Matt Rhule admits Michigan moving Jaishawn Barham 'disrupted everything' for Nebraska

After Michigan suffered a Week 2 loss to Oklahoma, the Wolverines’ staff examined where their team could improve. One area stuck out like a sore thumb: The pass rush. In turn, Michigan moved Jaishawn Barham from linebacker to EDGE.

Barham played at both positions in Michigan’s Week 3 win over Central Michigan, but only played EDGE against Nebraska. The move paid off, and the Wolverines defeated Nebraska 30-27. During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday, Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule discussed how Barham disrupted Nebraska’s offensive schemes.

“The week before they moved Jaishawn Barham, they moved him from middle linebacker,” Rhule said. “They moved him out to their outside linebacker. I walked up to him after the game, I said, ‘Boy, you’re a Top 10 pick. I mean, that move disrupted everything.

“He didn’t play that against Oklahoma. He played off the ball, and he’s a great off-the-ball linebacker, but he is a difference-maker coming off the edge.”

In the win, Michigan recorded a season-high 35 pressures on the quarterback. Barham was responsible for seven of those pressures, along with five quarterback hurries and a sack. In total, Michigan recorded season-highs of nine tackles for loss and seven sacks.

For reference, Michigan only notched five sacks through its first two games and only one of them was credited to a defensive lineman. After the win over Nebraska, Jaishawn Barham’s teammates raved about him.

“We talk all the time about putting our best 11 on the field,” linebacker Ernest Hausmann said. “Jaishawn’s a freak athlete — great skill, very versatile. Coach Wink is smart about finding different spots for players, and bringing him that close to the ball lets us use his skill set fully.

“… “It just comes down to execution… We’ve all bought into the scheme, which allows us to play fast and free. When you trust your coordinator and your teammates, somebody’s going to be free every single time.”

Michigan has a bye this week and Barham will be able to grow even more comfortable in his new role. The Wolverines will face Wisconsin next and have an excellent chance of building on their momentum.

Wisconsin is 2-2 this season and has had trouble keeping opposing defenses out of its backfield. Wisconsin has given up 13 sacks this season for a total loss of 114 yards, the second-most in college football.

The Wolverines will look to take advantage of this weakness when they square off against the Badgers at noon ET on Oct. 4. The game will air live on FOX.