Captains’ log: Michigan’s Rod Moore on return, Max Bredeson on 3-1 start

The Michigan Wolverines are off the bye and preparing for a showdown with the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday in Ann Arbor. The week off was a time to reflect, get right and ramp back up for some guys, chief among them captain and defensive back Rod Moore.

The graduate safety made his season debut in the 30-27 win at Nebraska two weeks ago, logging 21 snaps and a tackle in his first game action in nearly two years.

“It was really emotional,” Moore said on Monday afternoon. “I think it was 16 months since I played football. So, I was a little nervous, had the little jitters and shakes, but got a tackle in the second play, so it kind of went away, but it was really fun.”

Moore warmed up for the Oklahoma and Central Michigan games, but did not get into game action. He said it was all part of the re-acclimation process.

“The first three weeks, it was kind of getting back into football, and I really wasn’t just ready to go to playing the game yet,” Moore said. “And I think after Week 3, I warmed up, and I felt really good. And then I went through the Nebraska week, and I just had a good day every day, and that’s what it really was.

“The weeks before, I probably had three good days, and I would come back super sore, and I couldn’t finish the week out. But Nebraska just cleared out and then woke up Saturday morning and was ready to go. So they let me go.”

Moore was on a snap count against Nebraska, and it could be something he still deals with as Michigan moves deeper into the year and cranks up the intensity.

“Just coming from the trainers and the athletic or strength staff, they just made the decision on how many plays they wanted me to play,” Moore said. “Because, if you go out there and play… I’m used to playing 60 snaps, but if you go out there and play 60 snaps your first game, you might set yourself back. So that was really their concern on that.”

Bredeson not worried about Michigan at 3-1

A few weeks ago, Michigan was coming off a loss at Oklahoma and facing a two-game suspension to head coach Sherrone Moore. Player leadership was going to be critical, and they answered the call, going 2-0 against CMU and Nebraska after a players-only meeting led by the team captains.

Fullback and two-time captain Max Bredeson reflected on that during his Tuesday night media session.

“We’ve got great captains on both sides of the ball who were able to take control,” Bredeson said. “Derrick Moore did an unbelievable job leading the defense. He’s quiet, more reserved, but when he talks, you listen. From the offensive side, seeing him do that was really cool. For [offensive lineman Giovanni El-Hadi and tight end Marlin Klein], it’s both their first year as captains, but they were leaders before.

“We had the right pillars in place.”

The Oklahoma loss in Week 2 stung for the program, but unlike the response to last year’s loss to Texas in Week 2, Michigan learned and applied the lessons appropriately.

“Losses suck, but that’s where you learn the most,” Bredeson said. “In those next two days, you see what people are really like. From a guy who’s been here a while, it was encouraging to see the standard of bouncing back — control the controllables, dominate what you can.”

Bredeson and Michigan find themselves in a similar spot to last year at 3-1 after four weeks. Last year, it got out to a 4-1 start before falling to 5-5 by mid-November. Bredeson says the vibes could not be more different between seasons.

“We talked about that,” Bredeson said. “It doesn’t feel the same as last year at all. [3-1 right] now feels different. Excited for what’s ahead.”

Michigan has the chance to move to 4-1 on Saturday in a noon tilt with Wisconsin in Ann Arbor. FOX will carry the broadcast on national television.