Jim Harbaugh mixes up defensive staff, will have season with veteran team

Jim Harbaugh is back in Ann Arbor on a revised contract for his seventh season after hot seat rumors dominated 2020. The Wolverines went 2-4 including blowout losses to Indiana and Wisconsin in a season plagued by COVID-19 complications. Harbaugh is looking to turn the team around with a more experienced set of players and some changes on the defensive side of the ball.

Ten starters return on offense

Last season the Wolverines returned just four total offensive starters. The offensive line was hit especially hard, and Michigan averaged just 131.5 yards per game on the ground, which was 11th in the 14-team conference. 

“It was crazy year, but it was good in one sense,” said returning starting lineman Andrew Stueber. “It got a lot of people playing that otherwise would not have gotten any playing time.”

In total, Michigan returns 10 starters on the offensive side of the ball. The lone newcomer? Kicker Jake Moody Jr.

Harbaugh named his starting quarterback on Sunday. Redshirt freshman Cade McNamara will be the starter after beating out true freshman J.J. McCarthy and Texas Tech transfer Alan Bowman. 

McNamara is the only quarterback on campus in Ann Arbor with experience as a Wolverine. As a true freshman, he went 43-for-71 for 425 yards, six total touchdowns and zero interceptions. His best game last season came against Rutgers when he replaced Joe Milton during the second quarter and led a come-from-behind win in triple-overtime. He started against Penn State the following week.

Mix-ups and leadership on the defensive side of the ball

Harbaugh switched up his staff this offseason, including hiring the Ravens’ linebackers coach Mike Macdonald to be the Wolverines defensive coordinator. Macdonald had been in Baltimore working for Harbaugh’s brother, John, since 2014. 

Additional new coaches include linebackers coach George Helow (who came from Maryland), safeties coach Ron Bellamy, and defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale (who came from Kentucky).

Michigan has eight familiar faces starting on a defense anchored by junior defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, junior linebacker Josh Ross and fifth-year safety Brad Hawkins. 

“It’s very important for all of us to lead these guys in the right direction,” Hawkins said. “We’ve been here and we’ve seen a lot.”

Michigan allowed 34.5 points per game last season. They had not allowed more than 20 points per game since 2014.