Big Ten Football Morning Coffee: Michigan Coordinators Talk Spring Football

Rise and shine, Big Ten fans. Here's a breakdown of today's important news.

-The Wolverines blog, mgoblog, has the Michigan spring practice presser transcripts for offensive coordinator Al Borges and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison (who was profiled here yesterday). Borges said that they're giving backup quarterback Devin Gardner a look at wide receiver, but "practices are closed for a reason." Meanwhile, Mattison says his job teaching the players is far easier than last season, which he said was "like I was trying to teach them German or something." Come on, how hard can it be to teach a linebacker the word "blitz"?

-Nebraska freshman tailback Ameer Abdullah was profiled by HuskerExtra.com as he tries to emerge as the primary backup for Rex Burkhead, who returns for his senior season in 2012.

-Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer spoke with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about "SEC speed" and said that while it does make a difference, it's not at the positions where the sexiest 40 times are; Meyer says it's particularly crucial in the defensive front seven. 

-In preparation for the start of spring practice on Wednesday, Iowa released its spring prospectus (PDF) today, which includes the team's 2-deeps. Lots of new names at the backup positions here.

-Black Shoe Diaries, a Penn State blog, graded coach Bill O'Brien's tenure at Penn State after 10 weeks on the job. In related news, there are about 23 more weeks until he coaches a game there.