Michigan Football Notebook: DL Rotation Ready
Michigan is headed down the home stretch to game day, and plenty has come into greater focus for Jim Harbaugh’s squad.
D-Line Rotation Ramping Up
Michigan defensive line coach Greg Mattison confirmed Wednesday that his crew is gearing up to play as many as eight players regularly, in a pair of rotating lines. Mattison cautioned the right to rotate has to be earned, but noted he has players doing so.
“I think we have eight, for sure, and there are more and more guys that are coming on,” he said. “I would never rotate nine or 10 guys, but you always want the ability that, if something does happen, another guy can come in and be one of those eight.
“That’s what we’re working for — the ability to have a true rotation of guys.”
Mattison noted the Wolverines were arriving at an eight-man rotation in the middle of last season, before injuries began to take their toll.
“Ryan [Glasgow] got injured, and Mario [Ojemudia],” Mattison recalled. “That brought us down under that number.”
Pressed about starters for Saturday’s game versus Hawai'i, Mattison wasn’t biting. He also doesn’t want those stepping on the field second to consider themselves backups.
“I really try to tell them we have two starting lineups,” he said. “Who goes out there for the very first play, we still have a couple of days to decide that. [Fifth-year senior defensive end] Chris Wormley has had a very, very good camp. [Fifth-year senior defensive tackle] Glasgow has had a really good camp. [Redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Bryan] Mone has really done well.
“[Fifth-year senior defensive tackle] Matt Godin is doing really well. Taco [Charlton, a senior defensive end] … the whole group. I don’t want to single out one guy, because as we watch the film, there’s an expectation.
“To be in that first unit that takes the field, or who is in there the third or fourth play? They all have to do the same thing. I’ve been pleased with the effort and work of all of them.”
That includes true freshman Rashan Gary, the consensus No. 1 signee in the nation last year. Gary has put himself into the rotation at defensive end, and Mattison gave no indication he’d try to ease the rookie into the mix.
“The first game is the first game,” he said. “That means this one really, really counts. We try to make our practices look that way, too. He’s done a very good job … whatever unit is in there, you’re judged by a first-unit standard.
“Rashan has worked very, very hard and done some very good things. Whatever our rotation is, I’m sure you’ll see Rashan in there.”
Kenny Allen Could Be Three-Way Performer
Michigan tight ends coach and special teams assistant Jay Harbaugh noted there is still a chance that senior kicker Kenny Allen could handle field goals, punting and kickoffs for the Wolverines this season.
Harbaugh cautioned, though, that it’s a rare feat.
“We ask a lot of him, to really shoulder the burden in all three phases,” Harbaugh noted. “Not many guys in the country do that. Hawai'i’s guy was one of five guys in the country to do it last year — the Sanchez kid [Rigoberto Sanchez, a senior], who is a very talented guy.
“Kenny has excelled. He’s improved in every way. It’s exciting for him as a senior to be playing so well in every category.”
As for nailing down all three jobs throughout the season — wait and see, Harbaugh cautioned.
“We’d be more than comfortable with it, because he’s physically more than capable of doing all three,” Harbaugh said. “He has the talent. Ideally, you’d like to take a little bit off his plate. It’s a long season … we’d be more than comfortable in him doing it, if need be.”
As far as returners, Michigan has some decisions to make, Harbaugh acknowledged.
“There are a few guys that have an opportunity,” he said. “Of the young guys, [true freshman Khaleke] Hudson has returned some, [true freshman] David Long has returned some. All three of the receivers have done a little bit. [True freshman running back] Chris Evans has.
“All those guys are capable of it. Sometimes, you don’t want the All-American guys returning kicks, but you also like it because they’re electrifying, and they give you a chance to make a big play. Also, as the season goes on, young guys get more comfortable. Sometimes, having a freshman out there catching a punt doesn’t give you the best feeling in the world.
“You kind of let them get some experience under their belt, get comfortable before you put them out there doing something that’s pretty difficult to do, catching kicks.”
Miscellaneous Notes
• Hawai'i is used to seeing decent Michigan quarterbacks. In the two previous meetings between the schools, U-M trotted out Jim Harbaugh (1986) and Tom Brady (1998) behind center.
• Michigan has never lost to a Mountain West Conference school, going 8-0 versus the current members of the league. The Wolverines have recorded a pair of victories against Hawai'i, Air Force and San Diego State, with one win over Colorado State and UNLV.
• Pro Football Focus listed Michigan No. 3 among all teams nationally, in terms of returning the most production from the previous season to this one.
• Michigan’s highly anticipated defensive unit has some standards for which to shoot for this season. In 2015, the U-M defense finished in the top six nationally in five separate categories: pass efficiency defense (No. 1, 94.6 rating), pass defense (No. 3, 158.5-yard average), total defense (No. 4, 280.7-yard average), third downs allowed (No. 4, 27.6 percent) and scoring (No. 6, 16.4-point average).
• Michigan enters the season with 925 all-time wins, most in the nation. Notre Dame is No. 2 with 892, and the Irish stand atop the all-time standings in win percentage, at .733, compared to Michigan’s .730. Texas (885), Nebraska (880) and Ohio State (874) round out the top five in terms of all-time victories. In percentage, it’s Boise State (.723), Ohio State (.722) and Oklahoma (.720).