The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/447116
fensive coordinator and line- backers coach, D.J. Durkin, comes from the University of Florida, where he put together an elite crew nationally over the past couple of years. The former defensive coor- dinator — who knows Michi- gan's players extremely well, recruits exceptionally, and un- derstands opposing Big Ten offenses inside and out — is still on board. Veteran assistant Greg Mattison is now slated to coach Michigan's defensive line and join in a strong staff on that side of the football. "We played so many young kids, and they had improved and done a lot of things we wanted them to do," Mattison noted. "That's part of coaching. You love to see guys you bring in grow. To me that's the most appealing part of college foot- ball. You can take young guys and develop them." Mattison's crew finished sev- enth in the nation this past sea- son in total defense, allowing 311.3 yards per game. He's ea- ger to see how the Wolverines will move forward. "We have to finish games, continue to improve and to go in the direction we were go- ing," Mattison said. "As far as X's and O's, I don't know yet until we see it. We want to take the talented kids we have here and get them to become as good as they can be." Durkin previously worked Tim Drevno, who will be the offensive coordinator/ offensive line coach for the Wolverines, has 11 years of experience working with Jim Harbaugh, and this past season he was at USC. PHOTO COURTESY LONG PHOTOGRAPHY