The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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114 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW DEFENSIVE BACKS All of the safeties, Partridge noted, face a big job come fall. "They've got to be the leaders back there, and get us in the right calls," he assured. "Especially with all the bunches, the stacks, the motions we face in college football now, the safeties have to have a deep understand- ing of the defense. "It's a natural fit for me to help those guys understand the whole picture and how the whole defense fits in. "The guys took steps. They love football, and it makes it easier when you love foot- ball, to understand blitz patterns, how that affects your coverage, how that affects the middle of the field play." Zordich also pointed out specific improve- ment by the safeties this spring. "Pass plays in the post with a post safety were some of our weaknesses last year," Zordich said. "Now they're figuring it out. They're making plays on the ball in the post, and now they're making plays in the run game." Coming Around At Corner Life wasn't quite as smooth at cornerback this spring, with junior Lavert Hill sidelined for much of the workout process. That left the Wolverines thin at times, prompting the move of Metellus at one point. Zordich noted the situation opened the door for fifth-year senior Brandon Watson and sophomore Ambry Thomas to get more snaps to hone their games. It became clear, though, that Hill's nagging groin issues were a problem. "There's a concern," Zordich noted mid- way through the spring. "We certainly would like to get him healthy. … This game is not a comfortable game, and you've got to learn to play with some nicks. "We're not waiting for him, but it's frus- trating for us as coaches. At the same time, you're getting to see those other guys blos- som. We're creating depth." By the end of spring ball, Hill reemerged, demonstrating the form that prompted Big Ten coaches to name him to the all-confer- ence second-team squad in 2017. Hill se- cured a pair of interceptions last fall with seven pass breakups, plus five TFLs among 25 stops. Brown sounded unconcerned about the junior starter. "I wish I hurt like he does," Brown mar- veled. "When he got back on the field, it was very impressive." So was fellow junior cornerback David Long in his first season as a starter. The honorable mention All-Big Ten performer (media) played in all 13 Michigan games, picking off two passes with six breakups. He also tossed in a half-sack and a pair of TFLs among 21 stops. Long posted an impressive highlight against Maryland last fall, bringing a pickoff back 80 yards. He'll look for more of those moments this year in a secondary that wants to improve on its 10 overall interceptions from 2017. Michigan's depth, meanwhile, continues to progress. Watson remains the old hand, post- ing five pass breakups with 21 tackles a year ago. Thomas did most of his work on special teams — recording seven tackles, forcing a fumble and recovering a pair of loose balls in 13 games — but appears ready to contribute more on the defense. "He is very comfortable now," Zordich said. "Last year we were so young. Now all of a sudden these guys have had some play- ing experience, and it's helpful. … Things are slower for him." Sophomore Benjamin St-Juste made three stops in 12 games for the Wolverines, but Lavert Hill And David Long Look Strong As A Combo Junior cornerbacks David Long and Lavert Hill certainly made their mark last season. It looks like they're just getting warmed up. Long and Hill presented one of the top cornerback combos in the nation, Michigan finishing first nationally in passing yards per game allowed (150.1) and as a top-five squad in passing efficiency defense (fourth, 103.71). Individually, both Long and Hill earned some level of All-Big Ten recognition, but there's plenty more to come. Pro Football Focus (PFF) recently noted Long stood alone in 2017 among defensive backs whom opposing quarterbacks tried to attack. The tracker of every college football player with its own analytics and grades gave Long its lowest (best) passer rating when targeted among all returning college cornerbacks. Long checked in at 11.9, with two intercep- tions, six pass breakups and an elite-level denial of quarterbacks looking to throw at anyone he covered. The mark was actually the best single-season rating against ever posted during the PFF era, surpassing Ohio State 2017 first-round pick Gareon Conley's 14.0 in 2016. In Big Ten play, opposing QBs targeted Long 22 times, with only nine be- ing caught and gaining 99 yards. Two tosses became his interceptions, and he broke up four more of those passes for a passer rating allowed of 17.0. Hill wasn't exactly a slouch in PFF's eyes, either. He ranked second to Long among Big Ten cornerbacks in passer rating allowed, and through nine weeks of the season earned PFF plaudits as the "biggest playmaker in the country." Pro Football Focus stated it plainly in a tweet just after the 2017 season ended: "There may not have been a better 1-2 combo at CB across the coun- try than David Long and Lavert Hill, especially in conference play." — John Borton Junior cornerback Lavert Hill was named second-team All-Big Ten by conference coaches last year. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN "We can be really good. That's no secret. We really can be. That's a positive for us. We're taking those steps to continue to get better." CORNERBACKS COACH MIKE ZORDICH ON THE U-M SECONDARY