ANN ARBOR, Michigan: The Michigan football team played their yearly spring game on Saturday afternoon. The Wolverines’ coordinators chose the teams to play against one other: the Maize team and the Blue team. The Maize squad defeated the Blue team, 17–7, thanks to two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but the real story of the day was the new look Michigan team and coaching staff showcasing their abilities in front of the public for the first time since winning the national championship in January.
The Michigan defensive line may get the season underway tomorrow. Throughout the whole Saturday game, this was clear. Michigan’s defensive line is already in the air, appearing to be in midseason condition, while the Wolverines’ offense spent the spring cutting grass in the hopes of taking off in the fall. This was somewhat true of the defense as a whole, but it looked particularly clear from the front’s dominance in the run game and pass-rush. In terms of statistics, the tackle rooms and the edge combined for 6.5 tackles for loss, four “sacks,” and thirty tackles.
The eye test is passed by the younger linemen. It is difficult to determine if Saturday’s performance was more due to the offensive line’s struggles or the defensive line’s strong play. However, Michigan’s freshmen passed that test in terms of “looking” like an athletic room. Aymeric Koumba, Breeon Ishmail, Enow Etta, Dominic Nichols, and Cameron Brandt were a few players whose athleticism, rushes, and frames were clearly visible. Being large and athletic is obviously not the only requirement for success on the defensive line, but Lou Esposito, the new defensive line coach, must be pleased with the starting lineup in the room he took over this spring.
— Enow Etta and Cameron Brandt’s positional adaptability continues to pique my interest. Etta told us on Saturday that his weight was 287 pounds, but that was after he dropped from 295 to 265 and then gained it back during the previous summer and fall. Coaches would want him to play tackle, but he wants to play edge. He may lose that match, but if he stays agile and quick, they will play him where he creates the best opportunities, kind of how they did with Chris Wormley years ago. Though he has the size to be a bigger edge in a room that leans smaller this season, Brandt seems more of an edge than a tackle.
Jaishawn Barham’s potential as a Michigan player was immediately apparent after just one snap. The transfer from Maryland has a history of creating plays all over the field, but his height, length, and quickness still made an impression on us. There aren’t many 6-foot-4, 237-pound players that move like him, even in college football. He made me think of the larger, more athletic safeties that Brent Venables converted Clemson into linebackers. Barham takes over for Michael Barrett at Michigan as the team’s best pass rusher and linebacker. He also has the potential to excel in pass cover
