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Posted on Wed, Feb 2, 2011 : 6:07 p.m.

Michigan football program adds 4 linebacker recruits and will switch to 4-3 defense

By Pete Cunningham

One month after the Michigan football team wrapped up a season in which it allowed an average of 35 points and 450 yards per game, new coach Brady Hoke concentrated on defense while recruiting.

Twelve of the 20 recruits Michigan landed Wednesday on national signing day play defense. The next step: Changing how the Wolverines look on defense by moving from the 3-3-5 favored by former coach Rich Rodriguez and going to the 4-3 scheme.

MARK-HILL.jpg

Michigan linebackers coach Mark Smith has four incoming linebackers.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

“(The 4-3) that’s something we both have been familiar with,” Hoke said in reference to defensive coordinator Greg Mattison. “We’re a little seasoned. We’ve played it a lot and coached it a lot.

“When you look at what Greg has done at (the University of) and Baltimore (Ravens), we don’t differ too much, if at all in philosophy, and I think it is very good for what we want to do.”

Hoke - a defensive coach by trade - said more than the need to change to a 4-3 led to his focus on defensive players.

“One thing I know from coaching in the Big Ten, being here at Michigan, you have to play defense,” Hoke said. “Defense is - late in the season, because of the elements because of what you may face and the weather - you’ve got to be able to keep people out of the end zone.”

In theory, adding the extra lineman will put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks and - what Hoke specifically addressed Wednesday - free the linebackers to make more plays.

Linebacker was the second-most addressed position in the recruiting class with four signees: Desmond Morgan, Kellen Jones, Antonio Poole and Frank Clark. Michigan signed five defensive backs.

“It’s very exciting,” linebacker coach Mark Smith said. “All four of these kids coming in fit the criteria we’re looking for. They’re kids that can run, they’re aggressive and they can hit you. We’ll see how they adjust once they get here, but right now we feel real good about them.”

Smith also emphasized that working with the players already on campus would be his focus in the coming weeks.

“Those are the guys that we know right now have a chance to play next year,” Smith said. “If a young kid is good enough to play, then we’ll play him we’re going to play the best player. But right now the focus will be the kids that are here, and when we get a chance to get the young guys in, we’ll see what they can do.”

Linebacker recruit Desmond Morgan (6-foot-2, 225 pounds, Holland West Ottawa) has experience of not just quarterbacking the defense, but the offense as well.

In addition to recording 72 tackles in an injury shortened senior year (he had 120 as a junior) Morgan passed for 519 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 802 yards and 11 more touchdowns as a quarterback.

“There’s so many possibilities for that kid,” Smith said of Morgan. “He could end up doing a lot of things for us.

I think (playing quarterback) helps because obviously he has the leadership skills and he has the savvy - whatever you want to call it - he has all of those abilities, all of those intangibles that you’re looking for in a leader.”

Frank Clark (6-2, 210, Glenville) out of Cleveland reminds Hoke of another former Glenville player he coached at Michigan.

“Frank, in a lot of ways Frank, and I don’t want to put this pressure on him, reminds me of Pierre (Woods),” Hoke said. Clark told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that Woods was prominent in his recruitment. “If you look at (Clark’s) length and the way he runs, he’s going to be a big ol’ guy for us as a football player and a destructive guy.”

Antonio Poole (6-2, 210, Winton Woods) out of Cincinnati and Kellen Jones (St. Pius X) out of Houston both stood out on the tape to Hoke and Smith as players who like to hit.

“As we knew we had some more things to do on the defensive side of the ball, (Poole) just jumped out at you. The way he plays, his physicalness and ability to go sideline to sideline,” Hoke said, pausing to find the right word. “Evident.”

Smith had similar sentiments about Jones.

“I like is the fact that he’s an aggressive hitter,” Smith said. “He’ll get down hill and he’ll go get you.”

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2561 or by e-mail at petercunningham@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.

Comments

SEC Fan

Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 6:06 p.m.

Yes. Hoke is a true genius. Now you have your excuse for losing all your games this year! "we gave up all those points 'cause of our new defensive scheme...we'll win it all next year though"...

Shaun

Thu, Feb 3, 2011 : 7:28 p.m.

Lets see how things go

81wolverine

Thu, Feb 3, 2011 : 6:23 p.m.

This is a great group of linebackers. The kind this program has been sorely lacking for a number of years (since David Harris left). These are players who can run sideline to sideline and like to hit. I agree that we needed one or two good DT's in this class, but Coach Hoke just didn't have the time to find the guy(s) he needed. And definitely, the offensive line will be a big area of need next year. We might easily take 5 OL's next class. I'm optimistic that the coaches will fill these needs in 2012.

Blu n Tpa

Thu, Feb 3, 2011 : 3:36 p.m.

As I noted on another thread, what would you have COACH Hoke do? Burn future scholarships on players just so he "looks" good? Haven't we seen enough of that lately? Three weeks to try to undo three years of bad choices and bad coaching. This staff look around, tried to get players they wanted, and needed, but when it didn't happen they did the right thing. He stood at the podium, looked us in the eye, via the media, and told the truth. We will have to wait. No excuses. Wow, what a change. TiM Go Blue!

Sean T.

Thu, Feb 3, 2011 : 2:42 a.m.

@Port The coach had very little time to get a full class, therefore he went went after glaring weakenesses. Next year, Im sure he'll address it and won't go for several undersized benchwarmers like your saviour.

PortageLkBlu

Fri, Feb 4, 2011 : 12:12 p.m.

Well hello their Sean T, I thought maybe you were vacationing in Hawaii. I hope your right about next year or maybe I should say your right, I just hope the big time recruits want to come to Mich?

1st Down

Thu, Feb 3, 2011 : 1:21 a.m.

3-4 years from now we will all be looking back at this Linebacker Class as being one heck of a group! Those kids are fast, athletic and can all get after it.... GREAT LB group that we desperately needed.

Ben

Thu, Feb 3, 2011 : 1:05 a.m.

With our quality 4-3 defense, we will be back on the way to the crystal in no time! I'm stoked.

Keith

Thu, Feb 3, 2011 : 12:42 a.m.

GOOD BYE 3-3-5. HELLO CHAMPIONS GO BLUE

bluenella

Thu, Feb 3, 2011 : 12:26 a.m.

Blah blah blah with your negativity, some of you people. I doubt you've even spent much time at a game in the stadium vs. your armchair quarterback/coach musings (ho-hum). I'm very happy with the recruits Coach Hoke has coming to Michigan & excited about the season...and future of the team. Go Blue! Go, Brady, Go!

SEC Fan

Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 6:04 p.m.

I excitedly await your happy comments on Sep 2nd....

braggslaw

Thu, Feb 3, 2011 : 12:36 a.m.

It is a well reasoned opinion We do not have to be pollyanish I had the same opinions on richrods first classes

tulsatom

Thu, Feb 3, 2011 : 12:19 a.m.

I was also disappointed in U-M not getting a defensive tackle in this class and think it will be a challenge to play a 4-3 defense with the current group unless a few guys step up their play and/or they switch Will Campbell back to defense. However, I know they tried real hard for a couple defensive linemen recruits like Darian Cooper and another couple of guys who had U-M in their final two or three choices. Given the brief amount of time Hoke had to recruit, I think his staff did pretty well. Some rating services gave him a B+ grade for this class. In his press conference, Hoke said that offensive and defensive linemen will be a top priority in 2012 so the doubters out there will have their first measurable criteria to judge him by as a recruiter. Something tells me he'll follow through on his promise but the proof will be in the pudding.

PortageLkBlu

Wed, Feb 2, 2011 : 11:41 p.m.

@braggslaw Nice to read that you get the big picture.

azwolverine

Thu, Feb 3, 2011 : 1:32 p.m.

portage...nice to see that you never will. The 'big picture' is that Hoke had three weeks to recruit and still managed to bring a class that was ranked below 50 all the up to #21, ten spots ahead of MSU. The 'big picture' is that in only three weeks, Hoke was able to finish only one spot behind what the previous coach took a year to do last year. I also believe that all of the young men now associated with the program will actually receive some coaching and progress, rather than regress as they did under the previous regime. THAT is the 'big picture.'

1st Down

Thu, Feb 3, 2011 : 1:17 a.m.

Wrong. We took 3 DL and a couple of good OL too..the OL is deep and we could have afforded not to take more this year.... PLB should go find RR and root for whatever school he ends up as OC at in 2012.

clarklaker

Thu, Feb 3, 2011 : 12:54 a.m.

Every post from plb is done in a negative manner. My question is why you spend your time seeking anything negative here? Wouldnt your time be better spent on a msu or osu site.

DonAZ

Thu, Feb 3, 2011 : 12:11 a.m.

And what would you have done? I'm very serious with that question. Imagine you were Hoke coming into the program. You look at the currently committed class, the recruits on the board and the needs of the program. Now remember, you can't bribe the recruits. Money can't change hands. So what would YOU have done.

1st Down

Wed, Feb 2, 2011 : 11:39 p.m.

As long as they can tackle and cover. I like the pickups on defense....good, solid class....athletic and playmakers with attitude.

braggslaw

Wed, Feb 2, 2011 : 11:26 p.m.

Huge gaps in this class Michigan desperately needed defensive and offensive lineman Without lineman the program is another year from resurgence Lineman need at least a year if not more to physically mature

Pete Cunningham

Thu, Feb 3, 2011 : 6:39 a.m.

During the press conference Hoke actually acknowledged this. He specifically stated that defensive and offensive linemen would be the first priority in the 2012 recruiting class.

DonAZ

Thu, Feb 3, 2011 : 12:09 a.m.

It's a good start. We gave Rodriguez three years to show signs of improvement. Hoke hasn't yet coached his first game.