In 2023, we saw a glimpse of what a CRW defense could be.
Nic and KJ terrorizing the opposing QBs
Dillon T being a ball hawk at Free Safety.
But we did not have the right personnel to execute this defense. OC Brothers was not able to lock down the ILB position and our DBs were only as strong as our weakest link.
In 2024, a strong DB room is much deeper. We have speed. Last year, the fastest players on the team was #1 Dieon Burks, #2 Dillon T.
This Spring the fastest players on the team is #1 Nyland Green, #2 Breedlove, #3 CJ Smith #4 Dillon T.
Side note: Sam Webb from Wolverine radio said Michigan’s Defensive Back recruiting strategy is to see who CRW is recruiting and try to flip them. Last year, they flipped Jo Edmonds. Year before they flipped an Illini commit. This year they tried hard to flip T Grant. Grant is with us now.
Feeling good that Dillon T is our safety. I would not be surprised if our other safety is one of the incoming freshmen K Beasley or Luke Williams.
Feeling good that we have KJ as our ILB. And Yanni has another year experience playing ILB in this defense.
We have more size in DL. It was an interesting take when CRW thought J Harkless can develop into J Newton type player. Quite a comparison.
As for OLB, a lot of unknowns but a lot of potential. Hard to replace Nic and KJ. But can CRW develop the OLBs we have to reproduce the results? Optimistic that W Heldt will have a big year. Opposite him, Will CJ Madden, Shitah, Ojata make the jump?
Last year our weakness was our DBs and ILB. I think CRW has addressed those positions.
What defensive position group do you feel good about? What position group concerns you? Will we finally see the CRW defense this year?