The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 115 DEFENSIVE BACKS "Vert is so natural, naturally meant to play that position," Zordich said. "He's young, so he's got to grow up. He's got to know what it's like to be uncomfortable and go play, because it is an uncomfortable game. "He needs to get out there, because he's not doing anybody any good if he's standing next to me [on the sideline]." The same goes for sophomore Long, who earned a reputation as perhaps the Wolverines' "stickiest" corner in man coverage. Brown won't change his philosophy just because of youth, meaning the inexperienced corners will be thrown into the fire and play press man most of the time. "Right now that is his strength, without a doubt. We had a talk after the spring game, and everybody knows where they've got to improve," Zordich said. "He's one of them, too, that's got to get more physical." Thomas (6-0, 170) is in the same mold. The Detroit product recorded 44 tackles, 14 passes broken up and three interceptions as a prep senior while also starring on offense (903 yards and 14 touchdowns receiving) and special teams (two return touchdowns). He notched a pair of stops in the spring game, and his athleticism sets him apart, Zordich noted. "But Ambry, too … we want him to be more physical," the coach continued. "He's got all the coverage ability you want, so we'll get that squared away. "I tell them all, 'We're going to put you on film. You've got to put your face on it because you own it. It's right there, clear as day. How do you want to be known?'" Redshirt junior cornerback Brandon Wat- son enjoyed a solid spring, but he's another that needs to take the next step. The 5-11, 203-pounder will be asked to ramp it up sig- nificantly in his fourth year in the program. "To be really good, it will take just a few things in his technique and the physical part," Zordich said. "Just be physical. Gosh, if you see the guy … he's got a beautiful build. He's strong, fast … use it. Just use it. "They'll get it; oth- erwise they're going to be standing on the sideline next to me. That's the great thing about competition." It brought out the best in redshirt sopho- more Keith Washington, whose spring game performance (five tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and one pass broken up) was an eye-opener. The 6-2, 170-pounder was all over the field, especially in run support, and held his own in pass coverage against five-star freshman receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones. Washington never played cornerback in high school — he was a quarterback — and he admitted this spring it took him a while to learn the technique and the tricks of the trade needed to be successful on defense at the next level. "I don't want to say it slowed his progress, because I don't know what it's like to play quarterback and then come over [to defense]," Zordich said. "But I know he works his tail off, he works extremely hard at it. "The thing I like about Keith and the thing his teammates like about him is he's physical. That's a great attribute to have playing at the cornerback position. We've just got to come along with his technique, work the technique, and once he gets that down I think he'll be fine." Former wide receiver Drake Harris, a red- shirt junior, is similar in stature to Washington but taller at 6-4 and 188 pounds, and he moves over to provide competition. He's what every- one is looking for, head coach Jim Harbaugh said in May — a tall corner. He added Harris is a "smooth athlete" with great length who could thrive at the position. Another in that mold to watch closely throughout the season — Benjamin St-Juste. The 6-3, 188-pound Canadian true freshman early enrollee out of Cegep du Vieux Mon- tréal notched 30 tackles, two interceptions, 18 passes broken up and a forced fumble in nine games as a senior. He also needs to play with "contact cour- age," Zordich said, and put his face on a ball carrier when he's tackling, but he's com- ing along. Freshman wide re- ceiver Tarik Black vic- timized him with two catches on fade routes late in the spring game, but he also had a pick and Zordich is confident his rookie will continue to improve. "He got beat a few times in the end," the coach said. "But if he takes it the right way as a learning experience, watches it and knows how to improve and get better from his mis- takes, then he's on his way." That will be one of the keys for all of the de- fensive backs in what could be a learning year, but one that also boasts a ton of potential. ❏ "They'll get it; otherwise they're going to be standing on the sideline next to me. That's the great thing about competition." CORNERBACKS COACH MICHAEL ZORDICH ON HIS YOUNG PLAYERS IMPROVING THEIR TECHNIQUE AND BECOMING MORE PHYSICAL As a rookie last year, Lavert Hill saw action in 11 games — playing cornerback in nine — and notched two solo tackles, a fumble recovery and one pass broken up in limited action. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN