This is the second week of spring practice for Michigan football and the Wolverines took things to the next level on Thursday going “full go” at the end of practice.
For one, that’s awesome. That’s when you really start learning about players — when the pads come on. All the drills and technique stuff are important. But as far as guys taking a leap or working their way into a starting job or the two-deep, those jobs are won when the pads come on.
Chris Balas of The Wolverine who wrote a report about the practice, and as expected the defense, according to sources, was “far ahead” of the offense.
Wink Martindale, the new defensive coordinator dialed up some pressure and the offense struggled to handle it. That’s not a shock. Michigan football might have the best defensive line in the country. Hell, the Wolverines might have the best defense in the country.
Will Johnson said on Thursday that Michigan football was blitzing more and playing more man coverage. It sounds like that happened in practice, which led, according to Balas, to some interceptions.
Should Michigan football fans worry about the offense?
I wouldn’t. At least not yet. The Michigan football defense is going to make a lot of offenses look inept this season. That group is loaded and even with the injury to Rod Moore, it has a good chance to be the best defense in the Big Ten, if not all of college football.
Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant could be the starting defensive tackles for any team in college football. Georgia included. That’s incredible.
Derrick Moore and Josiah Stewart are NFL players too, plus Will Johnson, Ernest Hausmann, Jaishawn Barnham, Makari Paige, Quentin Johnson, Rayshaun Benny, and that doesn’t even include guys like Zeke Berry, Brandyn Hillman, Enow Etta, Jyaire Hill, and DJ Waller, who have all turned heads so far this spring.
Michigan football is also breaking in five new starters on the offensive line, plus a new quarterback/quarterbacks. No one has emerged from that group yet but it’s still early.
It’s also too early to worry about the offense. That side of the ball is going to be a work in progress but against the Michigan football defense, even elite offenses struggle, so don’t get overly concerned about one practice.
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