Despite losing Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, and Josaiah Stewart to the NFL, Michigan football’s strength in 2025 should be the front seven of the defense.
We saw a glimpse of how good it might be in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Alabama when the defense dominated up front, despite none of the three playing in the game. Now, those who showed out in the last game will have a chance to improve upon that and show it for an entire season.
On Wednesday, Michigan defensive coordinator Wink Martindale appeared on the In the Trenches Podcast and shared his thoughts about the changes to the front seven and why he’s optimistic, despite losing two first-round NFL draft talents.
“I think the strength is their hunger to show that there’s not going to be a drop-off,” Martindale said. “Obviously, talent-wise, though, there’s going to be a drop off because they’re not talking about Ike the same they were the same way they were talking about Mason Graham or Trey Pierce, the same way they were talking about KG — you know, whoever you want to use comparative wise. But they have that hunger that they’re going to keep the tradition of Michigan defense just right where it’s at. And it’s fun to watch and you can just see them growing.
“I mean, a lot of these guys, you’re seeing them now after five weeks in the program. You’re like, ‘Wow.’ Ike (Iwunnah) being one of them — he had his shirt off today and I’m like, ‘Hey, Ike,’ but there’s quite a few guys like that. And you still have guys who played last year on the defense. And they’re not going to let it drop the expectation of where our defense is going to be.”
Of course, the biggest part of the front is still the defensive tackle position which will be led by Rayshaun Benny. There are other players there as well — Martindale mentioned Trey Pierce and Ike Iwunnah — but also transfers Tré…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/why-michigan-football-defensive-front-184810432.html
Author : Wolverines Wire
Publish date : 2025-03-05 18:48:00
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