Michigan Wolverines Football News & Views: Dissecting Jim Harbaugh’s Words
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh met the media Monday. Here is our take on his comments about playing freshmen and much more:
NEWS: Michigan has only a handful of freshmen expected to avoid the redshirt this year, compared to 15 or 16 who played immediately in 2016.
HARBAUGH: “[Defensive end] Aidan Hutchinson is playing at a really upper-class level right now, a true freshman doing extremely well. We got a look at [running back] Christian Turner for the first time this past week. He’s really going to be doing well. The freshmen that are going to be able to play are playing.
“The difference is in 2016 we had to get young guys playing because we had so much graduation in the senior class, we really made it a point of emphasis to get as many freshmen playing [as possible]. We knew they’d have to be playing the following year.”
VIEWS: They’ve very conscious of the four-game redshirt limit, but it’s pretty clear the guys who are going to avoid the redshirt.
Hutchinson, offensive tackle Jalen Mayfield, wide receiver Ronnie Bell, kicker Jake Moody and possibly Turner are those guys right now.
And that’s the way it should be. Guys with experience, mixed in with very good freshmen, make up championship teams. This squad still has work to do, but Harbaugh’s program is on solid footing in that respect. The depth is much better, and the pups don’t need to play right away any more.
NEWS: Redshirt freshman wide receiver Tarik Black is off crutches and will see his specialist the weekend of Oct. 5.
HARBAUGH: “He’s rehabbing good, and his doctor will be coming into town when the Packers play the Lions. He’s scheduled to take a look at it and could have some good news at that point. Things look really good the way he’s progressing.”
VIEWS: Black is the best of a talented sophomore class, and his addition to the lineup — if he’s completely healthy — would give the Wolverines a receiving corps reminiscent of years past. They could really use him for the meat of the schedule, starting with Wisconsin Oct. 13.
Word is out now that he’s expected to return this season, and that could be huge for an offense that’s just starting to put things together.
NEWS: Junior defensive end Rashan Gary dominated the first half of Saturday’s game with Nebraska before sitting in the second half.
HARBAUGH: “During the week, his intensity in practice, every day … he’s such a great example for the rest of the players on the team — ’If I want to play like Rashan Gary, how do I go about that?’ Study Rashan, see how he approaches his workouts, his practice, his meetings. It’s at the highest level.
“It’s a great position to be in as a coach … look at your best player, see how he prepares, do like Rashan.”
VIEWS: Fans have been looking for more performances from the former consensus No. 1 overall recruit like the one we saw against Nebraska in a 56-10 drubbing, and that is understandable. He was the nation’s top recruit, and he is an absolute freak of an athlete.
Gary needs to play like that against the Wisconsins, Michigan States and Ohio States now, and he is capable.
NEWS: Michigan’s special teams have become a team strength.
HARBAUGH: “Consistently good, plus they’ve made the big play in every phase … tackles inside the 20, turnovers on the punt, scoring on the kickoff return and the punt return. We’ve been really good at making the big plays.”
VIEWS: Special teams are often the difference between winning and losing in tightly contested games, and who would have guessed that this year’s squad would be so good in an area in which many were so concerned?
Punter Will Hart and kickoff specialist Jake Moody are absolute weapons. Redshirt sophomore kicker Quinn Nordin, too, can make the really long ones … but can he be consistent on the short ones and the extra points?
But this team is really, really good in at least two phases of the special teams game.
NEWS: The offensive line looked good Saturday, but it’s still a work in progress.
HARBAUGH: “It was a good opportunity to play the offensive linemen … a lot of sophomore linemen redshirted last year but are now getting their opportunity. It’s nice to see their progress.”
VIEWS: There’s still a long way to go. Some of the bigger plays Saturday came against some horrible defense (effort, especially) and would have been stoned by better teams.
The true tests for this team come starting two weeks from now against Wisconsin. The good news — the skill positions have improved dramatically. With better quarterback play last year, for example, the Wolverines would have won at least three more games.
Now that quarterback play is very, very good. We’re still waiting for the day that the offensive line play matches it.
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