101 Monday, August 1, 2011 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com ' aims to remedy defense Campbell expecting By TIM RO HANbreay Daily Spurts Editor u j n o y ar CHICAGO - Mike Martin and the rest of the Michigan defen- sive line wanted to show their new coaches what they were capable of, and, what exactly two former defensive line coaches would have to start the heart of their defense with. Brady Hoke and Greg Mattison had returned to Michigan, one hav- ing left to build Ball State and San Diego State into winning football programs, while the other molded successful defenses all over the. country at the college and profes- sional level. Soon after they arrived, Martin and his defensive linemates were going through their first workout of their winter conditioning and the coaches watched, not saying much. "We were all going hard, obvi- ously," Martin said. "(This) was our first impression on the coach." After the workout, Mattison pulled Martin aside and warned him: "That was terrible. That was completely terrible. You guys have to do much better." "I thought we did pretty good," Martin thought to himself Ever since Hoke and Mattison took over, the expectations are higher around the Michigan foot- ball team, and that has carried over into summer workouts. "I feel like that we didn't know how a championship team really functioned," Martin said. "That's why coach Hoke and coach Matti- son and the rest of the staff are so vital and a huge asset, because they know what it takes. They've been around teams that have won. They tell us. Before they came in, we thought we were working hard. We weren't. "They've putcthe bar way higher." The seniors have led "optional" workouts throughout the summer and 7-on-7 passing drills for skill- position players. They may be listed as "optional," but with the help the new accountable attitude Hoke has instilled, there has been a 100-per- cent participation rate. "All of them wanted to show up," junior quarterback Denard Robin- son said. "Everybody wanted to do better this year." Last year, Tate Forcier fell out of favor with his teammates for not showing up for summer work- outs, while Robinson did. Now the unquestioned team leader, Rob- inson created a list of every play- STEPHEN J.NESBITT/Daily Senior defensive end Mike Martin will be expected to anchor the defensive line. ers' phone number and made calls explained that they're not only to get players to come out to the accountable to each other by show- 7-on-7 drills. The fifth-year seniors ing up, but by also giving it their all told Robinson they need to act as a in the weight room. "third coach" in leading the team. "It's really intense," said Mar- Martin has gone to great lengths tin, who can bench more than 500 to get everyone to come. If guys pounds and squat more than 700 aren't there, seniors would drive pounds. "It's a failure thing. So to the absent player's house, bang you'll get to a point where you can't on his door, get him out of bed - lift your arms anymore, but you've "whatever it takes," Martin said. got to somehow, someway, find When the troops are finally at a way to get that next rep to do it. attention, senior tight end Kevin You've got to do it. You don't want Koger said that they even take roll to let your teammates down, that's call, then that's when the real fun the consequence. Because you've begins. got your guys around you, cheering "We have a saying that goes: 'To you up and trying to get you hyped be successful, we have to do the up. There's just a lot of intensity and things that we haven't done in the guys have gotten a lot stronger." past,'" Martin said. All-Big Ten talents like Martin Hoke was happy with the prog- are leading the way with the dirty ress the Wolverines made as far as work to show the younger players learning the technique that Hoke that this is the price that they need and Mattison drilled into them. to payto win. But he was clear that they were not They're also getting a full dose were he wanted them physically. of an outspoken leader in Robinson. "Well, the workouts are execut- "I just approached it as (if) I'm ed in a way that there's purpose," going out and having fun with my Martin explained. "We attack our teammates. And whatever it takes workouts. We attack - we're not to win, that's what I'll do," Robin- just going through the motions. son said. But there's a lot of enthusiasm. "Just because (Robinson's) a And we're getting better and we're junior doesn't mean he can't tell a pushing each other. The worst thing senior what to do, or where to go," to do is practice the wrong things or Koger added. "That's leadership. be lackadaisical and go through the Sometimes you've got to do what motions. So when you don't do that, you're uncomfortable doing." that's something I would say is dif- Working out at 6 a.m. may be as ferent." uncomfortable as it gets. With the Aaron Wellman, a new strength right direction, Michigan's seniors and conditioning coach who came and Robinson have masterfully with Hoke, has instituted a new orchestrated a successful summer strength training system based of sweat. around machines rather than Olym- "If you don't want me knock- pic free weights. The important dis- ing on your door, make sure you're tinction is the balance the players there on time," Martin said. have to maintain between adding the weight Hoke wants them to, and keeping that speed and flexibility See a multimedia piece about this Rich Rodriguez recruited. Martin story on MichiganDaily.com By STEPHEN J. NESBITT Daily Sports Editor CHICAGO - Junior defensive tackle William Campbell's con- tribution to the Michigan football team can be summed up pretty simply. Underwhelming. In two seasons, the five-star recruit from Cass Tech High School in Detroit has just five tack- les and three pass break-ups to his name. Little numbers for "Big Will" After flip-flopping between the offensive and defensive lines last season - something he also did in high school - Campbell will play the key role of three-technique defensive tackle in 2011. "His attitude and his mindset has totally changed and gotten better," senior defensive tackle Mike Martin said Friday at the Big Ten Media Days in Chicago. "And he knows that he's in a spot where he has to step up and be a big part of this defense - our three- technique. (Defensive coordina- tor Greg) Mattison stressed when he got here that if we don't have a three-tech that can step up, we're not going to be able to run the defense. If we can't run it well, we're not going to run it." During the transition from for- mer defensive coordinator Greg Robinson's 3-3-5 defense to Mat- tison's 4-3 set, Campbell has a big spot to fill. "He put the burden right on .... Big Will and pretty much said, 'You gotta do what you gotta do,' "Mar- tin said. "Will has really stepped up and answered the call. His work ethic is as high as I've seen it, and he's got his mind right." Campbell becomes the defen- sive tackle tasked with breaking down the line of scrimmage with his big body and eliminating the risk of double teams on his line- mate Martin, something the All- Big Ten nose tackle can appreciate. "It makes it easier onus,because they can't double everyone," Mar- tin said. "Someone's going to have a one-on-one, when the pass comes around. Someone's goingto be free and has to get to the ball." And if all goes according to plan, opposing backs may find them- selves in a world of hurt when they hit the line this fall. "When you've got guys getting to the ball, it'slike, 'Who you gonna block?"' Martin said. Perhaps Campbell's most glar- ing weakness is his fitness. He's very mucha defensive line- man trapped in an offensive line- man's body. "I think his whole mental aspect is a defensive mind, but his ath- leticism puts him on the offensive line," Cass Tech coach Thomas Wilcher said this month. "I love his big body, I love his work ethic. I know he's goingto be agreat foot- ball player." Added Martin: "He's a brick house. That kid's really strong. When I went against him when he was on the scout team on offense, he gave us a great look. I'm glad we got him on our side of the ball now." Weight training this summer has keyed on players' condition- ing. And according to Martin* and Michigan coach Brady Hoke, Campbell has bought into the training regimen and is seeing it pay dividends. The junior is listed at 6-foot-5, 333 pounds, but Hoke said Camp- bell has dropped 17 or 18 pounds 0 already. Hoke mentioned that he would be happy toland at 320 pounds by the season opener on Sept. 3. "Still, I think that Will Campbell will bump up our average weight on the defensive line a little bit," Martin added. Campbell was recruited as an explosive, bruising rusher on the line, and while that image has been somewhat marred at Michigan, Hoke knowsthe shinestillremains somewhere underneath on this blue-chip talent. "I think Will has a tremen- dous ability that's been a little bit untapped - part of that is mov- ing back and forth on both sides of the ball and never really finding 6 a home," Hoke said. "I think he's made strides, and if he continues, he'll be a big part of our football team." It's hard for a 330-pound line- man to go unnoticed. And Martin will make certain that doesn't hap- * pen - in workouts or on the field. "I've always thought, 'Why don't we have this guy incthe game,' " Martin said. "(Campbell's) got no excuses. He's going to be playing. I'm in his ear all the time (saying) I'm counting on him."