Michigan Football: 5 key takeaways from the defense this spring

Michigan football has gotten through a couple of weeks of spring practice and here are five key observations about the defense up to this point.

With the Wolverines basketball season coming to a painful end Thursday, the focus turns back to Michigan football which opens its 2019 campaign in about five months.

Yes, five long months. But at least Michigan football fans will get to see their team on the field next month with the spring game, as long as the weather doesn’t force it to be canceled as it was a year ago.

It would be great to get a spring game this year just to see so many of the young players that are pushing for more playing time and trying to make a name for themselves.

On the offensive side of the ball, there are only a few starters needing to be replaced, but on defense, a number of key guys are gone including Rashan Gary, Chase Winovich, Devin Bush Jr., David Long, Tyree Kinnel, Brian Mone and more.

That is a lot of playing time and a lot of snaps up for grabs. While it doesn’t quite compare to game action, spring practices and spring football are the next best thing. It’s also a great time to learn about the roster overall and when many of the position battles will be decided.

At the very least, what happens in the spring will set the tone for the two-deep in the fall. As far as how that’s shaking out and what we have seen so far, here are five key takeaways from spring ball so far.