Offense was yesterday, but after I was finished I realized I forgot to give a depth chart status. Then I thought we could use the Don Brown Dude Code for depth charting. Then I repurposed the icons that Brian got from some internet Flash game during the blog's distant past.

Icon	Name	Meaning
	Rock Star	Player is an All-American/1st rounder/bends the game around him.
	Dude	Trusted good starter. Probably All-B10 or in the running.
	Guy	Playable B10-caliber guy, very fine in a rotation.
	Iffy	Probably don't want him playing extended snaps at this point.

Defense in General

The question we're asking is: Is Wink gonna blitz too much?

But they're acting like it's: What does "blitz too much" mean?

What are we hearing? First off I need to be going on about something again, because I was out of town last week and thus missed my chance to remark on Michigan's hiring of former WMU and Memphis line coach Lou Esposito. If the name sounds familiar to you (you're misremembering famous Canadian hockey players and) you remember this author's longstanding appreciation of Bronco linemen like Ali Fayad (DE on the top).

Fayad was the first but they kept coming. Ralph Holley. Braden Fiske. Andre Carter. Marshawn Kneeland. At one point while UFR'ing the offense versus WMU I decided to look up who was responsible for these guys, and have been hoping Michigan would have an opportunity to pluck Esposito ever since. Can he recruit? I dunno. But he can coach.

Michigan also made the addition of defensive analyst Lionel Stokes official, while Alejandro found Pernell McPhee enrolled as a grad student in the School of Social Work. Stokes was LaMar Morgan's guy at Louisiana and before that an FCS coordinator. McPhee is expected to be an analyst as well, but NCAA rules allow grad assistants to be on-field coaches for a couple of years so maybe he's gonna do that.

Staff set, let's turn back to a bullet defined the offense bits this week, which was the front seven is being rather harsh on the passing game. Henschke:($):

Wink’s pressures and blitzes “handled” the offense thoroughly. … The defense is always ahead of the offense early but the offense needs time to get rhythm and gel, a lot of early pressure by Wink doesn’t necessarily allow that but it’s good practice.

There's also this from Ernest Hausmann:

Jean-Mary is imploring the group to be more disruptive in the pass game.

Wink, while calling himself the system's OG, did little to suppress the talk that he represents a more basal, aggressive antecessor of the Mac-Minter defenses.

I am more aggressive than Jesse and the proof is in the pudding. So we’ll see how it works and if we can get to the quarterback rushing three, we will rush three. That’s the way football is. You just got to see how it changes because people are adjusted to us, too.

What it means? Dear only fanbase in football that wants to hear their DC talk about blitzing *less*: Jesse Minter was able to use a lot of sim pressures without committing that many rushers, but Wink's correct that opponents have this on tape and will adjust. If you want feints to keep working you have to punch too. The pressures will go up, but it'll be in the context of all the sim pressures that Minter was using, not the blitz-to-play-man that he ran in Baltimore with the league's most expensive secondary, or in New York with the league's worst starting field position. Chill. Not you Wink.

[After THE JUMP: Dudes, potential rock stars, and a big bummer.]

Defensive Interior

Who wants to coach me? [Fuller]

The question we're asking is: Who else you got after KG and OMG?

But they're acting like it's: How do the new coaches like having the best two DTs in the nation?

What are we hearing? They like it quite a bit in fact. Sam($):

The defense has been flat out dominant. …  The biggest reason for that is the starting defensive line has been unblockable. And when new defensive coordinator Wink Martindale dials up the pressure, and he has a lot, quarterbacks have had to run for their lives even more.

D-Mo has run out of words.

"I ain't got too much to say," he replied, explaining that the two DTs will dominate "no matter what."

Pressed for an answer, Moore alluded to an "incredible" play that Graham made in a recent practice.

"They're two studs in the middle," he said. "They can do anything. You can double team them; they'll still beat it. You can triple team them; they'll still beat it. You can drop them into cover and they're going to track it down. It's crazy.

"I've never see any D-tackles that can do that, and I've been around a lot of great D-tackles. But they're different. They're really different."

BJM even says there's depth?:

as good as I've ever been around. They play that way. But we're building a lot of depth behind them. I know you're going to interview Coach Esposito at some point, but just watching from afar, the linebackers job is a lot easier with some of those guys that we have up front.

Emphasis on "some of the guys." Benny isn't playing yet but Balas reported Rayshaun's been spotted "doing some physical therapy and a bit of running, hopping back and forth"($) on the sidelines. At the start of practice Grant named Trey Pierce as a guy coming along.

He’s starting to be faster with his hands and starting to launch more. It’s really just like baby steps.

Nothing so far on upperclassmen Ike Iwunnah or Alessandro Lorenzetti. RS Fr Brooks Bahr was still listed as a DL on the spring roster despite some chatter in the offseason that they might look at him as an OL.

What it means? Nothing to see here yet. Was hoping maybe one of the projects was starting to pop, since the depth chart gets a little thin after the top 3-4, especially if Benny's recovery goes into fall. Long-term I wouldn't rule out a freshman (Palepale, Beigel, Hammond or Wafle) finding his way into the rotation later in the season.

Depth Chart as it stands: See Don Brown Dude System™ above for explanation of icons. Bold means he's a returning starter or close enough.

NT	DT	DT
Grant	Graham	Benny
Ike	Pierce	Lorenzetti

Edge

Say it Seth! [Patrick Barron]

The question we're asking is: Will Stewart and Moore and their backups be better than the younger versions thereof plus Harrell and McGregor?

But they're acting like it's: How are we ever going to replace Harrell and McGregor?

What are we hearing? Wink was immediately like "omigod you were rotating these guys?"

I think both both D-Mo and Josaiah, they’re hidden gems, and they did a lot. Just look at the final play against Alabama with Josaiah doing that to that tackle.

…and then was like "omigod I get to do that too?" and Moore and Stewart took the podium like "yep, we don't mind." Stewart:

"For sure TJ Guy. He's been a guy in this program for years now waiting his turn — just being in a full room throughout his time here. But now I feel like this year he can really shine," Stewart said. "A lot of people will get to see that.

"Cam Brandt coming in, had some experience last year. And I feel like he's really putting it together this year. Enow Etta for sure. He's real explosive and I can't wait to see him this season.

On Etta:

His tenacity off the edge, his strength, his size — it's different from some of the guys in the room," Stewart said. "He's more of a bulky guy, so when guys come at him, they think power. But this year he's been working on his finesse moves and whatnot and rounding out his game."

Moore used his turn to highlight Guy and Cam Brandt, while Jean-Mary mentioned Etta and Guy are having "really, really good" springs. Lorenz confirms Guy is "on The Path™ at edge" while Balas thinks Guy "will be a breakout player"($) this season. My own insider brought up Guy first but said Etta is still unrefined, but still en route to becoming the next D-Mo.

What it means? They are making Stewart and Moore the face of the defense, which is what they've consistently done with the guys they think are lock-in stars, just in case there's lingering doubt about them not "starting" last year.

I buy the hype about the backups; Guy and Brandt were getting in late last year, with Guy flashing some real bend. Brandt sticking outside is a very good sign, since he fits the profile of the type who either has It (Wormley, etc.) or gets moved to tackle. Etta was the latest basically-a-five-star in the 2023 recruiting writeups.

Odd men out are RS juniors Kechaun Bennett and Tyler McLaurin. Freshmen Dominic Nichols and Aymeric Koumba are on campus but have yet to generate any talk. Neither has walk-on-with-a-story Chibi Anwunah for that matter. But Michigan seems to have two Dudes and three more guys for two spots.

Depth chart: 

OLB	Hard Edge
Stewart	Moore
Guy	Etta / Brandt

Linebacker

Harder than it looks. [Bryan Fuller]

The question we're asking is: Can this and last year's transfers actually replace the production of Mike Barrett and Junior Colson for a position that is so hard to grade I was still kind of down on the guy who might be the first LB taken in the draft?

But they're acting like it's: Can Hausmann and Barham be better than all those guys?

What are we hearing? Hausmann was grading on a level with those guys last year and then Michigan done Kenneth Walker'd the best linebacker in the conference out of College Park. Wink mentioned the two LBs in the same breath as his front four. D-Mo mentioned his former St. Francis teammate as one of two players outside of his group that have impressed him.

[Jaishawn is] playing real fast, he's looking dominant out there. It looks like he's been here.

This isn't based on practice intel but 247's Clint Brewster recently rated Barham the #4 "Most Ferocious" LB in the country.

Barham is an impressive looking specimen in the middle of the defense … He's a physical presence in the run game, but also does an excellent job on blitzes. He's long, fast, and physical. The thing that really stands out for me is how well he moves laterally at that size and how he navigates through traffic. He's got the arm length and strength to disengage and doesn't get blocked easily. Michigan is a perfect spot for his talent and they will maximize his game. He's a candidate to have a huge breakout year.

Henschke's source focused in on the LBs, then one in particular($).

- On defense in particular, the linebacker group continues to receive a lot of praise. A LOT of praise.
- Jaishawn Barham is quickly turning into the spring darling for the program, who continues to receive a praise.
- We’re told Barham looks like a “freak” and is all over the place, quickly fitting in on defense.

Testing my lawsuit patience, Henschke added a Hot Take™ to his podcast.

Want some kool-aid? There will be zero dropoff from Junior Colson to Jaishawn Barham.

He did not use the voice but our lawyers are investigating. For a more reserved take, Sam had Barham at just third on his list of defenders making noise in practice($):

…everything the coaching staff thought he would be. Size, speed, power… Barham checks all the  boxes. That much was on display in a recent practice where according to one source highlighted a matchup with Northwestern transfer Josh Priebe who was attempting a second level block. "Barham ran through him like he wasn't there," said the source.

The source said Barham's another 1st or 2nd rounder, but added he's still learning the playbook. This was further evidenced by Jean-Mary, who heaped praise on the departed for their ability to read and react before saying he thinks Hausmann's the only one there.

Their ability to adjust to things on the fly was as good as any group I've ever seen … Ernest Hausmann has been great so far, and we've got to get a couple of other guys in the room to reach that level.

…but

Jaishawn is a super, super talented young man. … The biggest thing goes back to the culture piece that we talked about: He fits us as a young man and the way he goes about his day-to-day as a professional. The big thing is him trying to learn the defense. We've kind of thrown him in. And we didn't throw him in on the shallow end; we threw him in on the deep end. … We'd love him to be more vocal. … Watching him run around these first couple practices, I think he's got a chance to be a really, really good football player here.

The "still learning" theme was extended to the rest of the roster.

I want to make sure I point out everybody. Some of the guys that I think that are playing well are Jaydon Hood. He's been here for a while. He's a very, very talented guy that says he's been waiting for his opportunity. And I think he's taking advantage of it right now. Micah Pollard I think fits in that category too. An older guy, talented guy, hasn't played as much as he'd like to but he's doing a solid job for us. You got to put Christian Boivin, who's been a great special teams player. He's doing an excellent job for us there as one of the older guys.

Jean-Mary then went on to name everyone except Jimmy Rolder, who was Sam's #5 guy on the Making Nose list, which also provided a plausible explanation for the coach's omission.

This was a tough pick because Rolder has missed time due to being banged up. But when he's been in there he's flashed.  One source said, "he'll break your heart because just when he gets rolling, he gets hurt." Health is the biggest hurdle for him at this point.

Rolder's name was also conspicuously absent from the "There Every Day" board captured in the background of a video.

What it means? In a weird twist I think the coach is more realistic than the insiders right now, because when I grade this position it's very clear how much of a huge deal the adjustments can be. Non-zero chance I end up grading Hausmann like Barrett and Barham like Colson. This would also mean Michigan again has the best LB tandem in college football. I don't read anything into the Rolder absence except he's hurt.

Depth chart: With potential for some Rock Stars on top but I'll believe it when I chart it.

MLB	WLB
Barham	Hausmann
Rolder	Hood

Safety

What has two thumbs and was already getting more snaps than Sabb? [Barron]

The question we were asking was: Are they going to move Moore down to nickel so they can play him and Paige and Sabb together?

But they're acting like it's: Cosmic Ohio State NCAA Dynasty Kid heard about this and got his hands on a roster editor. It started when Bama's super freshman Caleb Downs offered his services to the highest bidder and OSU opened up their wallets. Alabama replaced him by prying Keon Sabb—who was still making noise about playing time—out of Michigan. Michigan responded by finding the NIL to yank Quinten Johnson out of an attempt at the draft, but then then came the coup du grace: Rod Moore tore his ACL and is out for the season.

Since this is My Dude on the team, I am going to dwell on it, and you are going to dwell right along with me. There's no "next man up" about this one. Poke anyone in the program and they'll tell you Rod Moore was one of the biggest difference-makers in all of college football. Wink Martindale spent a substantial portion of his first press conference telling us Moore understood the system better than anyone on last year's Giants roster.

Rod Moore, he’s the safety that, and I’m not talking about play-wise or anything else. Smart-wise, football knowledge-wise, all that. He reminds me of Eric Weddle. He was one of the smartest safeties I’ve ever coached. I called Weddle and told him about it. That’s exciting to me, because there’s a lot of checks that have to be made on the field and it’s like, well, the headpieces, the ear pieces coming in now, — which is great because that’s what I’m used to — there’s still signals going to be going on. Rod is like, if they go hurry up, what should we do? Call the defense. You can’t be wrong. He’s that smart.

The question we're asking now is: Can we launch a Kickstarter to give Rod Moore a new ACL?

But they're acting like it's: …or try recalling Keon Sabb or something?

What we're hearing: If you are feeling miserable about this, well, you rightly should. But if you just can't handle the glum and want to believe a guy previously buried on the roster has suddenly sprung into next-Mooredom, here's Sam Webb with a heaping tablespoon of sugar on the top of his afore mentioned defenders making noise list($).

1.) Zeke Berry – Rod Moore's injury has put Michigan's depth at safety to the test, and no player has answered the bell better thus far than Berry. The former Top247 prospect has responded well to new position coach Lamar Morgan, and multiple sources inside the program have praised his ability to play in the box, and cover. One mentioned Berry being "in the hip pocket" of receivers consistently, while another added "he may actually be the best nickel" through the first half of spring ball. The next test is to see if he can maintain that level of play the rest of the way.

I can add that an insider told me before the injury that the reason they weren't going to move Moore down was Berry and Ja'Den McBurrows (more on him in a section) are looking pretty good in Sainristil's spot. The defense has some natural overlap between the positions already, to the point where their 5-2-4 setup last year technically had Moore taking Sainristil's usual job when Mike moved out to cornerback.

We'll have to wait for Morgan or a player interview to get a feel for the rest of the depth chart, which still has Paige, Q-Jo, and a true sophomore Brandyn Hillman who showed some things while burning his redshirt last year. Outsiders are looking at it like a trip to the portal is necessary. 247's Chris Hummer reports Michigan had WKU nickel/safety Upton Stout committed($) in the winter portal window before the Hilltoppers topped Michigan's NIL offer. I've been told that things have changed since January about Michigan's NIL approach, and the coffers are in pretty good shape too, so Stout might be worth another swing in spring.

What it means? I was telling Brian on a podcast that I wasn't as worried about losing Sainristil because Moore was the guy I saw doing most of the motioning and callouts. Everyone's saying it's a bummer that the timing of this meant they lost Sabb for nothing, but I don't know if even Sabb was going to have Moore's presence on the field. I can buy Berry as a nickel, but the cat-and-mouse stuff that made Michigan deadly to elite passing games last year is probably off the table unless Paige was quietly preparing to take over. Fortunately most of the elite passing games in CFB all moved on to the NFL this offseason. Maybe they can put Moore in the headset, but a more realistic approach to replacing some of what's been lost is to tell Wink he can go ahead and blitz.

A swing through the portal is worthwhile—they have stability now that they couldn't sell before, and Moore's job is an attractive one for any safety with NFL aspirations (read: them all). But other than Downs, who's a supreme talent, or Sabb, who spent last year learning Moore's job, there's nobody who's going to come close to what they had in Moore. The silver lining is Michigan's floor with Paige & Q-Jo and friends is still, like, top 5 among safety rooms since we started charting them. Best secondary in the history of ever is probably off the table, though. Not that 2023 Michigan was going to give up that title easily.

Depth chart: I still like Hillman but would like to hear he's made a big leap before I put him into the playable category. Getting Q-Jo back was big.

Strong Safety	Free Safety
Paige	Q-Jo
Hillman	Berry

Cornerback

So you're saying they gave you meaningful playing time, as a true freshman, in THAT secondary? [Barron]

The question we're asking is: Who's opposite Will Johnson?

But they're acting like it's: Who's replacing Sainristil?

And we're like: Uh nobody's doing that.

But they're all like: Stay tuned.

With Michigan replacing Nk1 Mike Sainristil and CB2 Josh Wallace, nobody needs to state the obvious, but if PFF wants to say Michigan has the best CB in CFB and embed an interception against OSU then by Woodson's beard I'll embed it all.

1. WILL JOHNSON, MICHIGAN WOLVERINES

Johnson immediately lived up to his five-star billing, posting a 91.1 grade in man coverage as a true freshman in 2022 to lead all Power Five cornerbacks.

He followed that up by allowing just a 29.1 passer rating into his coverage as a sophomore, which placed fifth among all cornerbacks in college football. On six targets against Marvin Harrison Jr. and Rome Odunze this past season, Johnson allowed just three catches while also coming down with an interception.

He has all the physical traits you’d want in a cornerback at 6-foot-2 and 202 pounds with excellent speed, footwork and ball skills for the position. If he was eligible to be selected in 2024, he’d be the first corner off the board. He would’ve been the first one taken in 2023, as well. Johnson has the makings of a special cornerback prospect who’ll likely be a top-five pick next April.

Will Johnson.

CB1 in 2025.
pic.twitter.com/a8FzsQAvEK

— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) November 25, 2023

That out of the way, non-Johnson names this spring sound a whole heck of a lot more plausible than the "CB2: Amorion Walker" talk from a year ago. D-Mo:

Ja'Den McBurrows had a great great spring ball also. Losing Mike, he's stepping up and taking a taking that step into being a new Mike on our team, being able to do a lot that Mike did.

Tyler Morris:

Morris highlighted DJ Waller as a corner who has given him trouble this spring. "He's a big, physical, long corner. He's looked real good this spring and definitely challenged us," he said. The junior receiver said Ja'Den McBurrows and Jyaire Hill are two players he's seen at nickel, but the amount of rotation has made evaluations tricky.

Yes, Berry was mentioned at nickel above. Sounds like they've been trying a lot of guys there.

"Honestly, sometimes it's hard because I feel like they've been moving a lot of guys around at nickel," Morris said.  "It's been a lot of guys moving positions and trying stuff that I feel like they might not have as much last year."

Sam had Hill at #2 on his standout defenders($) list, and McBurrows at #4. On Hill:

making a strong play to be the corner opposite Will Johnson. He's bigger and stronger, but the biggest difference may be in his comfort with the playbook. "He just understands the defense better," one source said. DJ Waller has the advantage of more meaningful game action in the defense, but Hill has eaten into that advantage with how he's practicing.

And McBurrows:

isn't the biggest of the defensive backs, but he is the unit's biggest hitter.

Sam says McBurrows isn't making the mistakes in man that bothered him earlier in his career. He also confirmed they're giving McBurrows snaps outside. Meanwhile Lorenz hedged with talk of potential($) (emphasis mine):

Michigan doesn't have ample time to let young players grow like they did last year with Texas coming in for Week 2, but the overall ceiling at cornerback has been raised with DJ Waller and Jyaire Hill both creating optimism.

What it means? Waller is a big sophomore who got a lot of playing time as a true freshman. Hill is a true sophomore with obvious 1st round potential. McBurrows is a vet who showed some promise last year as Sainristil's blitzier understudy. These are all good stories, and it would be a major disappointment if any of them turn out to be bluster. It also comes off like they were unsure what to do about nickel before they lost Moore, and want to get that squared away. It all sounds a lot more complicated if you're Michigan trying to fill out various sets and roles than it will be to fans, who will see Johnson on one side, Berry or McBurrows at nickel, and Waller and Hill rotating at the other corner spot, give or take some matchups or weird personnel.

Nothing from Keshaun Harris, Myles Pollard, Kody Jones, or Cristian Dixon, but they're all on the roster.

Depth chart: I'm putting an "OR" because Berry might be at free safety now.

CB	CB	Nickel
Johnson	Waller	McBurrows OR
Hill	↗	Berry

Specialists

The question we're asking is: Who's gonna kick?

But they're acting like it's: What's special teams?

What are we hearing? Nothing.

What it means? Samaha's doing fine?