Michigan football cross-training players across the board in ‘positionless defense’

Photo: Isaiah Hole

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Last week, transfer safety Wes Walker, who joined Michigan football this summer from Tennessee, noted how much more complex the Wolverines’ defense under coordinator Wink Martindale is compared to those he’s played in previously. And it turns out it may be more complex than many think.

On Sunday, defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan spoke of the learning curve that transfers and freshmen have when it comes to learning and understanding the defense. But it turns out that there are levels to understanding — not just the defense as a whole or even just your role as a player. But the staff is also working to cross-train players across the defense so that they can play multiple roles in various situations.

“We want to be a positionless defense where guys can play multiple positions — whether it’s you can move a guy in on third down, they don’t know what he’s doing,” Morgan said. “I think that’s something where Coach Wink — he’s been coaching 20 years in the NFL and another almost 20 years in college. I think that’s where his specialty is, finding roles for players.”

We’ve certainly seen that aspect of the defense in recent years. When Mike Macdonald first installed the defense in 2021, the Wolverines were a little more niche, meaning they often had to substitute players given what opposing offenses were doing. That burned them in the sole regular season loss of the year, at Michigan State, because as Michigan was subbing, MSU would take advantage and go quick tempo.

After that game, the Wolverines started utilizing Mike Barrett more at linebacker, as he could also play adequately, essentially, as a defensive back.

Now Michigan has fully embraced that mentality, knowing that corners may have to be nickels or safeties. Safeties certainly cross-train at nickel but may also…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-football-cross-training-players-192741552.html

Author : Wolverines Wire

Publish date : 2024-08-18 19:27:41

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