Michigan Football: Biggest Storylines so Far This Offseason
The departure of Jack Miller and suspension of Graham Glasgow have inserted major twists and turns into Michigan football’s spring practice sessions.
This past week, Miller announced that he’d be leaving the team and leaving behind a starting job at center. On Monday, Glasgow, Miller’s perceived successor, was shelved by the Wolverines due to a probation violation, leaving one of the most important positions on the team up for grabs.
There have been positives. It hasn’t been all doom and gloom and heartfelt goodbyes. Continuously in the spotlight since his introduction on Dec. 30, coach Jim Harbaugh’s unique and creative recruiting methods have gained national attention.
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So has his affinity to be involved with everything, evidenced by a spring training appearance with the Oakland A’s.
As for the battle for starting quarterback, well, this one’s going to take some time to unfold. Could Harbaugh, who's saving lives and joining the Oakland A's in spring practice, add yet another guy to the rotation? It’s a possibility.
And then there was senior linebacker Joe Bolden, who, this past Thursday, made one of the boldest proclamations of the spring while praising defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin and defensive line coach Greg Mattison.
No Longer Miller Time
In 2014, Miller emerged as a leader for the Wolverines, and more times than not, he was the one fed to the media after rough games. He handled the wave of critical questions with poise and maturity. Little did he know, he was in the midst of a transformation, evolving from a former reserve lineman to respected spokesperson.
This past season as a fourth-year junior, the 6’4”, 297-pounder started 12 games at center for Michigan, giving plenty of reason to expect him to help anchor the trenches in 2015—but then, after just three practices this spring, he called it quits, opting to pursue business and other personal passions rather than playing the game that ruled his life since childhood.
Why?
Only Miller knows for sure.
Other than it “being time to move on,” he’s yet to really address the subject in full detail. However, during a recent interview, he shed a little light on the subject (more to come on Miller).
Sitting Glasgow
In April of 2013, Glasgow was cited for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Months later in July, the up-and-coming lineman pleaded guilty to driving while visibly impaired and was put on probation for one year. He was supposed to abstain from drinking alcohol—but he didn’t and failed a breathalyzer test administered at 9:59 a.m. Sunday, per Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press.
On Monday, Harbaugh promptly released a statement regarding Glasgow, who had just taken over in Miller’s absence.
"We have been made aware of Graham's probation violation and he has been suspended," Harbaugh said, via release. "Graham will be subject to punishment through the judicial system, the student-athlete alcohol policy and the Michigan football program."
As of now, Glasgow’s future with the program is in serious jeopardy. The terms of his suspension are “indefinite”—and that’s usually not a good sign. The center position is also in a peculiar position, as it now appears that offensive coordinator/O-line coach Tim Drevno will have to resort to third- and fourth-stringers for the time being.
Michigan’s offensive line has been the subject of widespread scrutiny for three years. Improvement up front is necessary if the Wolverines are to even think of competing with Big Ten powers such as Ohio State and Michigan State.
Without a proven starter-caliber player to take over for Glasgow, the offensive line—which has a considerable lack of experience—could regress this season. This spring now becomes extra crucial for lineman development. Absolutely, no questions asked, it has to be priority No. 1.
Be Harbaugh's
Harbaugh often jokes about being a simple man. He knows football, he’s not a fan of the word “dismayed” and he’s pretty straightforward, in a roundabout, throw-you-for-a-loop sort of way—at least when it comes to talking to the media.
Recruits?!
Well, they’re different.
Evidently, Harbaugh is 100 percent direct with those guys. He’ll even make a sign to show how much he wants a player at Michigan, which he did for Boss Tagaloa, a 4-star defensive tackle out of California. Harbaugh offered on March 2, but according to 247Sports, the 6’3”, 295-pound Tagaloa has “warm” interest in Stanford.
Tagaloa will certainly have a wait-and-see recruitment, which will probably also be the case for Dwayne Haskins. The 4-star pro-style quarterback out of Maryland has been on Michigan’s radar for more than a year, but Harbaugh and Michigan recently took the time to express more interest by sending a customized video to Haskins.
Take that, Urban Meyer.
"— Dwayne Haskins, Jr (@dh_simba7) March 12, 2015"
Per 247Sports, the 6’3”, 195-pounder has “warm” interest in LSU, Maryland, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Oklahoma.
But Harbaugh has made several charges at other 2016 recruits.
Oh, and don’t worry about Erik Swenson’s offer from Alabama. While flattered by the recognition, Swenson, Michigan’s first 2016 commit, isn’t interested in any school but Michigan. The 4-star offensive tackle likes Harbaugh, has family in the Great Lakes State and grew up loving Wolverines football.
QB Flux
This past week, passing game coordinator Jedd Fisch was guarded, yet optimistic, while discussing quarterbacks.
Since joining Michigan, he’s seen a lot of good in his three scholarship players: Shane Morris, who’ll be a junior; Wilton Speight, a redshirt freshman; and Alex Malzone, a true freshman and early enrollee.
However, in passing, he mentioned how “other guys” would later enter and possibly factor into the race. He didn’t specify who or what, but Fisch’s comment came at a time when a report by Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman about Iowa grad Jake Rudock potentially visiting Michigan hit the Web like a ton of bricks.
At this time, the Wolverines have 10 quarterbacks on their spring roster, including the three scholarship players and an array of walk-ons—plus Ramsey Romano, a current Wolverines baseball player who just so happened to be a star quarterback back in high school.
It’s clear that Michigan isn’t completely satisfied with its quarterback situation. Why else would it bring in seven more to compete with Speight, Morris and Malzone? On top of that, and the slew of quarterback offers for 2016, there is John O’Korn, who transferred from Houston and will be eligible in 2016.
Talk about overkill. But Harbaugh and Fisch are bent on finding the one, not just “a” quarterback, making their load-the-roster approach appear logical and quite reasonable. In all likelihood, they’re testing Speight, Morris and Malzone’s capacity to compete under immense pressure.
That, again, makes a lot of sense.
More Power?!
This past Thursday, Bolden, a linebacker, swung for the fences while taking questions from ESPN’s Dan Murphy, who wanted to know about the influence of Durkin and Mattison on Michigan's already stout defense.
“You got the two best defensive coordinators in the nation on the same staff,” said Bolden, from a mountaintop. “There’s no other team in the nation that has that, and if you find them, let me know.”
Inside, outside, in the middle—Bolden doesn’t care where he plays, he just wants to play. Transitioning from Mattison’s 4-3 to Durkin’s 3-4 hasn’t been an issue, either. Bolden has obvious confidence in the defense, his teammates and in himself.
The attitude of Michigan’s defense hasn’t changed; it’s just gotten more powerful now that Durkin is paired with Mattison. With Durkin's less vocal and Mattison's more vocal approach, the defensive coaching staff has an ideal balance of grit, technique, experience and potential, said Bolden.
The defense, once again, is and will be among the top storylines to watch during the offseason.
Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81.
Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and references were obtained firsthand by the writer via press conference, press release or during other media availability. Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.com
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