Harbaugh Chomping At The Bit
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh spoke at Big 10 Media Day on Monday. The Wolverines head to South Bend to open the season and he’s ready to go.
“It's very exciting at this point and thankful to have a season to gear up for,” Harbaugh stated. “I've also talked to some other players or coaches that don't have a season to gear up for this year. It's sad. But also feel very good that I have a season to gear up for.
“So chomping at the bit, ready to go.”
Harbaugh, much like Brian Kelly in 2016, made some significant changes to his program and coaching staff in the offseason. The most significant move was promoting Ed Warnnier from offensive analyst to offensive line coach after offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Tim Drevno resigned.
“Ed has done a tremendous job,” explained Harbaugh. “He’s really brought a lot of enthusiasm, a wealth of knowledge, tremendous experience with coaching in the Big Ten, and just a good dude. Really good to work with. He has been fantastic. We enjoy watching tape with him. Enjoy talking football with him. Enjoy watching him coach, and I think that's been a really good thing for us.”
Quarterback Shea Patterson has been the focus of the offseason as he transferred in from Ole Miss. However, Harbaugh has seen improvement from the entire quarterback room in the last seven months.
“Shea Patterson went through all of spring practice with our team and got great work in there,” stated Harbaugh. “Played really well. Brandon Peters was also improved this spring. Dylan McCaffrey probably made the most improvement of any quarterback.
"Joe Milton came in and was a mid-year, so participated in spring practices as well and did very well. I think he's got a very bright future.
“That's been our quarterback room. And I would say overall it's better as a group than we were last year. I feel like our starting quarterback will also be better, play better.”
At running back, Karan Higdon made the 2018 watch list for the Doak Walker Award after rushing for 994 yards and 11 touchdowns a year ago.
Higdon isn’t the only running back opponents will have to plan for as junior Chris Evans rushed for 685 yards and six scores in 2017.
“Karan Higdon is an outstanding football player,” Harbaugh stated. “I always think of Karan and Chris Evans. They're both great. They're both really good players, and that bodes really well for our football team. Both have really come into leadership roles on our team is the way it's developed over the last nine months.
“That's also a really good team thing because they've embraced those roles. It's important to them, and it's important to each of them how they play, but it's also you see them working with the younger backs. And we've got some talented younger backs. It's nice to see that those guys Chris Evans in particular grabs guys, goes over pass protections with them, always see Karan putting his arm around a younger back or player and talking to them, motivating them, teaching them.”
On defense, Rashan Gary and Devin Bush steal the headlines for Michigan, but defensive end/linebacker Chase Winovich makes the Wolverines defense go. In 2017, Winovich recorded 73 tackles, 19.0 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.
“The first thing that comes to mind with Chase is the incredible work ethic that he has, the great effort that he always plays with,” Harbaugh said. “A lot of people talk about the motor he has, and that's a great analogy. He's always playing all out. The talent has really, really gone up and up each year. Really finding his position, which is defensive end, has been great for his career and our football team.
“He was a linebacker. Then we could see the speed that he had. And we were playing him at tight end some, and then he went to defensive end, was playing some defensive end on the scout team, and really was tough to block.
“And from that point on, they just developed a love and passion for playing the defensive end position. He's great at it. I think he would be a tremendous stand-up outside backer, maybe be a true prototype 3-4 outside backer and a nickel defensive end rush passer.”