Linebackers thriving under Chris Partridge, led by one veteran

The Michigan linebackers are playing at an extremely high level, three of them (grad Michael Barrett, junior Junior Colson, and sophomore Ernest Hausmann) the leading tacklers on the team under coach Chris Partridge. But one — Barrett — has elevated his game to the point he’s playing at an All-Big Ten level. The former safety/viper and high school quarterback is seeing the game extremely well and playing at another level physically.

Barrett has already shared Defensive Player of the Week honors three times for his performances against ECU, Indiana, and at Minnesota. He’s notched 25 tackles, has two forced fumbles and recoveries, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack through 7 games.

“Michael Barrett is playing at a high, high level right now, better than he’s played in his career and just doing everything,” Michigan linebackers coach Chris Partridge said. “Mike has been a dynamic athlete at the linebacker position and always been a good pass rusher. Mike, if you just watch him each game, he’s fitting runs, he’s striking … he’s really rounded his game out, and I’m really proud of him for that. He did absolutely step up his game with the competition [with Hausmann].”

Many wondered how he’d respond when Nebraska transfer Hausmann arrived, but there was no concern. Barrett elevated his game, and he brought the rest of the linebackers with him. The defensive linemen are “stealing tackles” from them, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh noted a few weeks ago, because they’re playing so well up front.

But Partridge isn’t concerned with that, and neither are his guys. They just want to win.
“I don’t care [as long as] we keep kicking people’s butts and are stopping the run and doing all that,” Partridge insisted. “The linebackers have really taken on a tremendous role in this because they’re fitting runs so fast and they’re right … they’re on it, and their eyes are so good. They are taking all the double teams off the D-line. That’s what you’re seeing in a big way. You can’t single-block these guys up front. They’re monsters; they’re awesome. They play with such good technique.

“It does go hand-in-hand, and we have to continue to do that. We have to continue to fit runs the right way. The floodgates open in this defense, so everybody eats. It’s so well designed and put together. If we’re all fitting the right way and doing the right thing, everybody is able to gain plays and make plays and make impact plays like you saw from Mike Barrett last week. I think we’re doing a really good job of fitting in the scheme and seeing things really well right now. I thought the linebackers played at a high level — it was their best game last week.”

It helps, he added, that they play in a defense that’s so versatile. Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has built on what Mike Macdonald brought a few years ago and added to it, showing many different looks. Stopping the run is the first priority, of course, and the Wolverines are doing that, but they’re also starting to force turnovers.

The linebackers have had a lot to do with that. Barrett forced and recovered a fumble with a sack last week and has been flying to the ball. Colson and Hausmann, too, have been very good. The scheme is much more adaptable in his second stint in Ann Arbor, Partridge said.

“This defense has answers for everything … it really, really does,” he said. “It’s able to adapt in the game. You could say, ‘oh, I have an answer as a coach after I see a game and say, OK, we have to do this now.’ We’re able to do this in-game with this defense. It’s put together really well.

“Our players work really hard at understanding different concepts so that we can change and adapt in games. It is that. It’s able to go in a lot of different directions, and we’re able to adjust on the fly really well. Our players are able to adapt to it and execute it.”

And unlike last year, they have the depth at the linebacker position that they’re not going to be gassed. The big three haven’t played much in fourth quarters this year, and they’ve rotated them well before that. They should be rested and ready for the rest of the season, while others behind them continue to develop.

“It’s been really good,” Partridge said. “It’s funny, I was joking with Junior just now — he’s sitting in my office — ‘dude, have you played in a fourth quarter this year?” Partridge said. “At some point that’s going to have to happen, but it’s great. It builds depth; it lets you see other guys in there. It gets them experience. You get good at football by playing football and practicing, but also playing in games.

“… Ernest has allowed us to keep Mike and Junior fresh throughout those first three quarters for sure, which has helped. He’s done a phenomenal job going back and forth and being able to do that. That’s something that goes unnoticed. He’s playing both spots series to series, sometimes within a series. Getting Jaydon Hood and Micah Pollard some really good experience is great for the future (too).”

They’ll probably need them all in some capacity down the stretch, and there’s still some room for improvement. Through seven games, though, Partridge couldn’t ask for much more, thrilled with what his group has accomplished.