Brown's Impact Felt by U-M's Defensive Prospects at Combine
3/3/2019 9:00:00 AM | Football, Features
By Chad Shepard
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Nine players from the defensive side of the ball have been drafted into the NFL since Don Brown joined the University of Michigan coaching staff, so this year's crew of top-flight prospects will hardly be the first Wolverines in the league with Brown's influence upon them.
But, with the exception of defensive lineman Chase Winovich, who played five seasons at Michigan, it is the first group of players who have only known Brown as their coordinator. Defensive lineman Rashan Gary, linebacker Devin Bush, and cornerback David Long each played three seasons in Ann Arbor, entering as freshmen in the fall of 2016 when Brown was new to the staff. Their time with the program overlapped entirely with Brown's. He holds a special place in their hearts, and not just because of the success they shared with him on the field.
Michigan is often credited with aiding the professional development of its offensive players because of its pro-style scheme, something unique in many college offenses. But it is U-M's aggressive defense that is perhaps underappreciated when it comes to preparing its players to maximize their effectiveness at the next level.
Ever the teacher, Brown has left a lasting impact on his latest crop of students, and each of the three players who met with the media on Saturday (March 2) afternoon was effusive in his praise for the man they call "Dr. Blitz".
"Don Brown. I love the guy," said Gary. "He's done a lot for me."
It starts in the film room, where Bush, Gary, and Winovich are all confident in their knowledge of the game and their ability to break it down intelligently. They say teams at the Combine have noticed.
"Michigan has really prepared me well for this -- at times I almost feel over-prepared," said Winovich. "I understand coverages and things I haven't even been asked to dive into too much. It's been a good experience so far."
"(Teams) definitely pick up on how well I know the game and how I view the game," said Bush. "Coach Brown, he taught me a lot about the game. He broke it down for me in simple ways. I used to be with him as he was making the game plan, and I'd ask him 'Why are we doing this?' or 'Why are we doing that?' We'd chop it up for hours."
"Being able to take the coaching I got in college and using it in these interviews has helped me a lot," said Gary.
All three players are expected to be early-round selections at the NFL Draft in late April, with Gary an early first-round lock by all accounts.
Each has a game that translates well to the pro level. Brown's scheme gives players a chance to shine in different situations. Though some principles remain steadfast -- like the team's commitment to a high blitz percentage and majority press-man coverage -- the unit really is multiple. The broad spectrum of different looks that Brown has employed have forced most contributors to have a deeper understanding of how the defense works as a whole. They know everyone's job, not just their own, and it has helped them put a wider variety of abilities on display through their game tape, something that does not go unnoticed by scouts and executives in a league that is emphasizing multipurpose players more and more.
Gary was asked what separated him from his peers in a loaded class of defensive linemen, and he pointed to the variety of techniques he had put into use while at Michigan.
"I feel I'm more versatile," he said. "I play base end, but you can throw me inside as a three-tech. I can rush over the guard. I can stand up and rush off the edge, and I can really be anything anybody wants me to be. So I'm a Swiss-army knife to every team."
"You can put me anywhere and I'll be happy doing it."
"In today's football, being versatile is an extremely important aspect," said Winovich. "I can fill that role. There are only 53 men on a roster and even fewer get to dress, so being able to play multiple positions is a commodity. I'm most comfortable going into the NFL as a 4-3 defensive end because it's what I've done the most of, but to be honest, playing standup is how I got my start. I was a standup edge rusher in Coach Brown's Cheetah package, which is his premier pass-rush package. So I've had some reps standing up in my time at Michigan, and it's what I maybe even like better."
Bush also feels that league trends of using faster, more interchangeable players will serve him well at the next level.
"It plays right into my strength," said Bush. "I'm a twitchy guy. I'm fast. I'm strong. I can go sideline-to-sideline. It plays into my favor.
"Coach Brown's defense is very creative and very exotic. So we'll be in completely different looks five times a game. You'll be in one package one down, and another package on the next down."
Bush has been widely praised for his ability to diagnose plays quickly, and when asked what his biggest takeaway from having played under Brown was, Bush stressed it was Brown's emphasis on making context-appropriate reads and decisions.
"Just having field awareness," he said. "Coach Brown, playing in his defense you always have to be aware of the down and distance in different situations. That's the biggest thing he preached to us -- you have to be able to play in all those different situations."
It is clear that Brown's influence will not end just because these players will no longer suit up for the Maize and Blue. The lessons learned from head coach Jim Harbaugh, Coach Brown and the rest of the Michigan staff have grown deep roots in the minds of these Wolverines, and they are really just scratching the surface of how applicable all those lessons can be.
"Being around with Coach Brown and Coach Harbaugh, they showed me how to be a pro, and that's what I'm trying to do now," said Gary.
2019 NFL Combine
Thursday-Monday, Feb. 28–March 4
Lucas Oil Stadium • Indianapolis, Ind.
Live coverage on NFL Network
Michigan Participants: Karan Higdon, Zach Gentry, Rashan Gary, Chase Winovich, Devin Bush, David Long
