News and Views: Harbaugh’s contract, Kris Jenkins’ play, the Michigan schedule, more

Michigan is 6-0 at the halfway point of the season and improving each week. The Wolverines have yet to play a worthy opponent, though … does that discount what they’ve accomplished? Plus, senior Kris Jenkins and his impact, Mason Graham, Jim Harbaugh’s contract, and more. We tackle all those topics in our weekly News and Views column.

NEWS: Michigan sophomore defensive tackle Mason Graham returned from injury and dominated Minnesota with one hand.
HARBAUGH: “It’s great to have Mason back. He was really champing at the bit, too. He didn’t really want to sit out the two games and you could see —it happens sometimes with a player … they just miss it a lot. I especially noticed it with him. He couldn’t wait to get back out there, and he played really good.

“He was one of the players of the game with the club. Cool stuff. I think he’s becoming a lot of people’s favorite player. I had a few texts from different people … friends who know football that were really impressed, as well.”

VIEWS: We said it last year — Graham was the best Michigan true freshman defensive tackle we had seen in our several decades watching the Wolverines. Now, he’s one of the best tackles overall, and we’re only halfway through his sophomore year. He’s outstanding against the run and is now starting to generate pressure on quarterbacks.

We wondered how he’d fare with a big club on his hand given how important hand fighting is for a lineman. Fact is, it was even better. We’re not going to say we know football as well as some of Harbaugh’s better friends, but we know Graham is one hell of a football player. And he’s not alone …

NEWS: Senior Kris Jenkins continues to play at a high level, too. He’s notched 15 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a half sack, and an interception.
HARBAUGH: “Kris Jenkins continues to be [great]— talk about block destruction. Nobody right now that I’ve seen anywhere is doing it better than Kris Jenkins. Pretty phenomenal.”
VIEWS: And yet there’s a segment of the fan base that looks at the stats and thinks, “underperforming.” Pre-Minnesota, his game-by-game stats were on par with Graham’s. These interior linemen aren’t supposed to put up huge numbers — they take on blockers (often two) and keep the linebackers clean to make plays.

Part of that is because of his own expectations and the hype that came with being a “preseason freak.” You hear that, you think he’s going to put up numbers he shouldn’t at the position. But Mazi Smith never put up huge numbers, and he was a first round pick … doing a lot of what Jenkins is now.

The senior captain is playing extremely well. He’s also been a great leader, one of the best on an elite team. He’s a huge part of the Wolverines’ overall success defensively, whether folks can see it or not.

NEWS: Jim Harbaugh Monday said he is open to a new contract at Michigan, sooner than later.
HARBAUGH: “Like anybody, you want to be somewhere where you’re wanted. They like what you do and how you do it. They tell you that, your bosses tell you that, and that gets reflected in a contract.”

VIEWS: As first reported last week, this is expected to be done within a month (assuming Harbaugh signs). It should have happened a while ago, frankly. When you’ve got something this good, you do everything in your power to keep it … it only makes sense. Gone are the days when it could be framed as a “privilege” to coach at Michigan. Money talks, and the price for a coach of Harbaugh’s stature is worth a ton. He’ll be made the highest paid coach in the Big Ten, and U-M will be fortunate to have him as long as he’s here.

NEWS: The Michigan defense has yet to give up a point in the third quarter this year.
HARBAUGH: “It’s no coincidence that some of these statistics that we’re seeing defensively, offensively, special teams. We have really good coaches. I get accused of hyperbole and things of that nature, but I’m not Nostradamus or anything. I see it. I see it when it’s occurring and now when it’s good.

“Jesse Minter is outstanding, outstanding in every facet. The apple doesn’t fall too far from the branch. Rick Minter [Michigan analyst], he’s seen a lot of football. [Jesse’s] come about it really good in his own way. He’s really a great coach at everything … he’s doing a tremendous job.”

VIEWS: It took a while, but Harbaugh has the Michigan program humming in all facets like we expected he would when he arrived. Initially, when he came from San Francisco, he still operated a bit too much like an NFL program. Now, though, he’s got coaches who live and breathe the college game, and he’s back to being the coach we saw at Stanford … everyone pulling in the same direction, an identity (only a lead tight end instead of a fullback), and great results.

Hiring Mike Macdonald and then Minter was the last step. Don Brown did great things here, but complementary football is what Harbaugh and Co. want to play, and the defenses the former Ravens coaches brought was the perfect match for the offense. It’s been fun to watch, and we hope it continues for a long time. It will, as long as Harbaugh is at Michigan.

NEWS: Some pundits have ranked Michigan lower due to having not played a single ranked opponent in six wins.
HARBAUGH: “I really don’t have [an opinion] … whatever is being said, all that kind of thing. We’re just trying to get good at football. I don’t really pay too much attention to what’s being said, good or bad. It’s just about us … the only anecdote for any kind of things, good or bad, is leadership, character, that unyielding commitment to the basics and fundamentals of Michigan football, and a faith in each other.”

VIEWS: They’ll “continue to keep attacking,” Harbaugh added, whether it’s the preparation, the meetings, the training, the practice, or the games … “that’s all we can ask of ourselves and our teammates.”

But … yeah. There’s reason to be wary of what Michigan has accomplished given the Wolverines haven’t been challenged. Georgia has played a ranked Kentucky team and thrashed the Wildcats, plus a road game in a tough environment at Auburn. At the same time, it seems clear this U-M team has a chance to be better than the last two. Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck called it the best team he’d seen in his 11 years as a head coach, and other opposing coaches have been very complimentary.

We’ll find out in the last three games of the year how good this team is, but we have a feeling they’ll acquit themselves nicely.

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