Tony GarciaDetroit Free Press
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Those in and around the Michigan football program aren't trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, rather they're trying to make sure each and every player is exactly where he needs to be to help Team 145 maximize its potential.
With that in mind, new defensive backs coach Lamar Morgan detailed the concept of a position-less defense; an idea brought about by new defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. On its surface, its simple. U-M wants as many players to be able to play as many positions as possible.
For the players in the unit, that philosophy is not as much a whole-sale change as much as it is a tweak from the way Martindale's predecessors talked about defense. Jesse Minter and Mike MacDonald referred to their malleable, shape-shifting defense as an "amoeba," but it does come with some inherent trust in the defense's new architect.
"We want to be a position-less defense where guys can play multiple positions,” said Morgan, also the defense's passing game coordinator, during a press conference Sunday. “Whether it’s you can move a guy in on third down, (and the offense doesn't) know what he’s doing. I think that’s something where Coach Wink − he’s been coaching 20 years in the NFL and another almost 20 years in college, (and) I think that’s where his specialty is − finding roles for players.”
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With fall camp now in its later stages − just 12 days remain before the season-opener under the lights on Aug. 31 against Fresno State (7:30 p.m., NBC) − the depth chart is slowly but surely beginning to work its way out and players are finding where they fit in it.
Of course, there were some no brainer starters, like preseason All-American defensive back Will Johnson or defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, but elsewhere the competition for starting spots has been steep. At the second cornerback spot, sophom*ore Jyaire Hill is now the "early favorite" according to Morgan.
Morgan said in part it's because he's had more time on task than the two new CBs who joined in the summer via the transfer portal in Aamir Hall (Albany) and Ricky Johnson (UNLV), but it remains "a constant battle."
It's similar at nickel, a key position to replace last year's All-American Mike Sainrisitl, now with the Washington Commanders, and it's Zeke Berry who is said to be edging his way closer to winning the job over Ja'Den McBurrows.
"Zeke's going to be a guy that we're going to try to move around," Morgan said."He's playing high and low. He's trying to take on that role of trying to be a leader. We have some talented guys like Zeke; they just haven't played as much."
Part of the reason someone like Berry is able to move around despite never having been a full time starter at this level is because of the way the defense has been installed in recent months. It's a process that began in the summer, when the defense wasn't a living and breathing entity, rather X's on a chalkboard.
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The idea during these lessons is to teach each player how all the positions interact with each other, rather than just teach a single position. Players can know based on the call and their alignment what their role is and where their support is coming from.
Sure, it's a lot to ask of players who haven't stated before, but then again, playing at Michigan is already a lot to ask. It's why they brought in four defensive backs in Hall, Ricky Johnson, Jaden Mangham and the experienced Wesley Walker, who has played both low and high in defenses; U-M wanted the depth and the experience in the room to be able to move pieces around.
“It’s not like it’s a certain position — this is the corner, this is the safety,” Morgan said. “We try to teach the guys different techniques. If you’re a half-field player, playing man in the slot, pressing the slot, whoever is at that spot, they just know that technique already.
"So now, when we put a call in the corner is going to be a half-field player, which safeties usually are, they know how to use those techniques.”
Beyond the benefits the defense is getting with the experience of a number of guys playing a handful of positions, the offense is also said to be getting a ton of work against these variable coverages.
Those in the room with tight ends coach Steve Casula already need a well-rounded understanding of the offense − they're the only position on the field where the unit is expected to block like linemen and catch passes like wide outs − but now that's heightened even more.
Casula said his team is "fortunate" to go against a defense that's so multiple, calling it a "great tool" and saying with enough reps against it, it helps his guys get general "indicators" that can help identify either the coverage or where the pressure is coming from.
“Jersey numbers matter, who's standing where matters relative to formation, whether they're standing over a tight end or running back, standing up at receiver, what type of bodies are standing over whom,” Casula began. “When you get into the more exotic personnel groupings on third down, yeah, it definitely puts us to the test, but it's great.
"It gets us ready for our schedule when people play multiple defensive packages and you got to know, ‘Hey, in this situation, this guy's playing corner, (and) as soon as they go nickel defense, he plays nickel now, and what does that mean to us?’...They got a lot going on, for sure (on defense), but it's only made us better, and it's something that we're certainly appreciative to deal with every day and not just getting ready for an upcoming opponent.”
Those elite-level opponents will come fast and furious this year, with high-flying spread offenses like USC and Texas in the first month, elite attacks with mobile quarterbacks in top-five opponents Oregon and Ohio State, as well as west coast teams like Washington or Fresno State, both of whom were top 25 teams last January.
There's still two weeks left in camp, and U-M plans to use every day to get its roster in order for the tests ahead.
“(Martindale's) going to find the top 22 kids or whatever it is, and he's going to find what role those guys are in," Morgan said. "We're still in that kind of development stage. We've got two weeks, which I think is really exciting for us. Every day, we can try to find a way to get better."
