The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1518781
MAY 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 53 ❱ WHERE ARE THEY NOW? 'Hey, let's start at the baseline of zero,' whereas last year we were able to start at the baseline of much, much higher be- cause every guy was a returning starter who had 30 games under their belt. I don't think that's been a thing that's necessarily better than what we've done in the past, it's just different because the room is different. I think maybe, if anything, it's helped some of the young guys who are coming in and maybe tak- ing a bit more time on some of those lower foundational pieces we didn't have to in the room in years past. The top 10 were guys who all played snaps." Building a rapport and a chemistry is going to take time, especially with the players that will fill out the starting lineup. As far as Newsome's philoso- phy goes, if you want to see the field at Michigan, a good place to start will be raising the level of play. "Play better," Newsome said. "We face a really good defense [in practice]. But we're going to face really good de- fenses on Saturdays, too. I think it's an awesome challenge for us that we get to go against one of the best defenses in the country, and I believe the two best defensive tackles in the country, and two guys on either side who are going to be NFL edges as well. "The challenge for us is that there is no kind of 'Woe-is-me' or, 'Hey, it's all right, they're really good. It's OK if we don't move the ball well in practice.' We have to be able to execute, and it may be tough but it's going to be tough in November, too. We're positive and we're uplifting, but the expectation is that we're going to move the ball and score points regardless of who the defense is." There will naturally be different nu- ances to the coaching points that New- some passes down to his players, but he sees his new role as being that of a steward. The standard has been set, and it is his job to continue to uphold it and use what he has learned in his decade in Ann Arbor. "I think the awesome thing that I have the opportunity to do is to come in and continue the standard that's been set and the coaching style and the mentoring that's been done by Sherrone," Newsome said. "It's not a deal where I have to come in and try to say, 'Hey guys, we're flip- ping this entirely on its head. What we did didn't work.' We're going to come in and we may have to teach something a little differently or slow something down just like you do any year-to-year. Coach Moore did a heck of a job establishing the standard and foundation amongst the entire offense but especially with the offensive line unit. "There haven't had to be large-scale changes or a shift in mentality. The mentality has been whatever it's been for the last so many years. We're a phys- ical, downhill operation that can protect the passer." Newsome, who came to U-M in 2015 rated as the No. 4 player in New Jersey, the No. 15 offensive tackle and No. 204 overall prospect nationally, fully under- stands the mission in Ann Arbor. Furthermore, he is held in high regard by his coaching colleagues, not the least of which is former head man Harbaugh who publicly shared what he thought of New- some's potential for growth a year ago. "Grant is the tight ends coach now, but we're already grooming him to be the offensive line coach," Harbaugh said on his radio show in September 2023. "And then, once he has maybe a year or two under his belt as offensive line coach, just like Sherrone Moore, he'll be the co- ordinator. And then, at that point, when we can't give him any more money or any more titles, somebody will snatch him up to be a head coach. Mark my words and mark them well. That will happen." With a standard set and a vision in place, Newsome will be tasked with not only leading the players on the roster but also building for the future through the recruiting trail. The great news for him is that the Joe Moore Award (na- tion's best offensive line unit), the Big Ten titles and the national champion- ship, in addition to the program's ability to develop NFL talent, make U-M an easy sell for this Michigan man. "You look at the tradition of offensive linemen here at this university and it's a tradition that goes back 100 years," he said. "It does help, but at the end of the day, the most important thing for us is those team goals of winning. Winning another national championship, win- ning another Big Ten title, beating Ohio State, beating Michigan State. "From then on, you get into those unit goals. That's the Joe Moore Award. After achieving those team goals, that's our goal, to get that Joe Moore Award back. That's not something we shy away from or doesn't have to be talked about. That's the goal beyond those team goals, to get that thing back." ❑ ❱ Newsome "I'm incredibly fortunate and blessed to have the opportunity, especially to be able to coach the position that I played. It's an awesome opportunity." ❱ The Grant Newsome File Player Accomplishments: Two-year letterman (2015-16) ... Academic All-Big Ten (2015-16) ... Dr. Arthur D. Robinson Scholarship Award (2016) … Robert P. Ufer Bequest (2016) U-M Coaching Accomplishments: Tight Ends Stu- dent Assistant (2018-19) … Offensive Line Graduate Assistant (2020-21) … Tight Ends Coach (2022-23) … Offensive Line Coach (2024-present) Bachelor's Degree: American Culture (2018) Master's Degree: Public Policy (2020) Family: Wife, Caroline (Coco) Newsome Newsome was a two-year letterman in 2015-16 before suffering a career-ending knee injury and becoming a student assistant coach. He earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Michigan. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN