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Fifth-year senior defensive tackle Bryan Mone’s career at Michigan has featured plenty of ups and downs.
When healthy, the massive 6-4, 325-pounder has shown glimpses of how dominant he can be, but unfortunately, staying on the field has been a major obstacle for him.
He admitted he’s been having to deal with another mental hurdle as well.
“I’ve been doing good this spring, but my biggest challenge is staying consistent,” Mone admitted. “Sometimes I have really good practices, but then the next day won’t be as good. I need to stay focused — I’ll find myself zoning out during practice, because I get a little distracted while thinking about other stuff. My d-line coach [Greg Mattison] is the one who talks to me about it the most — he tells me to stay focused as well.”
Being a fifth-year senior, Mone is obviously one of the most experienced players on the team. In head coach Jim Harbaugh’s meritocracy, though, every single player needs to earn their keep, and Mone said he doesn’t feel he did that last year.
“I’m one of the veterans now, but I still have to have a good year and give it all I have for my teammates,” he said. “I don’t think I had a good season last year — I wasn’t focused enough. One of my problems is that I just think too much sometimes.”
Staying in shape has also been an obstacle for Mone during his time at Michigan, but new strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert has made a big impact in that regard.
“Coach Herbert has gotten all of us stronger and more conditioned in the weight room,” the fifth-year senior explained. “I’ve stayed at the same weight [325], but I feel a lot different — I’ve been moving better than I was last season.”
In fact, the veteran lineman explained that all of his defensive tackle brethren are looking better.
“[Junior] Mike [Dwumfour] has been making big strides,” Mone said. “He’s explosive and is so good with hands in pass rush. [Sophomore] Aubrey Solomon is a beast too, and just loves the game. He makes everyone around him better.
“[Redshirt freshmen] Donovan Jeter and Phillip Paea are two guys who didn’t play last year, but are ready to go now.”
While the aforementioned players have been standing out on the defensive line, Mone revealed who the leader of the offensive line has been.
[Junior left guard] Ben Bredeson is the leader on that side,” he explained. “He has really been leading that group. All those guys on the offensive line have stepped their game up.”
Finally, Mone admitted he’s a bit disappointed there won’t be a spring game on Saturday, but said he’s looking forward to the upcoming trips to Paris and Normandy.
“I can’t wait to explore the world, just like we did last year in Rome,” he exclaimed. “We all bonded together so much as a team — being out of the country with everyone was nice. Seeing the Coliseum was pretty cool too.”
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