The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN FOOTBALL returns 76 starts along the offensive line — more than Hoke (58) and Rodriguez (15) had combined. Defensively, this Michigan team returns 23 starts along the defensive line, 31 at linebacker and 58 in the secondary. • While Michigan largely employed a 4-3 look in its spring game due to roster limi- tations, it will likely spend the majority of its snaps with the defensive front in a 3-4 alignment, and that has former Wolverine All-American linebacker Ron Simpkins giddy with anticipation. Michigan ran a 3-4 during Simpkins' career from 1976-79, and while the eras are different — with a greater emphasis on the running game then — the defense is adaptable and can thrive again. "There is so much versatility with a 3-4," Simpkins said. "Everyone thinks it's weaker against the run than the 4-3, but I think it's stronger because if you have three big, physical guys up front, you create an opportunity for all four of your linebackers to run free and make plays. "When you're in a 4-3, a lot of times your own defensive linemen are getting in your way, and become the opponent's best blockers. I also think what you can do in passing situations really gives you an advantage because you can blitz any one of four guys, sometimes two, sometimes three, and the offense never knows what's coming. "It's a bit like the zone blitz we've seen more of the past few years where defenses are dropping a defensive end and bringing a linebacker — it's all about confusing the offense, but now you're not asking someone without the athleticism to drop into coverage to do so. You're allowing your best athletes to be the best athletes." • For a brief moment in spring practice, with fifth-year senior center Graham Glasgow suspended for violating terms of his probation, Michigan slid sophomore Mason Cole in to center from left tackle. If necessity required the 6-5, 287-pound Cole to remain inside, he would become the first Wolverine in 25 years to move from tackle to center — six players have moved from offensive guard and two moved from the defensive line over the span of 1989-2014. "We kind of expect that the quality and character of the kids that Brady Hoke brought in, like Mason, these guys should be me-second, team-first kids all the way across the board," former U-M lineman and TheWolverine.com analyst Doug Skene said. "We've seen position changes from a lot of them: offense to defense; safety to corner; corner to safety, and that's a credit to the previous coaching staff and the quality of the young men they brought in. "It's expected that if Michigan needs you to do something, you do it, no matter what it is." While Cole was back at left tackle for the spring game after Glasgow returned from suspension, he spent at least a week of practices learning to play center just in case.