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10 Candidates to replace Mike Macdonald as Michigan Football’s DC

By Kyler Kregel

Jan 1, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive line coach Mike Elston against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive line coach Mike Elston against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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(Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /

7. Nate Woody (Army West Point)

Woody is a former staffer at Michigan, serving as a defensive analyst on Jim Harbaugh’s 2019 staff. He only was in town a year though, quickly finding a new position as defensive coordinator at Army West Point in 2020. He previously was the defensive coordinator at Wofford for over a decade, then coordinator at Appalachian State and Georgia Tech before coming to Michigan.

The challenges of coaching at a service academy are unique compared to the rest of college football, notably having to go against a triple-option team every day in practice, along with the physical restrictions on weight that prevent them from rostering massive linemen, but Woody’s proved quite up to the challenge thus far, leading Army to the 33rd ranked scoring defense in 2021.

8. Other Ravens affiliated assistants

If Michigan wishes to retain the Ravens-style defensive scheme, it would have some other options aside from just the aforementioned Anthony Weaver.

First and foremost, former Ravens defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale is available, as it is him who is being replaced in Baltimore. Despite the firing, Martindale is still a well-regarded defensive mind, whose units have consistently produced in the top-10 in the NFL in a lot of major defensive categories.

Additionally, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Joe Cullen comes from that same schematic brain trust, as he was formerly the Ravens defensive line coach before being taken away to be Urban Meyer’s defensive coordinator last offseason in Jacksonville. He helped improve the Jaguars’ defense this past season, despite the struggles of Urban and the rest of the team.

And lastly, Ravens secondary coach and pass game coordinator Chris Hewitt is an intriguing candidate to mention. Since 2015, when he took over the Ravens secondary, they have ranked third in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game, just 219.7 yards per contest.

He’s another assistant coach held in high regard, and like Macdonald could also be ready to run his own defense.

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