Some Michigan Wolverines football fans are concerned about the defensive line and its depth, but head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Don Brown feel good about the position.

Brown echoed Harbaugh’s words on the “fastest defensive line” they’ve had talk when he met the media Wednesday.

“We’re running to ball well and I think we’re developing depth. I think there’s an ongoing process,” Brown said. “But we’re certainly getting some flashes there that are exceptional for sure.

“[Sophomore end] Aidan Hutchinson is playing really well along with [junior end] Kwity Paye, [redshirt sophomore tackle] Donovan Jeter. Probably the most improved guy I could speak on behalf would be [senior nose tackle] Carlo Kemp. He’s stronger, way faster, confident … just body language and the whole deal. Leadership. He’s really playing at a high level.”

Kemp started out as a linebacker but is now 290 pounds. Junior Ben Mason is up to 272 and has improved and should provide some depth, while redshirt junior nose tackle Mike Dwumfour is working through a minor practice injury that kept him out for a day.

“He’s practiced and done well,” Brown said. “I think he’ll just kind of take off. We’ve got four guys [inside] and will develop in there with [freshmen tackles] Mazi Smith, Chris Hinton and [grad transfer end] Mike Danna.”

Danna is doing well, Brown noted, after adding 20 pounds this summer from 240 to 260 under strength coach Ben Herbert.

“To gain a player of that quality, it always helps,” Brown said. “It takes the pressure off a little bit with younger guys having to force-feed and jam into a role they might not be ready for. Mike’s a mature guy, tough guy, hard-working guy. He’s brought a nice maturity to the group. We can put him right in the mix now. With Aidan, Kwity and Mike right off the get go, that’s a nice three-man deal.”

And don’t forget about senior Josh Uche, he added.

“The good thing about him is he can do a lot of stuff. In the NFL when he finally gets there some day, he’ll do a lot of stuff,” he said. “It’s going to be the same type of scenario. He can play defensive end, can play SAM linebacker, which is really his number one position. Then he’s got all the pass rush scenarios to utilize him in on third down. I don’t know if there’s a better substitute pass rusher in the country than this guy.

“During the course of this he’s grown and become a very accomplished SAM linebacker. With the graduation of Noah Furbush, that’s one of his major roles, as well.”

LINEBACKERS IMPRESSING, SECONDARY PROGRESSING

Brown reiterated his spring comments that his back seven was more in tune with each other than any group he’d ever coached. Cornerback is a bit of a concern, however, given that junior Ambry Thomas has been limited by an illness. Brown said he wasn’t sure when they’d get him back.

“He’s moving forward, working on the side, following all the trainers’ and doctors’ orders, but all systems are positive going forward,” Brown said. “[His return] is probably not an answer I’m equipped to give you. He’s in doctors' care … that’s between the trainers, coach Harbaugh and Ambry.”

Redshirt freshman Vincent Gray continues to excel in his absence.

“I’m always worried about it, especially if somebody else goes down,” Brown said of the corner position. “But the general play, Vincent Gray is a player. That’s a real positive. I feel like we just did the flip because [senior] Lavert [Hill] sat out a bunch in the spring. He’s back playing like Lavert Hill, so that’s a real positive.

“Vince, Lavert Hill, [junior] Jaylen Kelly-Powell has just continued to improve and put himself firmly entrenched in the two-deep, so I feel good about that. [Junior] Brad Hawkins. we’ve kind of used his coverage ability on the slot some. We’ve got a ways to go to go ahead and make our adjustments there, but we’re really happy with the way those guys have performed.”

Hawkins is close to being the team’s best safety, too.

“[Senior] Josh Metellus is playing at an extremely high level, giving a quality maturity to the group. Him and Brad re neck and neck as to who is our best, second best. I can’t really tell you that,” Brown said. “Our third safety right now [is junior] J’Marick Woods. He’s playing lot of football for us, has vastly improved as a football player, then there’s a bunch of guys in competition. [Redshirt freshman] Sammy Faustin would be one, Hunter Reynolds, obviously [freshman] Daxton Hill is on our radar and practicing extremely well, but again he’s a true, true, true freshman five practices in.”

But he feels pretty good about the top end of the safety group, he said, and also likes his linebackers a lot.

“[Junior] Josh Ross is the brightest linebacker I’ve been around in a long time. Even when he was injured in spring, this guy knows his stuff,” he said. “I don’t have to worry about what kind of a day’s work I’m going to get out of Josh Ross. I’m going to say Ross, [redshirt freshman] Cam McGrone, [fifth-year senior] Jordan Glasgow, [redshirt junior] Devin Gil and [redshirt sophomore] Jordan Anthony can play a lot of places in this country. They’re very good football players.

"I feel like five guys is the most depth I’ve had … now, five practices in, everybody is on their feet practicing, let the competition just go. Isn’t it a beautiful thing when five guys can play two positions? ‘You’re not playing at your best? Sorry — we’ve got to roll here.’

“It’s a good competition, really probably one of the greatest linebacker rooms in terms of attention to detail, guys wanting to be good and improvement. I feel like we have five guys who can run there and everybody improved from spring going into the fall.”

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