Mailbag question: Turning offensive players into defensive players?

Mailbag question: Turning offensive players into defensive players?

GBMW,

I know that Michigan has moved a player or two from offense to defense this season. Is there anyone on the depth chart that can be turned around to play defense on the offensive line or other positions? I'm concerned that with the bad showing that this will turn new recruits off from coming here. I also understand that Cornelius Jones will be turned into a defensive player.

Harold E.

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Thanks for the question.

In our opinion the only way to fix this defense is with recruiting, and frankly outstanding recruiting. Again, we state this is something we collectively have been harping on since watching Coach Rod's first spring practices and observing the depth and quality of players, especially on the second group this year.

Defensive recruiting needs to be priority #1 in this program. We have not morphed away from what we believe in, that is, defense and special teams is a way to build a team first. This is just our opinion and there are other ways to go about building a team. But seeing what Coach Tressel did at Ohio State, when coming in, was a pretty sound (and time tested) model of building a program until getting the players needed to run his system. There are few top five teams with an average defense, and few top ten teams with a below average defense.

There is no shortcut to improving this defense. This task is daunting and will take a much work and effort to secure great commitments. Too many people thought that replacing Coach Shafer (who many blamed for all the problems last year) would solve everything and bringing in Coach Robinson would solve all the defensive problems, including the lack of talent and quality of depth.

Until defensive recruiting is targeted, as hard or harder than offensive recruiting, Michigan's defense will continue to struggle and UM will not be an elite defense. In fact, having a defense as UM has the past two years guarantees a trip out of the top twenty-five.

Thanks for stopping by Go Blue Michigan Wolverine
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Written by GBMW -- CoachBt and ErocWolverine