Same. [Eric Upchurch/MGoBlog]

The Question: What was your biggest revelation from the spring?

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Adam: The biggest thing the spring game did for me was ease lingering fears about two defensive position groups. The linebackers were almost universally question marks heading into the spring (unless you count the snaps we saw Ben Gedeon play last season) and they played well enough to quell concerns heading into the fall. I don't remember noticing Gedeon live or in the three or four times I've rewatched the game, which is passable for the Mike position; he also didn't get many snaps, which is indicative of how the staff feels about him. Mike McCray looked good in the spring game, while Devin Bush Jr. looked good in the open practice at Ford Field. Jabrill's gonna Jabrill at Sam; it's unfortunate that Noah Furbush was on crutches considering the hype he received from the coaching staff, but at least there's an excellent starting option at that spot.

Even though we've seen Delano Hill and Dymonte Thomas play quite a bit I was a little concerned about them, particularly Thomas taking over Wilson's free safety spot. Thomas lived up to the hype he'd received this spring whether he was jetting up to support the run or dropping and covering acres of space; his interception in the back of the end zone is a great example of what he can do with his athleticism. Thomas mentioned that he didn't feel like he hit his stride last season until he fully learned the playbook; it looks like he's learned this playbook very quickly. Tyree Kinnel looked like an excellent backup to Hill at SS, reading the field well and bumping receivers off routes regularly.

When I step back and take a 10,000-foot view of things, I find myself taking twisted joy in the things that cause hand wringing about the defense. Sure, some of the position switches on the defensive line are curious, and though I've written in this very space about trying Gary out at WDE (or End in Don Brown's defense) and keeping Wormley at SDE (or Anchor to Brown) it's fun to worry about how to best deploy an armory of Dudes who deserve significant snaps instead of whether there are any Dudes to be deployed. After the spring game, we know the latter isn't an issue for any defensive position group.

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[Hit THE JUMP for more positive defense feels, Tyree Kinnel hype, quarterback reassurance, and a stunning reversal of course from Brian.]

David: This defense should be better than the 2015 defense.

I already thought the defense had a really high ceiling. The Spring Game only reaffirmed that. While the majority of the starters didn't get a lot of run, a handful of the depth guys were given opportunities and made the most of them.  

Starters haven't exactly been decided on the defensive line just yet. However, next season should see seven or eight guys get rotated through, so 'starters' don't exactly mean more snaps. Matt Godin showed himself very well and was probably the most consistently disruptive, albeit playing against a split offensive line. Chase Winovich—who most people had not factored into meaningful defensive snaps—also acquitted himself well and constantly found himself in the backfield. Once Ryan Glasgow gets healthy and Rashan Gary gets on campus, you're looking at a solid two-deep on the DL.

Ben Gedeon played a series or two at most. Mike McCray and Devin Bush Jr, however, played a majority of the game. McCray had a couple of shaky plays, but also played the run nicely gaining an impressive TFL early on. Bush was a little more all over the place but did show a nice tendency to be around the ball. I think Brian said it best, earlier in the week, when he said that Bush probably won't get a ton of time but will be able to spot the starters enough to earn a couple series per game. Add in Jabrill Peppers playing Don Brown's version of the SAM and a potentially improved and hopefully healed Noah Furbush (who has been talked up all spring) and perhaps they is a little more depth at LB than previously assumed.

Dymonte Thomas wow experience

The back end was the most uplifting for me. Lewis, Stribling, and Hill played very little, but that's a good thing. Jeremy Clark played the entire game, usually isolating on the Blue team's best WR (most of the time Drake Harris). He also played like a guy who needed to earn back his starting spot. Jeremy played a fade route absolutely perfectly near the end of the first half. Honestly, it looks like Michigan could have 3 starting corners if they need them. At safety, Dymonte Thomas looked in control wherever he lined up, mostly playing the deeper role. He also flashed one of the most athletic plays by a Michigan safety I'd seen in quite some time. Coming from shallow centerfield, he got to the corner to intercept a well-thrown Morris fly route. This kind of play could take Michigan's defense to the highest level we've seen in a couple decades. Also, Tyree Kinnel—who's M's only real backup safety at this point—played well. He wasn't in coverage a lot, but looked comfortable when he was. He also supported the run, nicely. Very encouraging from him. The secondary should be very deep this season.

Most of Michigan's defense is known. There are not a lot of question marks, as they return seven-ish starters, and most of the replacements saw significant snaps last season. They players who were under the most scrutiny generally impressed, though. And you have to think that with a relatively easy schedule to start the season, they will only grow in understanding and confidence. While it seems like we've been saying that for a few years now 'next year Michigan's defense might reach elite status,' the wait should finally be over in 2016.

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Seth: I agree on Kinnel. For a few years now I've been eyeing the safety position askance every time I've had cause to look at the Depth Chart by Class and fretting.

Not just for 2017. Safety has been a magnet for injuries in my time (Brian invented the "Angry [Position]-Hating God" for safeties in 2005. QED). I also spent this past March immersed in Brown's defense, which left me with a strong impression that he'll use his third safety more than his third cornerback.

So the guy behind Dymonte and Delano is likely to be at least as important to this year's defense as Maurice Hurst was to last year's. With nobody else left, that guy was certain to be Tyree Kinnel, whose total credentials were "I am a non-freshman scholarship safety."

That resume needs a rewrite after last Friday. First I saw him race up from his strong safety position the make a stop on Ty Isaac. From there I started watching him, waiting for sophomore mistakes, and instead catching one excellently played snap after another. Nothing from the coaches suggests that was an aberration. I'm ready to predict this is not just a guy Michigan can live with. I think Kinnel's going to be the best strong safety we've had since Kovacs.

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Wilton Speight looks like a viable starter. [Upchurch]

Ace: Michigan’s quarterback play will be fine.

That’s going to be the expectation every year with Harbaugh at the helm, but he had to scramble to get one of his guys (John O’Korn) in the mix this year. While I didn’t expect the QBs to be particularly bad in the Spring Game, neither did I expect them to be one of the bright spots.

When it came to the two main competitors for the starting job, the QBs were a bright spot. Wilton Speight looked like a different player than the one whose nerves seemed to affect his ability to throw a spiral when he came on against Minnesota last year. He missed a deep ball to Grant Perry; everything else was on-target, and he even made an impact with his legs. He’s making a legitimate push for the job.

John O’Korn fared well considering he didn’t have much to throw to among the receivers even when the offensive line managed to keep his pocket clean. He didn’t make any bad decisions and he kept the chains moving in large part due to his scrambling ability, which was clearly ahead of the rest of the QBs. In stark contrast to last year’s Alex Malzone-led two-minute drill, O’Korn drove his squad down the field efficiently before juking Mike McCray for the would-be tying score; he can’t be faulted for the fullback dive getting stuffed on the two-point conversion.

Both Speight and O’Korn looked like capable starters. That happened without Amara Darboh, Jehu Chesson, and Moe Ways on a team already lacking depth at receiver—especially until the freshmen enroll in the fall—and Jake Butt didn’t play for long. While there isn’t a clear-cut leader, it looks like the QB spot will be fine however the competition goes in the fall.

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Obligatory 'Wheatley among the Lilliputians' picture. [Upchurch]
 

Brian: So nobody took Tyrone Wheatley Jr., which is good because now I can, and bad because I've talked about him too much, and also bad because it makes me think MGoFolks think I'm a Dave Brandon kind of boss instead of a... good boss. ("Archetypical good boss" doesn't exist in my mind, apparently.) So, yeah, Wheatley.

He is large and fast in a way that pops out as soon as you see him. Some guys just have it: Funchess, Peppers, Denard. They have the kind of athleticism that immediately tags them as the kind of genetic freak destined for an NFL career. Wheatley has that at 280. Not that he's anywhere near as fast as those guys, but the combination of the ability to cope with Chris Wormley and also be a threat way downfield is tantalizing for any coach. For Jim Harbaugh? Sheeeeeeeeeeeeit.

And because I should probably say something not 100% obvious let me put out a shout for general Harbaugh feels. From the bitterly contested spring game to Harbaugh's very extensive and specific answer when Sam Webb asked him about this team's leaders, it feels like a Harbaugh team, and one he likes a lot. Harbaugh dropped a half-dozen names when asked about the guys who have taken hold of the reins, and probably meant them all. (If he did not mean the thing he said he would have Cowherded that question.)

If a couple players at key positions come through, could be quite a year.