some bold predictions for Michigan's defense in 2018.
sophomores to be CB Ambry Thomas and CB/S JKP will both play a heckuva lot more in 2018. Thomas will be the starting nickel CB and JKP will take a safety job. 4* CB/S Myles Sims will wind up being a starting safety at some point in the season. He's too good in man coverage to ride the pine all year, and the guys starting now are mediocre (Mettellus) to poor (Kinnel) in man coverage. Don Brown plays a lot of man coverage with his safeties. If those two don't improve, sooner or later they'll have to get replaced- and both of them look athletically limited to me.
If there was a weakness on the defense in 2017 it was safety play and DL depth. Luiji Villain and Donovan Jeter getting hurt in fall camp really hurt DL depth at WDE and SDE. Kwity Paye stepped up late and looks like a potential stud at WDE. Villain will just add to that depth. Losing Jeter really hurt because it gave more snaps to Carlo Kemp- who is pretty bad. Worst graded player by PFF on Michigan's D was Kemp. He doesn't have the raw physical talent or size that Jeter brings to the table. Jeter and Villain are locks to be in the rotation in 2018. DL depth should be better in 2018. Aidan Hutchinson and the DE from Germany will both play as true frosh according to Greg Mattison- they really like both those guys. Might wind up being able to rotate 10 DL's like they did in 2016. SDE/DT Lawrence Marshall better bring it in the spring or he might not be asked back for a 5th year when fall camp rolls around.
DBush Jr and Khaleke Hudson are locked in at their LB spots. There is going to be an epic all-out battle to replace Mike McCray between Noah Furbush, Drew Singleton, Josh Ross, Devin Gil, Josh Uche, Jordan Anthony, and rookie Cameron McGrone. I'd like to see Uche or McGrone win that job. They are explosive athletes. Legit 4.5/4.6 in that 40. SPEED. SPEED. SPEED. Got to get faster.
