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Revamped Michigan defense is already opening eyes in fall camp

Chris Balasby:Chris Balas•08/10/22•

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Michigan football Jaylen Harrell
(Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Michigan lost key pieces of last year’s championship-caliber defense, and head coach Jim Harbaugh isn’t discounting how tough it might be to replace them this year. At the same time, he saw enough in spring to be encouraged enough to say this year’s group could be even better.

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Harbaugh has been part of dozens of football teams over the years as a player and a coach. Some of the best defenses he’s seen have been “by committee,” groups without stars that just played well together.

The coach sees the same for this year’s Michigan group, and veteran tight end Luke Schoonmaker understands why after seeing them in practice last spring and through a week of fall camp.

“Absolutely …they just go together,” the Michigan tight end said. “Everybody, that whole group, [jells] so well. I heard [senior end] Mike Morris talking before about their communication. We’ll be in walkthroughs and they’re just screaming at each other, just overly communicating. Everybody — linebackers, secondary — everybody.

“You can just tell from that. They’re all bought into it. You had guys that played great last year and some new guys this year that are getting opportunities. But I think that group just meshes so well together, and it’s going to be fun to watch.”

It’s been “non-stop” communication on the Michigan defense, Morris said — a good sign, since that’s a staple of any good defense. Veteran safeties Makari Paige and RJ Moten are doing a lot of talking, as are senior corner DJ Turner and sophomore linebacker Junior Colson.

As for the pass rush … it’s coming from everywhere. The defensive ends aren’t Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo when it comes to getting pressure, but they won’t have to be if everyone on the Michigan defense ups their game just a bit.

Harbaugh said the pressure from the Michigan edges looked the same as last year in the early going. Schoonmaker agreed.

“Those guys have been working hard, and have been great replacements for Aiden and David,” Schoonmaker said. ”I think Jaylen [Harrell] and Taylor [Upshaw], those guys … explosive, explosive guys. Braiden [McGregor], too, and Julius [Welschof] — the whole room. All of them bring some different kinds of aspects.

“After each rep, you kind of go back and think to yourself, ‘Oh — he did that pretty well.’ Or, ‘I can be better with my steps here because he’s coming fast,’ and stuff like that. Each of them just have a different aspect that can make us better.”

But good enough to battle the toughest offenses on the schedule? Pressure is going to be key if Michigan is going to beat Ohio State again, for example.

As of now, however, there’s been a lot to like about the nation’s preseason No. 6 team, and on both sides of the ball.

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