The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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TAKING THE NEXT STEP With Four Starters Back, U-M's Secondary Aims To Become The Big Ten's Best DB Fifth-year senior strong safety Jordan Kovacs led all Big Ten defensive backs in tackles for loss (eight) and sacks (four) last season. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN O BY MICHAEL SPATH nly a few steps from the office of defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery, secondary coach Curt Mallory could bask in something that his colleague does not possess — returning starters. While Montgomery will break in newbies at nose tackle, defensive tackle and weakside end, Mallory welcomes back all four of his starters from 2011, including strong safety Jordan Kovacs (33 career starts) and cornerback J.T. Floyd (22 starts). But Mallory certainly isn't content. Yes, the Wolverines ranked 16th nationally in pass defense last year (190.46 yards per game) and 36th in pass efficiency defense (120.49 rating), with opposing quarterbacks throwing only 12 touchdowns — the fewest U-M has surrendered since 2003 (nine). However, the Maize and Blue allowed big chunks of yards through the air to Notre Dame (315), San Diego State (253), Northwestern (331) and Ohio State (235). The defense also allowed seven plays of 30 yards or more in the final five games after permitting just seven in the first eight games. "We made some gains, but we're still not even close to where we need to be," Mallory said. "I could go down the list of our players, and every one of them has significant areas of improvement they needed to make in the spring, need to continue making this summer and have to put into action during the season, or they won't be in the lineup." Mallory has the luxury of depth, in addition to experience, espe- cially at the cornerback position where junior Courtney Avery has played extensively in his career, classmate Terrence Talbott has seen the field, and sophomore Raymon Taylor is a natural talent who is evolving into a legitimate option. At safety, junior Marvin Robinson provides the Wolverines with flexibility. However, Michigan's performance this season will be determined largely by the four starters, and whether they can make enhancements in their games to take the next step in their progression. Michigan has tried, for years, to develop an All-Big Ten safety since Marcus Ray (first team, 1996-97) left in 1998, but has accom- plished the task only once, when Ernest Shazor received first-team laurels in 2004. Players have come and gone, with moderate levels of success since. DeWayne Patmon had a good run from 1997-2000. Julius Curry had his moments from 1999-2002. Willis Barringer gave U-M one above-average season in 2006 while Jamar Adams was steady in 2006-07. In 2009, Kovacs entered the lineup against Notre Dame, and he A Role Model To Learn From experienced a rocky first campaign. He proved valuable in 2010 even though few could get past his walk-on résumé. In 2011, though, he won over even his biggest critics, ranking second on the Wolverines with 75 tackles — he actually had 116 in 2010, but even that tally couldn't satisfy his detractors — including eight for loss. The 6-0, 197-pound fifth-year senior will always be knocked for his lack of elite athleticism and speed (though he keeps proving he's more athletic and faster than given credit for), but there is no dispar- aging his production, his leadership and his effort. THE WOLVERINE 2012 FOOTBALL PREVIEW s 165