After defeating the New Mexico Lobos on Saturday night, the Michigan Wolverines turn all attention to a Week 2 duel at the Oklahoma Sooners. While far from a flawless outing last weekend, head coach Sherrone Moore and his staff should feel confident in their road opener after impressive debuts from Bryce Underwood, Justice Haynes, and tenacity on both sides of the line.
On Moore’s appearance on the Inside Michigan Football radio show Monday evening, he emphasized the importance of defensive depth.
For one, this is a defensive line that lost two first-round picks and a third-rounder, and does not necessarily have the top-end talent of late.
However, this is still a stout, deep unit that paves the way for a similarly stout and deep group of linebackers and defensive backs. There are fewer stars this year, but that just means defensive coordinator Wink Martindale gets to deepen his rotation all over the field.
“Whoever practices the best. Those are the guys that start the game, but they all know they’re going to play,” Moore said.
Depth is also crucial with the suspect first-half suspension as a result of a targeting call on Jaishawn Barham. Hausmann will still patrol the middle of the defense, and there is reason for excitement for the guys behind Barham.
“The young kid, Cole Sullivan, he’s electric to us and we think he’s going to be special,” Moore said. “…It’s not like you forgot Jaishawn was gone, but you didn’t feel that effect as much with those three guys (Hausmann, Sullivan and Jimmy Rolder) in there.”
Other names to watch for this season include Georgia transfer Troy Bowles, who had a sack against New Mexico and is a “hard hitter, violent player,” per Moore, as well as true freshman Chase Taylor.
Martindale revealed some of the logistics behind running a defense in this fashion.
“I think you can over-manage it,” he said. “That’s what I told (defensive line coach) Lou (Esposito), let’s don’t over-manage it. Let’s just — when you see a guy tiring or we’re just a normal rotation, put in who’s been practicing the best.”
This attitude should attract even more intense practices as it emphasizes lack of job security and incentivizes climbing the ladder. And hopefully that depth can help the Wolverines wear out opponents late into games and deeper into the season.
Quick Hitters
TJ Guy “didn’t know how to act” after first career turnover
The fifth-year edge rusher made a one-handed interception on a ball that originally deflected off an offensive lineman’s head. On the radio show, Guy said, “That was my first time wearing the buffs; that was a crazy feeling. Like I said, I was probably a little awkward because I didn’t know how to act.”
Sherrone shaky about Underwood’s block on touchdown run
QB1 made a spirited block on the second of Haynes’ three touchdowns, to which Moore responded, “I’d wish he not throw his shoulder in there and try to block people. I don’t think this is the last time we’ll be having that conversation.” Though potentially dangerous, Moore also talked about why characteristics like that are part of the reason Underwood has transitioned so seamlessly into the new role, and his teammates love him.
Transfer experience already standing out on defense
Martindale highlighted graduate transfer defensive tackles Damon Payne Jr. — who he thinks “played pretty good” and “loves his attitude” — and Tré Williams, who has no shortage of career appearances (45). Adding these two to an already deep defensive front gives Martindale plenty of opportunities to mix and match.
