2008 Defensive Position Battles for University of Michigan

In contrast to the offensive side of the ball the Michigan defense not only has 7 starters returning, it also has a number of veterans in backup positions as well. With a new coordinator in Scott Shafer the defense is going to be counted on to not only keep Michigan in games, but to create turnovers to help out the offense in 2008.

The strength of the defense will be the defensive line where all 4 starters return including 3 seniors; the battles in fall camp will be to see who will be the first to come in to give the starters a blow. Veterans Tim Jamison, Will Johnson, Terrance Taylor and maybe the most talented of the group, Brandon Graham, will be counted on to put pressure on the quarterback and to shore up a run defense that was less than stellar a year ago. The main reserves are sophomores John Ferrara DT, Greg Banks DE, Jason Kates DT, Renaldo Sagesse DT, juniors Adam Patterson DE, Marquis Slocum DT and one new name to keep an eye on this fall is redshirt freshman DE Ryan Van Bergen who had a great spring practice.

The linebacker position is where the biggest battles for playing time will take place on the defense during fall camp. Expect returning MLB starter Obi Ezeh to hold off the challenge from senior John Thompson, who has been productive every time he has seen the field during his career. The three main contestants for the two outside linebacker spots will be senior Austin Panter, sophomore Jonas Mouton, and sophomore Marell Evans. Mouton is the most talented of the three, but has been inconsistent. Expect Panter to start with Evans and Mouton battling it out for the other spot. The other reserves pushing for playing time are redshirt freshman Brandon Herron, senior Brandon Logan and four incoming freshman who will provide depth for this year.

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The secondary has some proven players and some question marks, but it will not be short on talent. The two starting corners return in Morgan Trent and Donovan Warren, who should form one of the top duos in the Big Ten in 2008. At safety Stevie Brown had a great spring to claim the starting free safety position, as the real battle this fall will be at the strong safety spot where seniors Brandon Harrison and Charles Stewart will compete for the starting job. The top reserves at the corner position will be senior Doug Dutch, along with sophomore Troy Woolfolk, but expect incoming freshman Boubacar Cissoko to see some time there as well. At safety sophomore Artis Chambers, redshirt freshman Michael Williams, and two true freshman, Brandon Smith and J.T. Floyd, could see time.

Michigan is set at the punter spot with one of the best in the conference in 3rd-year starter Zoltan Mesko. The punt returning duties, mostly handled by Greg Matthews last year, should go to Donovan Warren or one of the explosive freshman after finishing near the bottom of the country last year in returns.

by Paul Rodman
BigTen-fans.com Michigan Correspondent

More 2008 Michigan football articles from Rodman:

• 2008 Michigan Wolverines offensive position battles