what has been underwhelming achievement. One or two more need to rise up and contribute at a starting level. Again, a little meet at the quarterback ability from the front line could help these guys immensely.

And so with the preliminaries done the series concludes with the worldview of Jim Harbaugh and how the foundation of Michigan football will be affected.

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Written by GBMWolverine Staff — Doc4Blu

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