Quick hitters: The latest on Jaden Mangham’s role, sleepers at tight end

ANN ARBOR – Michigan Wolverines defensive backs coach Lamar Morgan and tight ends coach Steve Casula spoke to the media on Sunday afternoon with 13 days until the start of the regular season.

Below are notes from each coach’s media availability and the topics discussed.

Notes from Lamar Morgan’s media availability

• Sophomore Jyaire Hill leads the way in the No. 2 cornerback battle with Aamir Hall and Ricky Johnson mixing. Morgan says it is a constant battle and it has been a process getting the young corners up to speed. Hill is in front.
• For Hall and Johnson, as well as the other DB transfers, the summer has been about getting used to a different level of intensity and preparation at Michigan.
• Morgan calls Michigan State transfer Jaden Mangham “a good kid who works hard,” says he is in same group as other DB transfers in terms of getting used to new program. Morgan said good safeties make everyone around them better and that will determine playing time.
• For the above reason, Makari Paige and Quinten Johnson are a bit ahead of everyone else.
• Sophomore Brandyn Hillman is learning that “you gotta work for it every day” and Morgan says he is among several guys who can have a role this year and next.
• Transfer safety Wesley Walker is not being looked at to replace Rod Moore, but can do a variety of things and earn a role.
• Morgan asked about his philosophy as a recruiter says he is a people person and looks at the big picture and fit over pure talent and that he seeks to be authentic. The difference in power conference recruiting is that it is the right blend of school and football, especially at Michigan.
• Junior Zeke Berry has been getting the most reps at nickel along with senior Ja’Den McBurrows. Berry will move high and low in this system and they want to get him as many reps as possible to get that experience.
• On Kody Jones and Myles Pollard, Morgan says the focus for them is what they can do best today and that when you mess up as a player, it matters. These are lessons being preached for guys thrust into larger roles.
• The transfer defensive backs as a whole are doing “a great job,” and that all get getting reps with the first team.
• Michigan wants to be a “positionless defense,” which puts players on the field who can do a multitude of things. It is a challenge at first, Morgan says, but players have picked up on it.
• Morgan says head coach Sherrone Moore has continued to impress as a head coach and that he is a people person who hops into meeting rooms and shares feedback in positional meetings.
• Previous coordinator experience has been a plus for defensive assistants with the main goal being to take stuff off of Wink Martindale’s plate and makes everyone better.

Notes from Steve Casula’s media availability

• Casula says that Michigan’s positionless defensive looks in practice has put the offense on alert and that it makes guys used to identifying jersey numbers as opposed to personnel packages. The entire offense has a role in identifying that.
• Changes to culture and practice have continued to improve since Casula left the program at the end of 2021. Practices are “tighter and better” and players are “serious about football.”
• Other tight ends emerging behind Colston Loveland and Marlin Klein are sophomores Zack Marshall and Jalen Hoffman (walk-on).
• Casula was on staff when Klein committed to Michigan and says he was taken aback by his size and speed, headlined by a play on film where he ran down a ballcarrier after an interception. Casula praised his “high-end physical traits.”
• From his perspective, the quarterbacks are playing well, which is a testament to offensive coordinator/QBs coach Kirk Campbell in addition to how the players have taken to his coaching.
• Casula and Campbell take pride in their backgrounds as analysts at Michigan and singled out the work of Josh Sinagoga, Nick Gilbert, Jack Clark, Bret Ingalls and Fred Jackson, in addition to Nick Rossielo and Andrew Goodrich.
• Casula would not be surprised if Loveland led the team in receiving this year given Campbell’s background of getting tight ends involved, says “the ball finds talent, technique and energy.”
• In terms of planning Loveland’s workload, Casula says there are a lot of layers to it and they will be thoughtful about keeping him involved, but that the team has a lot of good wide receviers.
• Michigan will play tight ends frequently, and they expect to run out plenty of looks in 11, 12 and 13 personnel this season. Casula calls the offense a “living, breathing organism” and that they will do whatever it takes to win.
• On talk of opening up offense, Casula says that Michigan will run whatever its players can handle with a high attention to detail and that “it’s been fun” to install in the leadup to the season.
• Loveland is playing faster and move around great in fall camp. Casula says that he has been thoughtful about his plan of attack and that his play speed has improved since the spring.

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