Michigan position battles ongoing, but some are creating distance - where things stand after week one

Michigan had several positions up for grabs heading into the non-conference portion of the schedule, and head coach Jim Harbaugh said he would use the “Michigan method” to determine who would win them. Offensive tackle, defensive end, “other corner” and backup quarterback were among them.

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But one — center — seems close to being settled. Stanford transfer Drake Nugent graded out best among the Michigan linemen in Saturday’s 30-3 win over ECU — not perfect, but good. He made all the right calls, helping call out some of the complex blitzes in keeping Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy clean. He said going in he was looking forward to the battle, calling it “refreshing” to be part of a team ranked in the top five.

“At Stanford, we don’t really win very many games there … and I love those guys there. I was captain last year, which is great,” the Michigan transfer said. “But I just feel like that, personally, I needed a new change to almost spark my love for football again. Not to say I didn’t love it last year, but it just gave me like that ‘no excuse.’ I came in with competition … I’ve got to be on myself every day, where at Stanford, you can give yourself an excuse. Even though I would say I didn’t, it’s there.”

Greg Crippen was breathing down his neck for much of camp, to the point that the veteran was in contention to start week two. He didn’t play a lot Saturday — just a few series in the fourth quarter — and was blown back after his first snap. With fellow Michigan veteran Raheem Anderson lagging — he’d been right there in the spring — Crippen now appears to be Nugent’s only real competition.

“We’re both very competitive people,” Crippen said, “and we’re both great players. We’re both going out there to try to be the best we can every day. We’re both very close off the field, too, and we talk a lot. He’s a great guy. 

“Michigan is a very competitive place, and it’s the best school in the country and the world. We’re going to go out there — I’m going to go out there — and give it my all, because I’m a very competitive person. I’m always preparing and always ready to give it everything I’ve got every play.”

“He’s a good football player,” Nugent then said of Crippen. “He’s definitely pushed me in ways. There are some things he does better than me, and I think there are things I do better than him.”

We expect Nugent to start again Saturday, though Crippen will be ready, as needed. We’d say that one is pretty much settled. The rest of the line — not as clear. Harbaugh was non-committal on whether he’d start LaDarius Henderson and/or Trente Jones at tackle after Karsen Barnhart and Myles Hinton got the nod for Michigan Saturday. Hinton admitted he had some things to clean up at right tackle, potentially opening the door, though Barnhart played pretty well. We’d bank on Barnhart starting again at left tackle with the right tackle competition continuing. 

It wouldn’t surprise — at all — to see Jones get a start there. He was used often against ECU as an extra blocker, and he’s more athletic than Hinton. That battle should probably continue, with Henderson also in the mix. We don’t expect him to start Saturday, but much will probably depend on this week of practice.

Defensively, they loved what they saw from corner Josh Wallace. Harbaugh singled him out — “I thought he played a great game,” he said — while others will chase him and improve, he seems to be in control there. Sophomore Will Johnson will likely be back this week, and he’s obviously a lock on the other side. 

At edge, all four Michigan ends played well — make it five, really — and we’ll likely continue to see a rotation there. Seniors Braiden McGregor and Jaylen Harrell started the first game while Josaiah Stewart and Derrick Moore came in on series two. T.J. Guy also played well. We’ll see who starts this week, but we expect all to play. 

Finally, backup quarterback remains up in the air. Davis Warren took the snaps in the fourth quarter Saturday, but he wasn’t sharp. Indiana transfer Jack Tuttle could get his first action at Michigan this week against UNLV, Harbaugh said.

“Jack will be the first in this week … Jayden Denegal and Alex Orji, we still consider them right there in the mix,” the Michigan coach said “Take it to the games, just like we do. Hopefully we’ll have the opportunity to play Jack, Jayden and Alex in this next game.”

Michigan junior Tommy Doman has secured kickoff duty, looking good there, while Jake Thaw will have to hold off Karmello English and others to continue to return punts.