Michigan D-line coach Mike Elston: ‘We won’t get out-physicaled - I believe in our guys'
Much has been made of the Alabama offensive line Michigan will face in the Rose Bowl Monday, particularly its size — 360 pounds at each tackle, 340 in the middle. The Wolverines’ defensive line has been dominant much of the season, especially on the interior, and U-M D-line coach Mike Elston believes they’ll continue that Jan. 1.
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Unlike past years, the Wolverines appear to have the beef inside to counter what Alabama will throw at them. Sophomore tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant have the size and strength, while senior Kris Jenkins has gotten bigger and more equipped to deal with it, as well.
“They’re both very big and very powerful. They love the game of football,” Elston said when asked about his sophomores. “And really, all five of the guys. We’re never taking the field and not wanting to put our best performance forward. Sometimes you get tired at the end of the game and just can’t do that. When you have five guys that can rotate in, you never have it too tired to give it my best.
“These are two guys who are very athletic, very powerful, and they know the game. They study the game. They know the game plan, are very smart individuals. That gives them a leg up against some other guys that may not study the game.”
It’s one of the reasons Elston is confident about his group — and the entire defense — against the Crimson Tide.
“I love the matchup,” Elston continued. “I think we match up really well with the defensive line and their offensive line. Now, listen — they’re very talented, very big, and they’re very well coached. It’s going to be a great challenge. With that said, I would take our guys. I believe in our guys. We’ve matched the intensity of the offenses we’ve played really the last two years. We haven’t always played the best performance, but we don’t get out-physicaled. We won’t get out-physicaled. Guys take a lot of pride in that.
“Coach Herbert, our strength coach, we’re all involved in this. So, I love the matchup. I think it’s going to be fun … it’s going to be awesome. The guys are excited about it. I don’t see us getting pushed around.”
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There will be times the Alabama line gets some pushed, he said. There are viral videos of double teams against Georgia in which 700 pounds blew 320 off the ball, Elston noted, adding “it’s not always going to be pretty.” But that creates opportunities for others, and the depth is something they’ll lean on.
“Someone else has to step up when there’s a double team, pull that double team off,” Elston said. “We’ll be moved at times on the defensive line and there will be some displacement, and we’ve got to work our techniques. That’s what I’m most excited to see — how far we’ve come from game one to now.
“They are very well coached. Sometimes when you have a big guy, you say they don’t pick up movement very well. Well, they pick up movement very well, because they’re well coached. But we’re big too. We’re big, and I’ve been telling the guys this entire prep — everybody’s talking about how good they are, how good they are … look at them. And I say listen, we’re pretty dang good, too. Don’t forget that.”
Now they have to prove it, he added. He can’t wait to see them try.
“We see them as the bully. They’re the bully on the block,” he said. “Until we go out and perform well and beat an SEC team, they’re the bully. So, let’s go take it to the bully.”
