Michigan football: A change to get the "best 11" on the field on defense

The Michigan defense has been solid most of the year, but a recent move could make it that much better. Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale moved linebacker Jaishawn Barham to edge for much of the game at Nebraska, and it resulted in unbelievable pressure … and might have been one of the differences in the game.

Barham lived in the backfield in the 30-27 Michigan victory over the Cornhuskers and might have had even more success if the officials called holding anymore (Martindale said, “I’m going to leave my answer as this — I’m going to be a very good podcast guest when I retire” when asked about the lack of calls). That opened the door for more time for linebackers Jimmy Rolder and, especially, Cole Sullivan, whose play has made him too good to sit.

“You’re seeing guys starting to jump out … but there’s competition across the board, even in the linebacker room,” Martindale said Saturday. “You look at a kid like Cole Sullivan. How can you not play him with how productive he is? When you go and watch practice tape, he’s playing faster than a lot of guys out there, and he’s just going to continue to get better. That’s the fun part about coaching.

“That’s all part of trying to get the best 11 out there consistently. [Michigan veteran lineman] Rayshaun Benny said, in one of the first meetings we had in training camp, ‘the same 11.’ We want it to look like the same 11, so whoever your starters, are the next 11 you want it to look the same. I thought that was a great, great goal for a kid his age to say that. We’re not there yet, but we’re practicing to get that way. That’s why you’re seeing different guys on the field.”

But Sullivan and Rolder should both have roles going forward in the Michigan defense, he added, in what’s become a really deep room.

“How about Jimmy Rolder?” he said. “I mean, he is smashing people out there and playing really well. Same thing with Ern [senior Ernest Hausmann]. That inside ‘backer room, like I said, with BJ [Michigan assistant Brian Jean-Mary] is very talented. He’s done a great job of building that room, and you guys are starting to see some of the results of who’s all in that room.”

Rest assured, though, there will be a bigger role for Sullivan in the weeks to come, starting Saturday when Michigan faces Wisconsin. And while the ‘backers are playing well, the entire defense is starting to come around thanks to the positioning.

“You say linebacker is probably your deepest position at this point in the year, but I really haven’t sat and thought about it because the tackles are playing better,” Martindale said. “Moving Jaishawn on to the edge, that’s improved the edge play. The corner position is where we’re the youngest, so you just don’t know where they’re going to end up at yet with those guys and and who’s going to step out and step up.”