Michigan Football: Linebackers/EDGE might end up as a strength

Kickoff is just a few days away for Michigan football and we run through one of our final position previews as we break down the linebackers and the EDGE defenders. 

Earlier in the offseason and prior to the start of fall camp, the linebacker position was one of Michigan football‘s biggest question marks heading into the 2021 season.

There were a few reasons for that. Last year, the position really struggled. Injuries didn’t help but that wasn’t the only problem.

Now though, the defense is completely changed. There is no Viper anymore. There are two spots on the inside at linebacker and two spots essentially on the edge.

Under Mike Macdonald, who Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh raved about on Monday, the Wolverines are shifting to a 3-4 defense. For the most part, the transition seems to have gone well and the personnel has adapted pretty well, at least from what we’ve heard.

Recently, Macdonald named Nikai Hill-Green as the starter over Michael Barrett. That was one camp surprise, but it was a pleasant one. As far as how Hill-Green will fare, along with the linebackers and the edge rushers here’s our position preview for 2021:

Projected Michigan football LB depth chart

ILB Starters: Josh Ross, Nikhai Hill-Green; Backups: Michael Barrett, Junior Colson, Kalel Mullings

EDGE Starters: Aidan Hutchinson, David Ojabo; Backups: Taylor Upshaw, Mike Morris, Braiden McGregor.

Breakdown

Josh Ross is back in the middle of the defense and all reports are that he’s taken a step forward for his final season. In 2018, Ross was stellar with 55 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and a sack.

Last year, the entire team struggled and at Big Ten Media Days, Ross was blunt, saying: “That wasn’t Michigan football.” He seems determined to be part of the solution and if Mazi Smith and the big boys upfront can hold their own, he could have a stellar year.

Hill-Green is probably the guy I’m most excited about this season. You need young guys to develop in order to improve and he’s certainly done that. Michael Barrett should still have a role. He’s an impressive athlete who can cover, blitz, and play all over.

But Hill-Green is probably better suited to playing that role inside. And behind him, I absolutely love the potential of Junior Colson, who should also see meaningful snaps this season.

The future is Hill-Green and Colson starting next two to each other, which is honestly a very exciting prospect for Michigan football fans.

EDGE

There is still some question about how Michigan football is going to lineup, meaning will there always be two EDGE players or will there be one EDGE and three more traditional linebackers at times? All options are on the table and I think we’ll see a number of different alignments.

Michigan football needs to stop being so predictable and should build its plan around that week’s opponent. With that said, one guy who will be on the field regardless is Aidan Hutchinson.

Hutchinson is being projected by many as a first-round pick and if he lives up to this potential for Michigan football this season, he’s going to be one.

It will be fun to see him moved around and put in a position to find favorable matchups. The pass rush has to improve and Hutchinson needs to make it happen.

The Wolverines are going to need more on than one solid pass rusher though. David Ojabo has been my projection to start and there’s been solid buzz about him. He’s got tons of potential and probably has the purest talent, although Taylor Upshaw is solid too. Here’s what Zach Shaw of The Michigan Insider wrote about the position:

"“At the edge, Ojabo hasn’t officially been named a starter but is drawing a high amount of buzz. As we outline below, he’s gifted in the pass rush but is inexperienced enough at football still to the point that he’s exploitable in the run game and even in coverage.”"

Mike Morris is another guy I really like. The 6-foot-6, 275-pounder has made a move this offseason and that’s the type of length you love to have in this defense. Plus, we can’t forget about Braiden McGregor, a former top recruit who has been working back from injury.

He wasn’t fully healthy last season after a knee injury in the final year of his high school career, but he’s back now and I’d love to see him be a factor this year, laying the groundwork for the future.