Optimism tends to reign early in fall camp, in just about every program. That's no different for Michigan football, which hit the practice field for the first time on Wednesday.
After practice, both Michigan football coordinators, Jay Hill on defense and Jason Beck on offense, met with the media.
One of the questions asked of Hill was the status of Rod Moore and John Henry Daley, two defenders who should have a vital role to play in the success of the Wolverines defense this season.
Moore is a former All-Big Ten selection. He has only played in four games over the past two seasons, but has seven career interceptions and eight pass breakups. One of those interceptions sealed a win against Ohio State in 2023. Moore had one interception last season, too, against Wisconsin.
Moore hasn't been 100 percent since suffering a knee injury in the spring of 2024. He was never 100 percent last season. There have been reports that he is 100 percent heading into the fall. However, Hill said that Moore was on a "pitch count."
Michigan football stars open fall camp on a pitch count
Hill also said that Henry Daley, the projected All-American for the Wolverines, who had 11.5 sacks for Utah last season, is also on a pitch count.
The former Weber State head coach said he needed both players healthy in a few weeks, which is true. The Wolverines need them both for the Oklahoma game. Limited reps are limited reps, though.
There is no substitute for playing football. Moore hasn't done that, at 100 percent, for almost two years. Henry Daley hasn't done it since November. Being on a pitch count now is fine. Michigan isn't even going full pads at this point.
Hill was also right to point out that he doesn't need either star defender right now. He will need both against Oklahoma, though. The Sooners are expected to contend for a College Football Playoff spot again.
The Wolverines lost to the Sooners last season. Had they won that game, their playoff fate might have been different. That could be the case once again in 2026.
So it will be imperative to have Henry Daley and Moore back to 100 percent for that game. There's a chance the pitch count could still exist then. If it does, well, either player on a limited basis is better than not having them at all.
The ideal path should be to play some snaps in Week 1, even if both players are limited, then remove the pitch count against Oklahoma.
That's the ideal scenario, at least if the defense is going to be full strength against the Sooners.
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