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Michigan defensive line coach Greg Mattison is entering his eighth straight year with the program and fourth as the defensive line coach in 2018.
The veteran is in charge of one of the deepest areas of the Michigan football team that features multiple players that will soon play on Sundays. In spring ball, he likes to use this time to establish depth and get an idea for which players can be counted on for his fall rotation — which he likes to be at least eight guys.
Junior defensive end Rashan Gary, fifth-year senior defensive end Chase Winovich and sophomore defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon are all considered locked in to start. A number of players are competing for the fourth starting spot along the line and each backup position. Two of those players that have stood out are sophomore defensive end Kwity Paye and junior defensive tackle Michael Dwumfour.
“Kwity Paye is having a really, really good spring,” Mattison said. “Michael Dwumfour I think is having one of the best spring’s I can remember. He is really playing hard.”
Dwumfour is a leading candidate to take former U-M defensive tackle Maurice Hurst’s old job, along with fifth-year senior Bryan Mone, who is known as a run stuffer. Dwumfour is more of a pass rusher.
“He’s so quick off the football,” Mattison said. “He has a lot of Mo Hurst in him. There are times when you see him come off the ball and you just say ‘whoa’ that’s really good — and he’s a little bit thicker and bigger.”
During his first two seasons, Dwumfour showed flashes, but would sometimes take plays off. Mattison says he’s matured and doesn’t take a single snap off now.
Paye is a favorite to be the first end off the bench.
“Kwity is so much stronger than he was a year ago,” Mattison said. “He came in here probably at 230 pounds, I think he’s 250 something pounds right now and he’s a lot stronger. He hasn’t lost any quickness at all. He’s playing like a guy that’s been here before and not like a freshman. He has a summer in the weight room with these guys — watch out.”
Mattison says that Solomon and sophomore Carlo Kemp, who is playing multiple positions, have also had nice springs. Gary has taken Kemp under his wing this year, just like Mone has done with redshirt freshman defensive tackle Phillip Paea, who Mattison says is starting to come on.
“You see [Mone] take little Phillip like he’s his little brother and get really excited when he does something really good,” Mattison said.
More Notes:
• Mattison says he believed it was in Winovich’s best interest to return and was happy he did. It wasn’t that he thought Winovich couldn’t play in the NFL, he wanted him to return because he feels there is still room for him to grow — which is a scary thought. This year, he is working with him to develop more pass rushing techniques.
“A lot of the great things that he did last year were toughness and effort, and I think when you get to the next level, everybody has that,” Mattison said.
• Fifth-year senior defensive tackle Lawrence Marshall has been coming on since the last couple games of 2017. He’s a quieter guy, but has been making good plays and leading by example. Mattison sees him being in the rotation.
• The defensive line has been going up against the offensive line more than usual in practice, something Mattison says he and new offensive line coach Ed Warinner decided would be a good idea. Both units want to be better, so why not spend more time going against each other.
“I personally feel like the offense is much more physical,” Mattison said. “I think it starts with the offensive line. I’ve been impressed with it. We go against them a lot — probably more than we ever have — and I’m impressed with how aggressive they are. [Junior guard] Ben Bredeson, he’s a real man in there, and [sophomore center] Cesar Ruiz and [Redshirt junior tackle Jon] Runyan.
“Ed’s great, he’s a really good coach. Ed’s experience speaks for itself. It’s not my job to judge coaches, but there were some good coaches hired. [Wide Receivers] Coach [Jim] McElwain is an outstanding football coach. [Tight ends coach] Sherrone [Moore], I think Coach [Jim] Harbaugh is always going to do that, hire good people that work hard, they’re doing a great job. I love this staff.”
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