Five Michigan takeaways from Wayne State camp: Jim Harbaugh on ‘cultural momentum,’ splitting up offensive touches, more

DETROIT — Michigan Wolverines football coaches blitzed Detroit for the Sound Mind Sound Body National College Showcase satellite camp at Wayne State. Head coach Jim Harbaugh spoke with reporters for 25 minutes, dishing some interesting comments on a number of topics. Here, we break down five of the most compelling things we heard today.

• Michigan football: Jim Harbaugh shares desire for more offensive balance in 2023

1. Relaxed Jim Harbaugh

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh was the last coach in his speaking group to arrive. He fired onto the floor at the Matthaei Basketball Center (no cleats!) and was immediately asked to give his speech. All eyes were on the 2022 Big Ten Coach of the Year, and he just has a bigger presence than some of his counterparts who shared the court with him.

Harbaugh spoke about ‘The Team, The Team, The Team,’ and encouraged campers to think of that when trying to build a “lasting legacy” in football and life. He implored them to “work a little harder” if they want to get “a little better.” Those are two principles Harbaugh lives by.

Then the Michigan coach spoke to the media for 25 minutes. At last year’s Sound Mind Sound Body event at Ferris State, we got a “I have to give a press conference?” This time, he was more than happy to chop it up for an extended period of time, knowing the ‘Shemy’ questions would come but talking anyway and addressing topics head-on.

“Comfortable” isn’t a word that Harbaugh likes to associate with football, but that’s how he looked and sounded. Typically one to protect information and limit storylines and narratives, Harbaugh — unsolicited — made what he called “bold statements” (we’ll get into a few below).

He said earlier in the spring that his 2023 team is the “best version” of Michigan football he’s seen since being hired Dec. 30, 2014, and it’s clear he still feels that same way.

He loves the way the players have worked this offseason, is excited for the summer training cycle and can’t wait until the August 1 start to training camp.

“Cultural momentum” is how he described how Michigan has gone from 2021 to 2022 to this year. Players have learned from the leaders who came before them and went on to the NFL — observing, emulating, then matching and making them proud.

All in all, it feels like the Michigan football program Harbaugh envisioned, and Wolverine fans hoped for, when he was hired.

2. Cornerback depth and Josh Wallace

Harbaugh said at the beginning of spring ball that he considered sophomore Amorion Walker a “starter” at cornerback. Walker, of course, made the transition from wide receiver this offseason.

There’s a chance he could play both ways or eventually go back to offense, but Michigan needs corners, and he’s got the athleticism and upside to be a great one, Harbaugh believes. At this point, trusting his opinion on this one is the way to go. He’s had the idea for plenty of others to switch positions (most recently graduate Mike Sainristil from wideout to nickel back), and they’ve worked out well.

It’s also clear, though, that this is a work in progress. He’s learning to “think like a DB,” sophomore cornerback Will Johnson, a 2022 freshman All-American, said today. He got picked on by quarterback Davis Warren and wideout Peyton O’Leary in the April 1 spring game. He still has a lot to learn — which, frankly, is expected from someone in his spot. He’s still young, not Sainristil who made his move after being at Michigan for three seasons.

Harbaugh said he still considers Walker a starter, but he also said others have the “license and ability” to take control of the position. He “predicts” Walker will be the guy, but he did do a bit of hedging.

There are others in the mix for the starting cornerback spot opposite Johnson — including junior Ja’Den McBurrows, sophomore Myles Pollard and freshman Jyaire Hill. Those three and Walker have played a combined 44 defensive snaps in college football, though. Johnson, who ranked eighth on the Michigan defense with 689 plays last season, said he feels like a veteran already.

Michigan is in hot pursuit of former UMass cornerback Josh Wallace, who played 2,197 defensive snaps in 39 games over the last four seasons. He’s totaled 3 interceptions and 28 pass breakups, and has been a multi-year team captain.

He could very well come in and win the job, or he could add depth. Either way, it would be a benefit. Johnson sat out the spring and will be continuing to rehab this offseason. He’s tracking to be good to go by the time the season starts, but his knee injury is an example of why having more than enough capable bodies is important.

That’s especially the case because of Michigan’s aspirations this fall. The Wolverines have the talent and desire to win a national championship. It seems they’ll continue to leave no stone unturned to make sure they give themselves the best chance possible.

3. Offensive touches and more balance

One of Harbaugh’s bold statements: That Michigan will have a 50-50 run-pass split this fall, or darn close to it.

The Wolverines ran on 61.9 percent of their offensive snaps a season ago. Decreasing that number to 50 percent in 2023 would be a major shift.

Harbaugh said he wants all of Michigan’s playmakers to get enough touches each game, from junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy to wideouts Cornelius Johnson and Roman Wilson to tight end Colston Loveland to running backs Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards.

He had specific numbers for touches per game, including 6-8 targets for Johnson, Wilson and Loveland. From the sounds of it, he wants Corum and Edwards to have the ball close to an equal amount (something Edwards has lobbied for, too).

It’s interesting that Harbaugh is talking this way. It doesn’t seem like his style, but he’s done it in the past, even saying last season that he wanted Andrel Anthony to get more playing time at receiver. And it’s no secret that conversations about playing time and production between coaches and players go on all the time, especially heading into a season.

Look, Harbaugh probably intends on holding up his end of the bargain here. But it wouldn’t shock us — at all — if Michigan is closer to 60-percent run this fall, even though we do believe they’ll pass a bit more and be better at it. Given how this team is built — with two stud running backs and a stellar offensive line — that formula would likely amount in a lot of wins.

And that’s really what this is all about. Harbaugh doesn’t care if it’s by air, sea or land, getting to the destination of winning is what matters once it’s September, October, November, December and January. He’s said that with both his words and actions.

4. ‘Details’ could push Michigan over the top

This spring, we’ve been asking Michigan players what it’s going to take to push the team from Big Ten champion and CFP semifinalist to national champion. To a man, they’ve said “the little things” or “the details.”

They’ve gotten to work on those this offseason. How, exactly, is interesting. It’s putting back a weight or a band in a meticulous manner in the weight room, or doing the extra rep. Listening to and trusting the coaches and being more connected have been brought up, too.

Some of the defenders we’ve spoken to have said they feel like the TCU game was on them, and the offense has said they had to be better. That kind of finger-pointing, in an attempt to clean up mistakes, isn’t a bad thing.

5. Superstar coaching staff

When asked if he has any concern about offensive coordinator and line coach Sherrone Moore calling plays and coaching his players up front at the same time this fall, Harbaugh said he believes wholeheartedly in his loyal assistant. Moore climbed the ladder from tight ends coach to co-offensive coordinator and line coach — and now the offense is his show, with collaboration, of course.

He then made another bold statement: That every single Michigan assistant will be a head coach one day. He said at least four could take that next step next offseason. Moore is an obvious candidate. Same with defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.

This might just be the best staff Harbaugh has had at Michigan. Turnover — or the threat of it — is actually a positive at this level of college football. Having the NFL and other colleges coveting your staff members is something to aspire to, even if it stings to lose such talented coaches.

The fact that some could move on after this season is just another reason to believe this fall is as good of a chance as they’ll have to win another Big Ten title and contend for a national championship. The window won’t be closed, by any means, and another one could open, but there’s definitely a window.

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