News and Views: Future Michigan O-lines should dominate, too

Michigan improved to 9-0 this year under head coach Jim Harbaugh and should be 11-0 heading into a game at Ohio State. The Wolverines are humming, and Harbaugh seems happy … we tackle his Monday comments in News and Views format.

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NEWS: Michigan has outscored opponents 100-3 in the last four games.

HARBAUGH: “The numbers are really good, right? Incredible.

“The thing I would point to more than adjustments or anything it’s just how hard the guys are playing. It just screams at you on the tape when I watch it, especially on the defense, but the offense, too. And the way we play on special teams — it is so noticeable just how hard guys are playing, and to me it’s 60 minutes of that kind of effort that as the game goes on — to your point, conditioning sure factors in, but it’s consistently at a high level.

“The hustle is there; it’s constant hustle. It’s hustle at all times, and it’s guys trying really hard.”

VIEWS: That starts at the top, of course, but also with leadership. This ship looks like the one that was sailing along smoothly in the 1990s and beyond … pretty much until Lloyd Carr retired and Rich Rodriguez took over, but at its peak from 1997-2000.

You can thank last year’s group for that. When Bo Schembechler took over, guys like Dan Dierdorf, Thom Darden, Tom Curtis, etc. changed the culture of the program (as did the coach, of course), and they’re remembered for that. If it continues — and there’s a lot of talent in the underclassmen that it appears it will — Cade McNamara, Hassan Haskins, Aidan Hutchinson, Mazi Smith, etc. should be remembered just as fondly.

NEWS: Freshman cornerback Will Johnson gave up one big play but played very well otherwise in his first start at Rutgers.

HARBAUGH: “I talked about it a few weeks or months ago … just how well he was covering guys in practice. He just has a real talent to cover in man-to-man situations, to break on the ball in zone, to see the ball in zone, to have the really good ball skills, to really track the ball well. Like probably all players, most players, you see it in practice, first … and then you see it in the game.”

VIEWS: So it wasn’t really a surprise, he said. But he continues to elevate his game, and you can see the physical talent starting to take over as he gains more confidence. It’s very similar to what we saw from Charles Woodson in his freshman year (and no, we’re not calling him “the next Charles Woodson” – just talking about the trajectory). By the Ohio State game, he was already playing at an incredibly high level.

He’s also not afraid to hit.

“I’m really happy for the way he’s playing — the physical part of the game,” Harbaugh added. “He has been great in games. To see some of the tackles … he’s had a big tackle it seems about every game, he has been in there. He’s just doing a fabulous job, and keep it going. He’s a great player. Like a lot of young players, the longer it takes him to figure that out, the better off he’ll be. Just keep working and play and things are going to work out really good for Will.”

You saw his crazy athleticism, too, on the interception return he had Saturday night — a “whoa” moment. He wasn’t content to just pick it off … he wanted six.

He’s going to be a great one.

NEWS: The young offensive linemen acquitted themselves well Saturday night. Jeff Persi started at left tackle and graded out nicely, while Raheem Anderson pushed people around at center and Andrew Gentry did the same at right tackle in mop-up duty. Gio El-Hadi continues to maul people at guard.

HARBAUGH: “Yeah … really good. Especially when Raheem got in there, he played extremely well. So did Andrew Gentry. Andrew is really good on field goal protection, as well, but I thought there were some great snaps for him, along with Jeff Persi. Jeff had a really good game, a lot to love … to build on.

“A lot to build on from Gio [El-Hadi], as well. I mean, he just plays with such passion and energy when he’s out there — it’s contagious. So, they’re definitely coming right along to being really good players.”

VIEWS: Again, we go back to the “1990s depth” comment we gave you in the fall. The starters have developed a standard, and when the young guys get in there, they don’t want to disappoint them. And they certainly haven’t.

We said it before … this is the best run-blocking line of the last 25 years or so. But like the Schembechler, years, etc., the second- and third-stringers get in there and start bullying people, too.

This program is in good shape in the short term. You see it at every position, the talent and the depth, starting up front.

NEWS: Michigan sophomore Donovan Edwards is becoming one of the top receiver/backs U-M has seen.

HARBAUGH: “I think Donovan is still growing and still refining his game. I don’t know how much his game … where it will to go to. But it’s already at a really high level right now. Guys with his skill set … there are not many on the planet like it. And he’s a great leader. He’s a great, great energy for our team.

“It’s tremendous — tremendous to have both Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards in the same backfield. Oh yeah, we’re lucky, lucky, lucky.”

VIEWS: As mentioned in an early column, he needs to be on the field when Corum is much of the time, even if it’s in place of another Michigan receiver. Frankly, he’s got better hands than most of him, he runs great routes … and as Mike Hart said, he could probably start at slot receiver for most teams in the country .

Corum is the bell cow at running back, no doubt. At the same time, they need both of these guys on the field at the same time against Ohio State.