8/26/2026 7:48:00 AM | MGoBlue Podcasts
Jon Jansen • 00:00
Well, we are one week away from college football in the big house. Fall has arrived. It's exciting. Today we're going to talk to Coach Black. Larry Black, the defensive tackles coach. A lot of talent up front on that defensive tackle position, but he touches on more than just that. I'm really excited to have him join us. So he's coming up next on In the Trenches.
[music builds]
Jeff Laurence • 00:22
Welcome to the official podcast of Michigan football In the Trenches with Jon Jansen. Presented by Meijer, presenting sponsor of the twenty twenty six Michigan football season, proud supporter of hundreds of local sports teams across the Midwest. Nobody covers Michigan football better than the two time captain, national champion and Michigan athletics hall of honor inductee.
Larry Black • 00:43
I want those guys playing fast. I want their technique showing up fast. I want hard nosed, gritty, you know, taking it to the edge. And we gotta set the tone, man. Like this is, this is week one coming up, man, and it's time to go. So I want those guys feeling very accomplished but excited for the opportunity to go one and oh, at home.
Jeff Laurence • 01:02
This is In the trenches presented by Meijer. Once again, here's Jon Jansen.
Jon Jansen • 01:09
Welcome back friends to another live edition of in the Trenches. I've got my partner with me, mister Brian Boesch. I'm Jon Jansen and I want to let you guys know what's going on with M Go Blue podcast because there's some new additions. Well, new additions, but there's some returning additions. Defend the Block that's been here all summer long. And Brian sits down with Brandon McCoy junior And Quinn Costello. And then next week Conqu'ring Heroes returns with a new format as does our game week coverage of in the Trenches. So we will have three episodes of in the Trenches, your typical Wednesday audio edition. We'll be continue to do these live on Tuesdays. Friday we'll have keys to the game. And Brian, I know you're going to turn down the volume just a little bit because I am super excited to be back with the locker room speech.
Jon Jansen • 01:55
And then obviously the post game, we'll recapture everything. We'll have Coach Whittingham, some players, Brian and I will break down what happens every single game. That'll come out shortly after the game and as I mentioned, inside Michigan football radio show will return next week. If you miss any of that, that will be reposted the following morning, Tuesday morning. So there's a lot going on. We're going to throw a lot at you. But it's Michigan football season. Who doesn't want more Michigan football?
Brian Boesch • 02:21
Do you think you would ever be willing to do the preview and the locker room speech live?
Jon Jansen • 02:28
It's not a pretty sight.
Brian Boesch • 02:29
No. Well, I'm not. I'm not willing, so it's okay.
Jon Jansen • 02:32
Yeah, it's not a pretty sight. I. There's a lot of. There's a lot that goes into it. Let's just say that. And it probably is best to remain behind the scenes.
Brian Boesch • 02:41
Jon has done a really nice job over his time here at Michigan of what would I would say ascending in terms of one take, Jon? That is the area where I'm a little hesitant to force upon you. One take, Jon.
Jon Jansen • 02:56
Well, most of them are one take, you're right.
Brian Boesch • 02:59
But when they aren't one take, they aren't one take. They might be. When it gets very entertaining, they might be lasting.
Jon Jansen • 03:05
Yeah, yeah, they might be. Last take. Yes. There have been a number of times where I've actually had to go back and say, you know what? You can't say that on this podcast. So, yeah, there's been some edits, there's been some redos and there's actually been on when I do have to redo it because I am very involved, sometimes I have to actually take a breath, take a step back and then approach it again. So, yeah, I don't. I'm not sure that recording those with video would be of value.
Brian Boesch • 03:34
Yeah, well, though they'd be valuable.
Jon Jansen • 03:35
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Brian Boesch • 03:36
Just I'm not sure if you want them to be. I don't know if the currency is what we need. All right, we are to the final week before game week. Eleven days as you're watching here on the live stream. Ten if you're listening on the audio side. Got some comments. First off, if you have liked what you've seen from the added video. A, thank you for checking it out, B, if you haven't, please do. But great conversation we had with Jordan Marshall. Well, Jon had with Jordan Marshall last week that we put up on YouTube. We've got some basketball ones up there from before they left for Lithuania and Croatia. But let us know what you like, what you don't like. We want to try to add more video stuff and for those who are only on one channel, if you're here on the YouTube live stream, there is an audio edition that comes out every Wednesday morning that has at least one. Last week we had four different audio interviews over the course of the week.
Brian Boesch • 04:30
And if you were on the audio side, come join us noon Monday, sorry, noon Tuesdays during the game week set of. Of Michigan football. We'll have some off season stuff as well, but definitely encourage you to do that. But that's the split. So when you hear us say audio version or transition, that's what we're doing. Good feedback from some of our listeners and viewers on that side of things. As we get into our seven from seventy seven. I wanted to kind of do a reset here, Jon, a status check, if you will. We're going to split offense and defense into two buckets, and we're going to basically say, all right, What, Jon, do you feel confident that you know. Not necessarily confident in, but confident that you know? And then what are some things that you're still wondering that you might not find out until september fifth against Western Michigan, Maybe not until september twelfth against Oklahoma.
Brian Boesch • 05:17
We'll start defensively. Jon, what do you feel confident?
Jon Jansen • 05:19
You know, I feel confident that Trey Pierce and Enow Etta, as we've heard from Jay Hill, are going to be two of the best defensive tackles in football. And the way that I see them working together, working off of each other, working with the linebackers, I'm really confident that those two guys are, as we heard from Trey Pierce last. Last week, to be able to push the pocket a little bit more, get some penetration. That penetration can be twofold. One, yeah, you want to put pressure on a quarterback, but you want to, when you're playing some of these other teams that do run power games, if they're pulling a tight end, if they're pulling a tackle or a guard, you want to be able to make that guard, tackle, tight end bubble around that. It delays them. And I think both of those guys are going to be able to do that. And I am. I'm actually pretty confident. I know there's a lot of question marks that people have about the secondary, but having watched Smith, Snowden, Chris Bracey, Rod Moore looks great.
Jon Jansen • 06:15
Great. I know everybody's excited about that, and I can't wait for everybody to see him against Western Michigan. But Jyaire Hill, to me, is. Is a completely different player this year, and I'm really excited about what he brings. He hasn't taken down the energy that he plays with, but there is a certain maturity that he's playing with throughout camp, and he's been challenged because those receivers are a different level this year that he's going up against in practice, and the pass game is a little bit more sophisticated that he's going up against than what he's seen. So I think this, The. The. The secondary is going to be a little bit better prepared, and I'm excited of what we're going to see from them.
Brian Boesch • 06:54
Loved all what you said. The fact you're telling fans that Rod Moore has looked great, I think that is one of the most. One of the biggest pivot points of the entire defense, of the entire team. That's massive.
Jon Jansen • 07:06
I don't know if he'll ever get back to at least sure games of what he was back in twenty three. He may. What I've seen in practice lends me to believe that physically he can do that. I want to see it on game days. But the knowledge that he has. When you talk to coach, Coach Whittingham, you talk to the defensive backs coach, they rave about his football iq and he's talked about it over the last two years. The amount of times that he spent coaching the players that he is now going to be playing with, seeing it from a different perspective, yearning to be out there and, and soaking everything up from a mental side of things when he couldn't do it. Phys. If now we're going to see a guy that is. I mean, he could be a guy that would be going into his second year in the NFL, he had that type of potential. Now if we see that talent paired with what he's been able to glean from a couple of different coaching staffs and then watching and learning, I think it's.
Jon Jansen • 08:06
It could be a very special season for Rod and I think that's what we all want too.
Brian Boesch • 08:10
It could have been his third in the NFL. I mean, there was at least totally. I mean, if the last thing he did to the big house was the interception against Ohio State in twenty twenty three, it wouldn't have been totally shocking. I think we all kind of felt like he was leaning towards staying for that twenty four season. But that's the kind of experience Michigan has. So great news there. All right, number two, what don't you feel like, you know, defensively as we sit right now?
Jon Jansen • 08:33
Well, this is kind of a tweener because when I look at Cam Brandt, I look at John Henry Daly and Nate Marshall, Dom Nichols, I see a group that could get after the quarterback. But this is one of those that I need to see. And when we talk about the offense, I'll give you a little clue as to what I am hoping I see is the development of Bryce Underwood. You got to take it from State street to Main Street. But that's one of those things where I'd have to see it before I can say, okay, yes, check that box. And so for the pass rush. And it's not just that. That's the only place the pass rush is going to come from. But can John Henry Daley, you know, what does he look like on the field after having torn his Achilles? You know, I went through that. He's much younger. Even though he's a veteran of the college game, he's much younger than when I did it to myself. So it just takes time.
Jon Jansen • 09:29
What does that look like? And they've, you know, coaches have talked about it. Jon Henry Daly came on the podcast and talked about the measured approach that they're taking to make sure that he's ready come game day against Western Michigan, Oklahoma and the rest of the season. Um, and so I just need to see them go out there and win one on one battles, apply pressure. And the, the pressure doesn't have to come just from them. We'll talk about the linebackers here in a minute. It also can come from the linebackers. There's a lot of athletic ability, but not a lot of experience. Some but not a lot of experience. And I, I'll just jump into it. Linebackers is also one of those groups that I think they're going to be very productive. Thanks, coach. We're moving on to the next drill. If I was talking about the offensive line, I thought that was Brian signaling somebody.
Jon Jansen • 10:19
If you couldn't hear it, there was a whole.
Brian Boesch • 10:20
Don't give me any ideas. We got some buttons here too.
Jon Jansen • 10:24
move on, but it's. There are, you know, Nathaniel Staehling, I think is going to be a great addition to this group. And we've talked about, you know, Chase Taylor and the experience that he got last year. Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, Troy Bowles. We know that he's got a wealth of knowledge, but it's one of those where I need to see it in practice. Not, not at practice, but in practice out there. As if these were all doctors going out there to practice medicine. So it's, it's just a matter of taking it from the practice field because I see it at times, but making sure the moment isn't too big, that the scene isn't too big, that they can actually process everything and execut at game speed and in game pressure.
Brian Boesch • 11:09
All right. To the offensive side of things. Jon, we'll go back to what you feel like, you know, without the benefit of game action about this Michigan offense.
Jon Jansen • 11:19
Well, what I know is that you've got some really good experience up front and that is Blake Frazier at the left tackle position, Jake Warner at the center position. And I really like when he came into that Texas game When Cripp went down, Greg Crippen the center from last year, he got dinged up. Jake goes over and I, I'm really excited to see him play the center position. I think he is going to be a dominant center and, and excited about that. And then obviously Andrew Sprague, right tackle. Those are known quantities. Those are guys that we saw play last year. I've seen them play, I've seen some of the things they've worked on and some, in some cases it's just for Blake Frazier just you know, he put the feed bag on, got in the weight room and he's bigger, faster, stronger. So excited about that. What I want to see up front is who are going to be those guards?
Jon Jansen • 12:08
Is it Brady Norton and Nathan Efobi who is has separated themselves and then I need to see consistency from those positions. So when you have every other guy that has that experience and those, both those other guys I just mentioned have experience but there needs to be a sense of urgency and there needs to be execution from those, from those two positions to really solidify that offensive line. Another thing that I, I one hundred know is that there is a ton of talent in that wide receiver room when and we, we talked to Jaime Ffrench just a couple of weeks ago and you look at JJ Buchanan, coaches talked about him at times being unguardable, really excited about those guys. And I didn't even talk about the guy that we know most about and that is Andrew Marsh in his second year. And in case you missed the memo, he is wearing number three this year. So when you're looking out there, make sure you identify where, where he is because defenses are certainly going to be identifying where he's at.
Jon Jansen • 13:07
And then you look at the, the depth chart and coaches talked about this. So I'm not breaking any news but Channing Goodwin has had a really good fall camp. I see him as that slot guy, a possession type of receiver. He had some drops last year but he's really taken a number of steps forward, running precise routes. The thing I mentioned about him last year, Brian, if you remember was last year was how he changed his body and he, you know, beefed up bigger, faster, stronger. This year it's about honing in on the skills of playing wide receiver and I'm really excited about what he does and Salesi Moa young guy, four star recruit that is going to be in the mix and I'm really excited to see him play. So I do think we have talent to affect all areas on the field. I didn't Even talk about the running backs yet. I'll talk about them now.
Brian Boesch • 13:57
Jordan Marshall, that's the one thing I feel like I know the most.
Jon Jansen • 14:02
And it's Jordan Marshall, Savion Hiter. Now, I'm not going to put Savion in that category yet. He's got all the tools that you would ever dream about as a running back. He's big, he's fast, he's strong, he's got great instincts. Now it's just a matter of he's going to have to build that trust, continue to build it amongst the coaches, amongst his teammates about possessing the football. And there's nothing in practice that has said he can't. But it's a different animal on game day. So possession is going to be the thing that I'm looking at for him. I have no doubt that he's going to go out there and show everything he's done on the field physically. And so, yeah, I'm excited about that. But Jordan Marshall is the reason that I would put that in the category of known commodity.
Brian Boesch • 14:48
All right, so on the offensive side, you, you feel based on that answer, like you have a good handle on what this offense can be. It sounds like Savion Hiter is. You can't know until you see him in a college game is that he's as close of a true freshman as can get. But you got to see it against college players.
Jon Jansen • 15:04
It's very much. And it will bring up the, you know, the ones that I need to see on the field. It is obviously Savion Hiter. It's also Bryce Underwood. I've seen a lot of things that excite me during practice, but now you've got to take it and you got to perform against Western. More importantly, you're going to have to perform against Oklahoma when it's going to be a very sophisticated defense. And that defense, I guarantee you, if you go back and watch the film last year against Oklahoma, yes, it's a, it's a different offense that Michigan is playing. Even if it was the same offense, it's going to be a completely different look on defense. That is one of the things that I love watching with as just a student of the game about watching a Brett Venables defense from week to week, it could look completely different. And certainly from one year to the next, players are going to be a little bit different.
Jon Jansen • 15:49
But the play caller on defense is Brent Venables and that's where I really want to see the gross growth of, of Bryce Underwood. Can he stay on schedule? This offensive line, I believe, is going to give him the time. But the one thing I know about this offense is they will be able to run the football. And in talking to Coach Whittingham, I asked him about the talent, the receiver position, the talent, the quarterback position. The ability to protect is the, you know, the ability to go downfield and have quick strikes, an explosive passing game. Is that something that this fan base should expect to see? And he said one hundred percent. It's going to be a huge part of this offense. So I'm excited. But I do want to see Savion Hiter, I want to see Bryce Underwood actually perform under pressure. And the tight end position, I know I didn't mention them, kind of put them along with the offensive line and the receivers, they're somewhat of a known commodity other than.
Jon Jansen • 16:46
I just need to see them stay healthy. Whether it's Zach Marshall and he was relatively healthy last year. Hogan Hansen, Deakon Tonielli, all of these guys have great potential. We just need to see them build from game to game. And part of that building is what I think is the greatest ability, and that's availability.
Brian Boesch • 17:06
One thing, imagine how much film Brent Venables has watched just on Andrew Marsh. Because remember, Marsh was not really a factor against Oklahoma. He became one. But I mean, I'm fascinated to see what this Oklahoma defense does against Marsh and vice versa. I think that's fascinating. On the tight end side, is it fair to say you have trust in the room, but you're wondering who will emerge individually?
Jon Jansen • 17:32
Well, I think there could be a couple of individuals that. That re. That emerge. And it's really for that group. I mean, Hogan Hansen, we were really excited after we saw him step in.
Brian Boesch • 17:41
I thought he was a budding star.
Jon Jansen • 17:42
Yeah. And then, I mean, he was basically dinged up all last year. And Zach Marshall is a guy that I know that you know somewhat looking at him. Same with Jalen Hoffman in the run game. But, you know, how effective can they be in the pass game and not. I don't know that you're going to see Jalen Hoffman set any records receiving the ball, but I do think for Zach, there is potential that he could be a budding star as well.
Brian Boesch • 18:10
If Jalen Hoffman sets receiving records, Max Bredeson is going to be as bitter about that as you are about Lloyd never making you.
Jon Jansen • 18:17
Max caught one in his first NFL preseason game, so two yards. But he did throw him the ball. So maybe it was untapped potential.
Brian Boesch • 18:26
If Jalen often leads his team with receptions, A. I think Michigan's probably in trouble, but B Max is going to be livid. Oh, yeah, livid. All right, before we continue our seven from seventy seven, a big popular event is back, but it will sell out. Jon, tell our fans about next month's night out at the Big House.
Jon Jansen • 18:43
Yeah, and it's, it's sold out before they've added nights, but don't count on it. So you got to make sure you sign up. Now. Foguth Financial Group is the proud wealth management partner of Michigan athletics. And to celebrate, they are inviting those already retired or nearing retirement to attend the annual night out at the Big House on Thursday, september twenty fourth. So I'll give you a second. Mark that down on your calendar. September twenty fourth, night out at the Big House. This is where you're going to get the opportunity to learn strategies for managing the risks of retirement, enjoy complimentary dinner door prizes and get exclusive access to Tour Michigan Stadium. Just go to mgoblue dot com BIG House to sign up. That's mgo blue dot com Big House. And just as a reminder, Brian mentioned it, I mentioned it. Limited seats are available.
Brian Boesch • 19:27
We will branch out a little bit, talk some wide ranging big ten in college football stuff. But if you're on the live stream, we say hello to Matthew Kwame. Mark, mister misses Zachary, a Ravens fan there. Cool kid, twenty two fifty six all with the Go Blues. Our friend Doug Go Blue one more Saturday. As mentioned, we will get some questions and comments as we go along, but choose your fighter here. Scotty five one seven Janssen is the goat or Patrick F. I do believe who has commented more frequently. Hi Jon and Brian. Brian, you are the man. No burner. I promise it's not the burner because actually I don't know where my phone is. I was looking at it like during the first answer.
Jon Jansen • 20:10
Oh, you don't know where that phone is?
Brian Boesch • 20:11
I don't.
Jon Jansen • 20:12
Thanks for leaving it unlocked.
Brian Boesch • 20:14
I did the keys wallet phone thing before we got into the first seven from seventy seven. And I'm a third short.
Jon Jansen • 20:21
Yeah. Yeah. Running a little naked, are you?
Brian Boesch • 20:24
Yeah. Patrick, send that to me, please. All right, number five on our seven from seventy seven here. We will get to college football games this week. So I want to get to a few predictions. Not going to go broad on that. Prognostication is dangerous. But I do want to know from you in the big Ten, give me a team that you feel like will surprise on what I've deemed to be the airplane departure arrival gates board that is the big Ten standings and give Me, a team that you think could disappoint based on the prognostication you've seen?
Jon Jansen • 20:57
Well, so the prognostications have they, you know, some of them have Oregon at the top, some of them have Indiana near the top, some of them have Ohio State at the top. But I think those teams are going to be fairly consistent. And in no way, shape or form am I going to disparage Curt Cignetti and what they've built over a very short period of time. They're the reigning national champs. I do have a question of Josh Hoover coming in as their starting quarterback. What does that offense look like? Do I think they underperform? I guess it depends on what your expectations are.
Brian Boesch • 21:30
You think they make the playoff?
Jon Jansen • 21:32
I do.
Brian Boesch • 21:33
Okay.
Jon Jansen • 21:33
I do think they make the playoffs.
Brian Boesch • 21:36
But it sounds like you think it's a real doubt there, because I think most people to. Again, your point about Signetti, have Indiana in the playoff.
Jon Jansen • 21:44
Yeah. I mean, the only way that they're not is last year. I mean, they lost a lot of talent. They lost a lot of talent defensively. Now, they did get some of it back. But are they going to be as good and as sound? And when I say as good and as sound, they were as good a tackling team as you were going to find. Now, you can coach that up, but you still have to have the athletes, the studs, to be able to make that happen. So have they been able to replace those individuals defensively and especially at the linebacker position? The team that I think overperforms, and I talked about this, I think I've talked about it each of the last two weeks, is Michigan's first Big Ten opponent, and that's the Iowa Hawkeyes. They've been ranked, what, twenty two, I think, in both polls are right around there. I think. I do think that they're going to be a team that. That is a very tough out for every Big Ten team.
Jon Jansen • 22:37
From what I saw from them last year, they've finally dipped into the transfer portal, got themselves what they believe is a quarterback that can go out there and put some points on the board. If that happens, you pair it with what we traditionally know as Iowa defense. They're going to be. They're going to be a very tough team. I think they overperform what most people believe they're going to be the team that underperforms. Gosh, it's. It's. It's really hard to tell because I think there's a clear delineation of the teams at the top that next Group of teams which I would put Michigan, usc, Iowa, those type of teams in there. And I think they kind of perform to expectations and I guess maybe I would say, I think Nebraska probably takes a step back having lost their quarterback. Illinois, kind of the same thing. Detroit Lions fans are really excited about what they see from, from, you know, their quarterback they had last year.
Jon Jansen • 23:29
So I think he, the Illinois could be one of those teams that everybody always is anticipating and hope my wife's not watching because she's an Illinois grad. I think they take a step back with Brett Bielema just because they haven't performed up to the expectations. I thought a Brett Bielema team would do, and that is protect a quarterback and run the football. Last year they have one of the most experienced offensive lines and they struggled in both categories. So I don't see them being as good as many people think that they could possibly be.
Brian Boesch • 24:01
May I submit Penn State as a potential underperformer simply because I think a lot of people are maybe too aggressively playing the schedule game with them. They most certainly have a favorable schedule, but we also don't know what to expect. And unless we could play the schedule game with Indiana, they're not going to get challenged until probably they face Ohio State at home on october seventeenth. Do go to Nebraska the week before, but I'm kind of with you Huskers. Feel six and six, six, seven and five. Like I could see Penn State having a pretty decent record. I could also see them go nine and three and it feel very hollow.
Jon Jansen • 24:39
You, you're one hundred percent correct. And it's really about Matt Campbell, the guys that came over from Iowa State. I mentioned it a couple of times where we saw Curt Cignetti do it and have success. Guys coming from jmu. So you have guys coming from a power four conference that understand a little bit more of what big time football is. Can they step up in that environment, you know, at Penn State? And I think the schedule, to me, it's not necessarily that it's an easy schedule and it puts wins on the table for them. It's that it's a schedule that allows them to continue to gel. One of the things that I think is remarkable about what Curt Cignetti did is he took those guys from jmu. He took the guys he inherited from the previous staff and he, he made them a team and he did it early in that season. It's so difficult to get guys to buy into your system, to get to know each other and develop the chemistry.
Jon Jansen • 25:39
The camaraderie what you need to be a successful team in such a short period of time. And that is going to be the task for Matt Campbell. Can he do that at Penn State? Can he make those guys from individuals that can play the game of football to a team that can dominate the game?
Brian Boesch • 25:55
Well, the key is to just have a rigorous non conference schedule like Indiana has with North Texas Howard and Western Kentucky and then start Big Ten play home against Northwestern at Rutgers.
Jon Jansen • 26:08
Okay, yes, we could slam their schedule
Brian Boesch • 26:11
all it's literally the only thing I'll slam about them. Everything else but it allows them the
Jon Jansen • 26:17
opportunity of trial and error. It allows them the opportunity to not play good against North Texas and still get a win, not play good against Rutgers or Northwestern and still rack up wins. All while they're continuing to build a team.
Brian Boesch • 26:33
Totally. And Penn State has a very similar trajectory to that Indiana one that they had two years ago last year and this year and again I, I, we've talked about Indiana. It I think it's one of the most remarkable stories of my lifetime in sports, what they've done. But Penn State, they very well could start five and oh, they host Wisconsin and are at Northwestern for their first two Big Ten games. But if they lose at home to USC and then lose here in Ann Arbor to the Wolverines on october seventeenth, I could also see it really flame out to a point of oh boy, they've already lost the two perceived toughest games on their schedule and they still aren't exactly thinking like they're going to make runs. So I think Penn State's probably going to be at least kind of hanging around the periphery of the Big Ten and College Football Playoff conversation because of the schedule because I do think Matt Campbell's a good coach.
Brian Boesch • 27:23
I just also could see it be a seven and five. That panic meter is all over Happy Valley. All right, number six on our seven from seventy seven. Let's talk nationally, the other three power conference leagues, who do you like winning those? Sec, Big twelve and acc. And I might even see if you're willing to provide a CFP championship game type of a pre if you're feeling frisky. Jon Jansen.
Jon Jansen • 27:47
All right, so the ACC is again a one team conference.
Brian Boesch • 27:50
There is a seven time super bowl champion or sorry, six time super bowl champion there.
Jon Jansen • 27:54
Yes there is and we get a chance to see them this weekend. Yeah, I know I don't have high expectations. I mean we know he's got game, just not sure if he has college football game. But the ACC to me is it's it's Miami, Miami, Miami. And it used to be Clemson, Clemson, Clemson. But this is the first year and I don't know how many where Clemson's not even ranked. And so it again is a, it's a one team conference. And I know, hey, Louisville can be a bit of a bugger here and there and you know, you look down the list of teams, I just don't see a lot of what, what do we know about Mike Norvell in Florida State? Like this is a make it or break it year for him as a coach down there. I don't know really what to make of them. So I think it's Miami and that's about the only team we'll talk about in, in the acc, the Big twelve. This is.
Brian Boesch • 28:44
Where should I get a hat and put the team names in there and
Jon Jansen • 28:50
then we just pick one out? Sure.
Brian Boesch • 28:51
We'd have a decent shot at it.
Jon Jansen • 28:53
Yeah. I mean, I think you're looking at byu, who is also another team I believe we'll get a chance to see this weekend. Other than that,
Brian Boesch • 29:04
Dilly. Dilly.
Jon Jansen • 29:05
Yeah. Texas Tech, but they don't.
Brian Boesch • 29:08
Arizona State.
Jon Jansen • 29:09
A quarterback maybe. I don't know. It's. Yeah, but it's the Big twelve, so you know what, who cares?
Larry Black • 29:14
That's a spirit.
Jon Jansen • 29:15
Yeah. But. So let's talk about the SEC just a little bit. I know you brought them up and SEC is going to be so entertaining this year. And part of it is, do we actually see former NFL players playing in college football?
Brian Boesch • 29:34
We will get to that on the video side because, boy, what a time to be alive.
Jon Jansen • 29:38
Yeah, you can't, you literally can't make this stuff up. If I had made some of the story lines up a year ago, you would have laughed me off the podcast.
Brian Boesch • 29:47
So I don't think Jayden Daniels is going back to LSU though.
Jon Jansen • 29:50
No. Well, I mean, would he have to wear a different number?
Brian Boesch • 29:52
I think so.
Larry Black • 29:53
Yeah.
Brian Boesch • 29:53
He would just wear his last name twice.
Jon Jansen • 29:55
Daniels. Daniels. Love it. And. But you know. Okay, what's Alabama going to be this year? I don't know. You know, and, and lsu, first, first year of Lane Kiffin. You know, I mean, they got Sam Levitt at quarterback. They've got a lot of talent. But again, I don't know, Oklahoma, to me is. Is a team that could overperform and possibly. I think they certainly should be a college football playoff team. But can they win the sec? Because you also have Texas and you know, and what is Texas going to be in Georgia? Like, there's A lot of question marks and a lot of it has to revolve around the quarterback position. Georgia, you know, defense, defense, defense. Like that's Kirby Smart's calling card. They're going to have talent defensive, but can they, you know, can they put up enough points to compete on the offensive side of things? And it's the same thing, you know, when you're talking about Arch Manning.
Jon Jansen • 30:48
You know, last year a lot of people had said, you know, hey, you know, just, just put his name on the Heisman. And then after week one against Ohio State, oh man, ultimate fraud. Give the kid some time. What is he going to be this year? We had a chance to see him in the bowl game and he's a talented kid. So it's about the progression. We're going to, we're going to talk ad nauseum about the progression of our own quarterback. And so, you know, I think the SEC is, is really up for grabs and it could be very entertaining.
Brian Boesch • 31:20
So agreed that Oklahoma could have a really big year. They could also be two and three to start the year because their first five home against utep, then of course here in Ann Arbor, then they host New Mexico. Jason Eck, we saw him last year, they'll make that at least a little bit of an annoyance for Oklahoma, then at Georgia and then neutral site against Texas. So there is a non zero chance Oklahoma is two and three after five. If they're five and oh, after that they're probably the national championship favorite favorite.
Jon Jansen • 31:48
I would think so. And it really depends on, I think Oklahoma. I could say a known quantity is their defense offensively with John Mateer back for another year, you know, being a dual threat quarterback, if he could stay healthy, Sky's the limit for that team.
Brian Boesch • 32:07
Can be interesting. So any, any feeling right now on CFP champ? And my other question is, do you think the SEC in the Big Ten makes up all of the at large is this year?
Jon Jansen • 32:22
I do too because I mean I just have little faith in anybody other than Miami and the accident and the Big twelve. I think there are a lot of teams that are of equal value.
Brian Boesch • 32:35
They'll cannibalize each other.
Jon Jansen • 32:36
Yeah, exactly. And so I just don't see you know, obviously the champ going in, but other than that I don't know that they get another at large bid. And I guess if I was to make an early prediction on my national champ this year, I've got to go with Dante Moore and the, the loads and loads and loads of talent that they have in Oregon. Speed at receiver Speed all over the place defensively, a stacked offensive line and a kid that I think has made one of the great decisions and, you know, if he stays healthy, will pay off huge dividends. Is Dante Moore, in deciding to come back for another year? I don't think there was any question he would have been the number one overall pick, at least not in my mind. He's over Mendoza. Yes. Interesting, because he's a much better athlete than Mendoza. Mendoza has, you know, his own qualities. But I think if you're. If you're looking at an NFL quarterback of the future, I think Dante Moore would have been the number one overall pick.
Jon Jansen • 33:35
So to leave that money on the table, come back because there were things in his game that he wanted to work on. And if you look at it, even if he wasn't the number one overall pick, he would have certainly been the second quarterback off the board and it would have been early this year. The quarterback pool is much larger. The competition is much different. He said, I don't care. I'm coming back for another year.
Brian Boesch • 33:55
Also, one disclaimer. I do think Notre Dame makes the playoff. I'm not really counting them as in that large because they now have a set barometer that they can hit to get in because congrats on all their success. All right, number seven on our seven from seventy seven game late in the season.
Jon Jansen • 34:13
Notre Dame, Miami.
Brian Boesch • 34:14
That's not sneaky. That is.
Jon Jansen • 34:15
That's a. That's.
Brian Boesch • 34:16
Is that. Is that november seventh? Is that Michigan? Michigan State? Is that the week?
Jon Jansen • 34:20
I think it might be, yeah.
Larry Black • 34:22
All right.
Brian Boesch • 34:22
That'll be a fun one.
Jon Jansen • 34:23
Multiple screens in the booth.
Brian Boesch • 34:24
Yes, exactly. We will persevere. All right, number seven on our seven from seventy seven. There are eight FBS games. It starts in Dublin, Ireland, North Carolina against TCU at noon. I feel like this could be the beginning of a really rough year for the Heels.
Jon Jansen • 34:46
Yeah, I mean, I, I don't really know what to say about North Carolina.
Brian Boesch • 34:55
You're. What you. What you said earlier was pretty much spot on.
Jon Jansen • 34:59
I think it's probably what everyone else is saying.
Brian Boesch • 35:00
Yeah.
Jon Jansen • 35:01
Is what everyone else correct?
Brian Boesch • 35:02
Yes, very much so. Especially on social media dot com three PM Eastern, noon. Out at the Coliseum, USC heavy, heavy favorites against San Jose State. Anything you're watching from Lincoln, Riley's crew there?
Jon Jansen • 35:15
Yeah, I want to see. We obviously saw the, the rushing attack last year, but can they be a consistent running game? And I don't know that we're going to make that determination when they play San Jose State. But, But Jayden Maiava at quarterback, we know he's a guy that can sling the ball around, but can they, can they be that two headed monster offensively where yeah, you have this extreme threat of being able to go down the field and you're able to, you know, expose defenses that way. But can you run the football? You have to be able to run it in the Big Ten. Have they gotten to a point where they can do that? Big question mark. Defensively, I'm really interested to see Gary Patterson as their new defensive coordinator. That is, that is something that is. Could be frightful in regards to if they are a team that is putting up a lot of points and that defense plays like we've seen Gary Patterson defenses play in the past.
Jon Jansen • 36:10
You know, I, maybe I'll put them in the category of they could overperform.
Larry Black • 36:14
Yeah.
Jon Jansen • 36:15
What, what the preseason prognostications are for them.
Brian Boesch • 36:18
I mean, I think USC and Michigan are kind of the two teams that a lot of people perceive to be knocking on the door of what most believe is the top tier in the Big Ten of Indiana, Ohio State and Oregon. ACC game in Charlottesville, North Carolina State is at Virginia. It's not the only conference game, you know, the other conference game.
Jon Jansen • 36:41
Yeah, we've got MACtion in Ypsilanti.
Brian Boesch • 36:44
The home for Eastern Michigan versus Sacramento State.
Jon Jansen • 36:49
Yes, that is a Sacramento, Illinois.
Larry Black • 36:52
Nope.
Jon Jansen • 36:52
Is there a Sacramento Illinois? There's got to be. Is there a Sacramento, Wisconsin?
Brian Boesch • 36:57
I. Well, this is not the one.
Jon Jansen • 36:59
This is the, this is the one out in California.
Brian Boesch • 37:02
It sure is. Yeah.
Jon Jansen • 37:04
Mid American Conference.
Brian Boesch • 37:06
They sure are. Yes. And it's going down at the factory on Saturday. A little bit of me kind of wants to go. I have a wedding. I can't, but I got, I kind of want, I would like to go over there. Toledo Zoo. It'll be fun.
Jon Jansen • 37:19
Brian, it's football season. Who gets married during football season?
Brian Boesch • 37:23
I know. Well, remember we almost were going to Germany this weekend, so that would have been a. Hey, I send a nice gift. Remember that?
Larry Black • 37:33
Yeah.
Jon Jansen • 37:33
A lot going on to play a team right down the road.
Brian Boesch • 37:36
Yes, yes. Please join us. Meet us in Ann Arbor and we'll fly out to Germany. North Dakota State FBS debut against Jacksonville State. A program that has had some success, won their league Conference USA two years ago, lost in the championship game last year. That, that's one that from just a competitive standpoint, maybe the most intriguing of the weekend.
Jon Jansen • 37:57
Yeah, I mean it's, it's, it's going to be interesting to see that transition. You know, the Bison playing FBS ball The Fargo Dome. Yeah, that's about all. North Dakota. Yeah. Yeah. Do you know anything other than their mascot Bison?
Brian Boesch • 38:15
Fargo Dome. They've won. Carson Wentz played there.
Jon Jansen • 38:18
Okay.
Brian Boesch • 38:19
About this year's team. No, I'm not. I have not. You know, maybe. Hey, maybe for the five hundred twelve CFP first round matchup. I'll be ready for it.
Jon Jansen • 38:29
Okay.
Brian Boesch • 38:29
There you go. What if that happened?
Jon Jansen • 38:31
Great story.
Brian Boesch • 38:32
We're clipping this. Otherwise, seven o', clock, Stanford versus Hawaii. The fight in Andrew Luxury. Florida State hosts New Mexico State at seven, and then Memphis at unlv. Rebels are a team member when they came a few years ago. I mean, they've never really had any historical success. They've carved out a nice little program there on the strip. That's an interesting matchup. Again, just from competitive standpoint, these games wouldn't register on the scale in a week one through fourteen. But for week zero, yeah, I'll be catching.
Jon Jansen • 39:02
And I know he got hurt, but I. And I know he's looking at depth charts and we don't really know who's going to be starters. And I don't follow UNLV football, but old pal Alex Orji.
Brian Boesch • 39:13
Yeah.
Jon Jansen • 39:14
Is a member of the running rebs. And so if you're a Michigan fan, you want to take a look and see what he's doing, you might get a chance to get a peek at him.
Brian Boesch • 39:22
According to new partner of Michigan athletics, Google Gemini, there are seven US states that have a Sacramento.
Jon Jansen • 39:31
Oh, what's the nearest one to the Midwest?
Brian Boesch • 39:34
Yep, pulling that up right now. The stream slash. There is one in Kentucky.
Jon Jansen • 39:41
Okay.
Brian Boesch • 39:42
That could be close enough to be Sacramento, Nebraska. How about that? That's exciting.
Jon Jansen • 39:48
Yes.
Brian Boesch • 39:49
Wi fi struggle in here. New Mexico, Pennsylvania.
Jon Jansen • 39:53
Oh, all right. Action school.
Brian Boesch • 39:55
Yeah, eight hundred fifty four folks there in the twenty ten census haven't gotten the twenty twenty update yet. Sacramento, Wisconsin.
Jon Jansen • 40:06
I knew it.
Brian Boesch • 40:06
You did.
Larry Black • 40:07
Well done.
Brian Boesch • 40:08
Well done.
Jon Jansen • 40:09
Not one in Illinois though.
Brian Boesch • 40:11
No, but apparently thirty one Sacramento's worldwide. There are eight in Mexico, apparently. Maybe that'll be a future MAC location.
Jon Jansen • 40:20
Get the zip code right on that one.
Brian Boesch • 40:21
Yeah. Before our transitions, which we're kind of in the midst of, let's talk about planning your visits to Ann Arbor for football weekends. Jon, you've got some high level restaurants to tell our fans about.
Jon Jansen • 40:33
I do. Start or end your game day experience at one of the great Main Street Ventures restaurant group locations where the craft sophisticated yet tempting culinary dishes provide a dining experience that is both vibrant and inviting. This is what. What they call exemplified excellence Visit Real Seafood company for the freshest fish and seafood Palio four authentic Italian and the Chop House for premium USDA prime steaks and chops. Whatever the craving, these Ann Arbor locations. I think you could probably tell which was my favorite.
Brian Boesch • 41:07
Yeah, no, I wonder where you're going.
Jon Jansen • 41:08
Whatever the craving, these Ann Arbor locations are ready to satisfy your every desire. They offer full bars, extensive wine lists, craft cocktails, delectable desserts and a cigar bar. Located at the Chop House at Main Street Ventures Restaurant Group, they strive to offer unmatched hospitality to every guest and every location. Because of them, you're not just a customer, you're their most valued guest. Visit mainstreetventuresinc dot com to select your culinary destination and make a reservation. Come hungry and ready for an unforgettable experience.
Brian Boesch • 41:41
Transition time, as we talked about off the top. If you're watching with us right now, be sure to check out Wednesday's audio edition of in the Trenches, presented by Meijer. It's on the M Go Blue podcast feed. We've got a great conversation with defensive line coach Larry Black. And then, of course, on the audio side, join us, come on out, be with us for the YouTube live stream.
[music builds]
Morgan & Morgan Radio Spot • 42:06
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Jon Jansen • 42:40
All right, now we're joined by defensive tackles coach Larry Black. And if anybody remembers from with the introductory podcast that we had a lot of energy, a lot of juice. So I want to know, are the guys matching your level of energy?
Larry Black • 42:57
I. They are, man. You know, I, I challenge them every day. I'm still like, like I said, I tell them call me out if I'm not bringing it, but. But yes, man, they've been bringing it. They've been bringing it every day. Proud of the unit. Guys continue to step up and, and excited where where we continue to go. This a big week here.
Jon Jansen • 43:15
Where is your group right now? Let's just keep it at the defensive tackles because I do want to expand it to the defensive line and the defense as a whole. But for those guys, what you saw on film, whether they're transfers or guys that were here.
Larry Black • 43:27
Yes.
Jon Jansen • 43:27
Then what you saw them do for spring ball, and now where they are now, how much have they progressed from what you thought you were getting to know? What you have?
Larry Black • 43:36
So much, man. You know, you. You think about it, too. You go, spring ball. That summer is huge, too, man. It's so much we accomplished in the summer. We're taking steps, and then, you know, camp, those guys are taking steps from as far as, you know, pass recognition, you know, going from the RPO and then being able to snatch off, continue to be square and style on the double teams and. And dominate base block. So it's a lot of another thing. I've been really good. We've been getting our hands up a lot, and I tell them that's just as good as a sack, so.
Jon Jansen • 44:06
I know, I know.
Larry Black • 44:09
Yea I gotta punch him. Yeah, I know.
Jon Jansen • 44:10
That's my instinct. Breaking the hand again. I might have to punch you in the belly.
Larry Black • 44:13
Hey, that's what I tell him. So I tell him, you know, it's scummy in there, but we've been doing a good job of that. But that's where, you know, it's certain technique. We go about, you know, breaking the hands. Cause I know guys like you, you're gonna punch us right in the stomach, but that's good.
Jon Jansen • 44:26
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Depends on how you jump.
Larry Black • 44:28
Hey, I saw the pain. When you heard me say that, I saw the pain. And you like, what the.
Jon Jansen • 44:33
Come on. It's instant reaction. But that's what you got to get out of your guys, too, right? Hey, that clock goes off in your head, I'm not going to get home. Got to get that hand up. From an offensive lineman's perspective, we've got a response, but it's. I do want to know, because you mentioned, hey, coming out of spring ball, like, there was a certain set of things you want them to work on. A lot of work is done in the summer. What were some of the things you gave your guys to work on before they came back?
Larry Black • 44:57
I think the first thing was just get more vertical. Playing with more vertical attack. Like I've been seeing that day after day. We're getting more vertical, we're puncturing the line of scrimmage. You know, we're getting off the ball and playing with heavy hands and have our feet in the ground. The next one was, you know, just continuing to harp on the pass rush and closing the space in the pocket. And we are seeing that, you know, whether certain twists are our true traditional One on one rush and reading a slide. Those guys have been able to continue to hone on that and it's is really good to see. And then the other thing was just the mindset to dominate every day. And like I said, they, they've been showing up every day and been pushing it and it's, it's something fun to be a part of and, and it's exciting.
Jon Jansen • 45:41
There's a certain energy to start camp right when you're in, hey, shorts and skirts and everything.
Larry Black • 45:46
Everybody.
Jon Jansen • 45:47
Yeah, we're all excited now all of a sudden, hey, you get some, some bumps, some bruises, aches and pains. How do you encourage your guys? Because you can't always be the one that starts them. They're going to have some self starters. How do you get them to mentally get over? I don't feel good yet. I still need to go out and press.
Larry Black • 46:06
I tell them, you got it. You got to treat every day. This is game day. You have to get better somehow. You only get certain amount of opportunities to put the pads on and practice. You got to cherish that. And once you really humble yourself and understand it's a, it's an opportunity and a blessing to be out there, to move your body, to strike people, to play square. It's fun and you got to have fun with it. And I told him, like, it's going to be gritty, it's, it's camp, it's going to be hard. But when you make it fun and you learn how to attack and you learn how to push yourself, that's where you really take the next step. And then, you know, I tell them like, hey, this, this comes with it, man. This, we're in Michigan. Why, like this is the place you want to be to do this. So you're on a, you're, you're, you're at the greatest university. You better come out here with a smile.
Larry Black • 46:51
Coach, he'll talk to us about this all the time. Like, you're at the University of Michigan. This is the best place. Why would you ever have a frown on your face? So no matter what's coming their way, you know, it's dog, it's gritty days. You're not going to always feel happy, but that's where we got to get them, where they understand the opportunity you get every day.
Jon Jansen • 47:09
Let's talk about a couple of your guys. Trey Pierce and Enow Etta. Yes. Inherited them. And I know Jay Hill talked about, hey, not just about the death, but about those two guys specifically. We could have the best two defensive Tackles in all the college football. What are you seeing and what are they doing to fulfill that process, prophecy by Jay Hill.
Larry Black • 47:28
Well, they compete. They compete against each other. And you know, I tried to keep it in a room where we're all competing and we're all scratching to sharpen each other. So first off, they compete and they, and they bring it each and every day and they challenge each other. And then the next one is they're, they're taking a coaching, but they're also very smart kids and they put in a lot of work, man. They, they hold themselves to high standards. They watch the film, they correct theirselves from the tape. They see what they got to do and they still know it's ton of work left to get better. But man, we've been excited with the progress and you know those two guys, man, they, they have really bright things ahead of them. So we, they got to keep pushing it every day. They know the missions far from. From done, but, but they've been doing a good job, man, just performing at a high level.
Jon Jansen • 48:13
So when I ask you about the guys individually now, just, you know, you may go on and on, which is be great. But what is one thing that your expectations for Trey Pierce? What is, what is one of the things that he does best on the football field?
Larry Black • 48:26
He's. Trey is going to freaking be stout in his gap and he's going to dominate double teams and that's the big thing for him. Continue to dominate the doubles and be very firm in there. He know that's where he's going to make his money. Continue to do that. And he's been doing a great job with his pass rush transition and, and really causing havoc in the cage. So he, he's been taking steps, but those, those are kind of his trademarks right now.
Jon Jansen • 48:50
How about Enow?
Larry Black • 48:51
Yeah, he's been doing a really good job playing vertical and causing havoc, man, and, and he's been really good versus doubles and been really good with the, with the base block. So we've been really proud of the steps he's taken, man, as a disruptor and being able to use some of his athletic ability to make plays that he's been blessed with. So he has to keep the foot on the pedal just as far as. Continue to stack those days where he keeps dominating and make it, make it consistent.
Jon Jansen • 49:21
How about some of the guys that are backing them up?
Larry Black • 49:23
Yeah, so you got Jonah, man. Jonah, you know, he gets better every day. You know, he's a little change of pace. He's the twitchy athletic fast, but he, he'll strike you. He'll play with pad level and he shows up every day, man, with the, whether he's affecting the game from the pass rush, from the chase down and then being able to play, play the run blocks in the inside. So he flashes every day, man. He's been putting together a very good camp. You got Bobby Kanka who's been doing a really good job, man. Just continue to grow, man. You know, Bobby's still a red shirt freshman so he's getting better. He shows it every day. You got Deyvid Palepale. He works his tail off, man, and, and flashes. So those guys we've been excited about, man, and, and then you got the young guys with, with Titan Davis and Alister and Travis Moten and Teddy Hammond. Those guys show up every day and they, they're taking steps to get better.
Larry Black • 50:15
So we got to keep taking the, the technique and applying it to team situations. But I like how we're working.
Jon Jansen • 50:22
How much do you use the film or maybe in the, in the moment? What those four, four or five guys that you talked about in terms of developing those younger guys and using them as an example versus just you talking
Larry Black • 50:36
about what you want to see, man, all the time. Our film room, man, if you come in, it's a, it's a freaking open laboratory where it's like we're locked in. It's straight D line playing. We're, we're challenging each other. But you know, a lot of that is putting young guys on spot in the film room. They'll tell you, I have them jump in the tape and get up on the tape and demonstrate what they gotta go. You know, everyone's, everyone's up for grabs in the film room. So you know. But I also tell them like in our classroom, you have to be vulnerable. You know, everyone. I don't always have all the answers. They don't always have all the answers. But understand, it's never personal. But we challenge each other from that standpoint of making sure we're detailed with our alignment, our assignment and our technique on every call so those young guys see the older guys do it.
Larry Black • 51:23
And then also being able to teach and learn the techniques from the film has been great.
Jon Jansen • 51:28
And walkthrough, what does the depth look? What does the rotation look like? Now I know we're not. We still got time for games and this is something that you guys talk about as the staff, but before it's. We've seen guys there for five, six plays and then it's like there's a shift change. How, how do you anticipate or what do you like?
Larry Black • 51:47
Oh yeah, we like to keep fresh bodies, man. We, we, we like to have our guys playing in tip top shape, but you know, you know how it is in those trenches. I know. Oh, line, you guys are, are going fifteen.
Jon Jansen • 51:59
We never come.
Larry Black • 52:01
I know. Well, you, well, you know, we gotta, we gotta, we gotta, we selling out. We chasing the ball now. You know, you guys get to watch a little bit, man. Watch.
Jon Jansen • 52:09
What are you talking about?
Larry Black • 52:11
So, so, you know, we gotta, we gotta build the stamina up. But man, we, we're gonna rotate fresh bodies. I want my guys confident and playing fast and, and you know, being able to go. Always challenge them on, man. Like you're in really good shape if you could play D line at a hundred percent for six or seven plays as a maniac. And that's all out pursuit and once you get to that level there, you just continue to increase it. So being able to roll from there, man, and making sure we got our guys playing at a high level, you know, Coach Gwynne is on us all the time and just getting our guys in playing shape and make sure they're good to go. So continue to push in. Like you said, we still got some time as we go. I don't know if you saw us running those gases today, man. They were, they were pushing it, man.
Jon Jansen • 52:52
I try and leave by the time I got nightmares.
Larry Black • 52:54
I know, man. So, you know, just the extra cardio to keep it going, man. But I always tell them, man, be three thirty and being able to run, it's not too many people who could do that. And those guys make a lot of money.
Jon Jansen • 53:05
They do. And how do you feel about that depth? You talked about five guys and then the young guys coming along. How do you feel about that?
Larry Black • 53:10
We feel really good, man. We feel really good that guys are continuing to step. It's a room where, you know, you look at the defensive tackle position, man, not too many teams in the country can say they have that many guys they feel deep about. So it's, it's exciting. But we also know it's still work to be put in. But I'm, I'm excited about the room. They're great and I think we got guys that could play a lot of football for us and keep us fresh. That's what it is, man. It's a long year and they, they know in a room like the more fresh and healthy we are, the better D line we're going to be because it all affects all four of us along the front, how healthy we stay and how hard we play.
Jon Jansen • 53:47
So there's certainly a camaraderie, a teamwork, a bond that is, is, is built between those defensive tackles. Yes. And, and sometimes, hey, whether it's Enow or it doesn't matter, like they know what the other guy is doing. Yes, they've, they've seen it, they've worked it. How about with the edge guys? Because those guys rotate in, in and out as well. And I'm just curious how the whole defensive line is shaping up as a whole.
Larry Black • 54:13
Yeah, we work. You know, you come to practice, you see me and coach Powell, we do a lot of indie together when we're discussing games and, and things like that because you know, there's certain techniques where we, we have to be separate. But when we, when it comes to rushing and hunting that quarterback, we rushing four is one. And you know, we, we understand how our edges like to play and the inside guys, the edges understand how our inside guys like to play on certain down. So you know, whether it's an internal twist, an inside twist, or we run a son on the edge with a two man game or three man game, we know where our guys are at. We know what's Dom Nichols favorite move was Jon Henry favorite move. And now we're able to collaborate and understand how we're going to collapse the pocket and do a good job of, of making things right if they, if they go wrong.
Jon Jansen • 55:00
And you guys are the ones that, hey, you guys set the tone, right? You determining not necessarily where the linebackers go, but they've got to read off you guys. I've always used this analogy where, hey, the offensive line is. Everyone's got to be blocking a certain play, but there might be as a right tackle, maybe there's a certain way I get to a block that might be different than another. Right?
Larry Black • 55:19
Exactly.
Jon Jansen • 55:20
The running backs gotta understand that. Read that and know who's in there. How about those linebackers in terms of how are they recognizing what you guys are doing up front?
Larry Black • 55:29
Oh man, Coach Hill, he does, he does a great job of coaching those backers. They're taking off the doubles so they're playing fast. And, and again, I want those backers, no matter who we have in there to feel confident that we're gonna, we're going to maintain leverage on a double team and squeeze them and crush them and continue to do it. So they feel confident in their technique. But they do a great job of playing off the guys on the inside understanding what gaps are going to be available and which ones to hit in every defense. So, you know, we've been blessed to have some good linebackers behind us too, man, that are having really good camp. So, you know, it all works. And, you know, you got to diagnose the call and you got to understand what's the open gaps and where the backers are fitting and you know, where that three Tech might be a little heavy, where he may get a little vertical on the reach block.
Larry Black • 56:13
So they do a great job of playing off of us, man. So it's. It's been exciting to see when you
Jon Jansen • 56:19
take the field, your group takes the field against Western Michigan.
Larry Black • 56:22
Oh, yeah.
Jon Jansen • 56:22
What are you anticipating, you see from your guys?
Larry Black • 56:25
I. I listen, I want them to take the field first off, confident that they have put in the prep and the work. And then also I want those guys playing fast. I want their technique showing up fast. I want hard nose, gritty, you know, taking it to the edge. And we gotta set the tone, man. Like, this is. This is week one coming up, man, and this, it's time to go. So I want those guys feeling very accomplished, but excited for the opportunity to go one zero at home so they know the mission and. And continue roll from there. But like I said, I hope one day when. When people watch the film, they're like, all right, these guys are taking it to the edge. You know what I mean? That's what I want them to see, and that's what I'm trying to preach every day to these guys. Like, we got to be able to take it there.
Jon Jansen • 57:11
Larry Black, defensive line, defensive tackles. Coach, I appreciate your time seeing your guys.
Larry Black • 57:16
You're gonna get in those one on ones next time.
Jon Jansen • 57:18
Well, I think right now we're gonna take the battle O line, D line off Mike. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Larry Black • 57:22
It's time to go now. He gonna jump set me off here.
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Jon Jansen • 57:34
Well, thanks to coach Black for his time. Always love talking to him. You know, obviously never shy on energy, so it's a great back and forth. Appreciate his insight to the defensive tackle, defensive line and the defense as a whole. For everything that's going on in and around Michigan football, keep it locked in here on in the Trenches.
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Jeff Laurence • 57:55
Thanks for listening to this edition of in the Trenches with Jon Jansen, presented by Meijer, presenting sponsor of the twenty twenty six Michigan football season, and proud supporter of hundreds of local sports teams across the Midwest, in the Trenches is part of our Michigan athletics podcast network, MGO Blue podcast. The preceding is a Learfield Presentation of the Michigan Sports Network
