Spring Game Preview: Defense

Hockey lost last night so it's officially the beginning of football season in my eyes. I'll have a few previews for the Spring Game during the week, starting here. This will be the most closely watched spring game since 2008, so I'm excited to ponder some premature speculation about a game that will cause even more premature speculation. We'll start with the defense. Michigan's defense worsened every year under Rich Rodriguez, and last year's D was one of the worst in school history. Brady Hoke brought in Greg Mattison to change that, and we'll have our first glimpse of progress, if there has been any, on Saturday.

RS Sophomore LB Cam Gordon

A lot of people have talked about how Brady Hoke will instill toughness in this Michigan team. That's about the vaguest description of a football team, especially defensively, that I can imagine, and I hope people realize that when Hoke says that, he's trying to get in bed with the media. That isn't a bad thing. It's something Rodriguez could never do. But to say the Rodriguez teams weren't tough is asinine. I don't recall guys like Cam Gordon shying away from big hits. But I do recall opposing players bouncing off of Cam Gordon's attempts at big hits due to poor technique. That will be what I look for, more than anything, come Saturday; correct technique. Will tacklers stay low, with their heads up, and drive through their tackles? Will they wrap up the ball carrier and stay on their feet? Will the linebackers keep their gaps on running plays and flow with the ball carrier? Will guys like Will Campbell and Quinton Washington show the technique that will make their jobs as space erasers possible? These are all questions that probably won't be fully answered after Saturday, but we'll probably have an idea of how far along the team is. Mike Martin is the only player who doesn't really need to prove himself, which makes me both nervous and excited. 

This Michigan defense is not rich in natural talent, especially outside of the defensive line. The secondary is full of formerly-unheralded recruits like Courtney Avery, J.T. Floyd and Troy Woolfolk and young guys who just haven't proven themselves yet, like Marvin Robinson, Carvin Johnson and Josh Furman. Some of those players may still end up at linebacker, even. Jordan Kovacs represents this team's secondary perfectly: a former walk-on who is a step too slow and so easy to root for. And without him, Michigan probably would have been even worse off last season. The linebackers are a similar story.They lost two starters in Obi Ezeh and Jonas Mouton, but there are some promising youngsters in Gordon, Jake Ryan and Mike Jones, experienced production in a currently injured Kenny Demens, and veterans who have yet to live up to expectations in J.B. Fitzgerald and Brandon Herron. If those two can step up and make a difference, both on the field and off, then the Wolverines will be much better in 2011. Guys like Gordon and Jones are still going to make mistakes, not to mention neither has yet to fully grow into his body. If Fitzgerald and Herron can provide legitimate depth, then the defense will already be better off. 

Junior DT Will Campbell

I don't think there is any question that this defense's success will be reliant upon the play of the front four. Craig Roh, Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen are three of the most experienced and talented players on the team, and the likes of Washington and Campbell are two of the most impressive players from a physical standpoint. The front four will have to get the necessary push if this team is going to stop the run. Same for the pass, as there is no true ball-hawking safety or shut down corner on this team (as of yet). I think ultimately the most important player on this team will be whoever ends up as the three-technique tackle. The likely candidates, Will Campbell and Quinton Washington, will both have to plug up holes in the line and attack two linemen every play, allowing guys like Roh and Martin to be left one-on-one with their men. If that happens consistently during the spring game, against a fairly experienced offensive line, then I'll be very encouraged.