Michigan Football: 3 storylines to follow this spring and beyond

Oct 2, 2021; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Cade McNamara (12) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2021; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Cade McNamara (12) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

New coordinators but similar systems

Michigan football lost defensive coordinator Mike Macondald to the NFL and that was a blow. Yet, he wasn’t expected to be with the Wolverines forever. He wanted to be an NFL DC.

Yet, the Wolverines landed another former Ravens assistant in Jesse Minter. Minter was recommended to Harbaugh, along with Macdonald in 2021 and Harbaugh went with Macdonald, while Minter was the defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt.

Minter and Macdonald coached together in Baltimore and even though they won’t run the exact same system, it will be very similar. Minter is going to make different calls and the defense is going to have different strengths, but that’s a key thing to watch.

We’ll get to see what the defense looks like in the spring game. We’ll also see new offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore and new co-OC Matt Weiss’ first chance to run their offense.

Josh Gattis left for Miami. It was unexpected but Harbaugh kept Moore, who was the co-offensive coordinator last year, as well as Mike Hart, who was promoted to run-game coordinator.

There will be more colloboration on play calls. But the system isn’t going to be different and just like on the defensive side of the ball, that make should make the transititon smoother.

However, that will be a key storyline to follow throughout the 2022 season. Both of Michigan’s coordinators were finalists for the Broyles Award (top CFB assistant) and Gattis won it. Now, he’s calling plays for Miami and it will be important for Michigan to get coordinators who can prevent a big dropoff on both sides of the ball.

dark. Next. First-round mock draft after trades/free agency

We’ll see how things look during the spring game (April 2) and going into fall camp but those hires being successful will be a huge key to U-M’s success in 2022.