Linebacker Jonas Mouton has become one of Michigan's most dependable defenders
Michigan senior linebacker Jonas Mouton intercepts a pass in the second half of against Bowling Green.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Craig Roh calls him “The Assassin.”
The way Michigan fifth-year senior linebacker Jonas Mouton has been playing, he might take out the rest of the Big Ten along the way.
While the Michigan football team’s defense has struggled, Mouton has not-so-silently become its most dependable player.
He’s always possessed raw athletic talent after being recruited by former coach Lloyd Carr’s coaching staff as a safety from Venice (Calif.) High. He’s always had a certain degree of speed and good footwork - Roh calls Mouton’s on-field movement “gliding” instead of running - that allowed him to stay in plays.
After a 2009 season where he and the rest of Michigan’s linebackers were underwhelming and played poorly, there was a sense of urgency for this season.
“I don’t know if it’s so much more of redemption,” Mouton said. “As much as doing what I’m supposed to do and playing hard for myself, my family, for Michigan, for this team, you know.”
Whether he wants to call it that or not, the 6-foot-2, 240-pound linebacker has become Michigan’s most productive defender.
After making seven tackles Saturday in a 65-21 Michigan victory, he is tied for the team lead with 35. He leads Michigan in interceptions, with two, after picking off Bowling Green quarterback Aaron Pankratz on Saturday.
He also picked up his first sack of the season by hitting Pankratz as he hits almost everyone he comes in contact with - hard.
“He’s someone you don’t look forward to going against,” Michigan fifth-year senior offensive lineman Stephen Schilling said. “Because he’s going to hit hard every play.”
That’s always been a Mouton trait. His teammates, before the season, said he was the hardest hitter on Michigan’s team.
But now, he’s added coverage to his skills. Roh, a sophomore linebacker, said Mouton and Michigan’s other fifth-year senior linebacker, Obi Ezeh, spent the off-season studying to make sure they wouldn’t have a repeat of last Big Ten season, when conference teams averaged 428.5 yards of offense against Michigan’s defense.
Another thing that helped is Mouton’s role. In many ways, he’s become the security blanket for Michigan’s three-man defensive front.
The scheme places Mouton in position to react to a decision made by defensive tackle Mike Martin. It allows Mouton to make more plays and Martin to pressure the quarterback and stalk running backs.
"We work well off of each other," Martin said. “He’s been doing great so far.”
Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein
Comments
Txmaizenblue
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 8:06 a.m.
Mouton is good and fairly dependable...but he's not the most dependable guy on the defense. Mike Martin is unquestionably the most dependable & best defensive player on the team...easily.
truebluefan
Sun, Sep 26, 2010 : 9:49 p.m.
3 and out - Stevie Brown was a bust until RR came along and turned him into an NFL draft pick. Brandon Graham spent his final two years under RR and was the 13th pick overall. Everyone knew Donovan Warren needed to stay another year in school. RR told him so. DW left and you boasted about how he would become a great pro corner with "real" coaching. He went undrafted and ended up not making the Jets' practice squad. Morgan Trent spent three seasons under LC and vastly underperformed. He spent one season under RR in a transition year and did the same. You place full blame on RR for not pulling Trent's full potential? Funny.
CamaroDan
Sun, Sep 26, 2010 : 6:18 p.m.
3 and Pout Stevie Brown was recruited under LC. Stevie didn't do much until Greg Robinson got a hold of him and turned Stevie into a NFL draft pick. Good job GR. Oh by the way, busts in college don't get drafted into the NFL.
3 And Out
Sun, Sep 26, 2010 : 3:28 a.m.
They called the late Jack Tatum "Assassin". Jonas Mouton is no Assassin. But...I do believe that he will be one of these guys that do well in the NFL after busting under Rich Rod at Michigan...lets call it the "Stevie Brown syndrome".... or the "Morgan Trent syndrome" whatever your preference is... Jonas skill set will translate better to the NFL than it does in our hodge podge defensive scheme.
Kubrick66
Sat, Sep 25, 2010 : 10 p.m.
I can't believe what I'm reading... We're talking about Jonas Mouton? He is slow, constantly out of position, takes horrible angles, and his tackling usually falls on the lousy side of the coin. Does he have his moments... Sure. But so does everyone on the field. Problem is his moments are the exception not the rule. Then again I'm basing this on actually watching every play of every game so what do I know.
Gillete
Sat, Sep 25, 2010 : 9:53 p.m.
I liked the fact that the D went with a four man front at times to create pressure, perhaps we will see more of this mixed in throughout B-10 season. Secondary seemed to play with confidence today, lets hope their collective week-to-week experience develops a secondary maturity level = short memory!
heartbreakM
Sat, Sep 25, 2010 : 7:51 p.m.
Mouton has looked very good this year, though he has made a few mistakes also. The defense is one I can't figure out. Statistically, they are very poor, yet it seems like they hold their own very well except for 3-4 big plays against them per game--and those big plays are what is allowing the other team to score quickly. Let's hope they continue to improve, and maybe just maybe, Rodriguez and his coaches have turned things around. But we must remember what happened last year, so only time will tell.
tulsatom
Sat, Sep 25, 2010 : 7:29 p.m.
Mouton, Martin, Roh, and Van Bergen are all dependable players. Ezeh and Kovacs are decent at times, but the others --- not so much, in my opinion. The offense looks like it is going to hold its own and will need to continue to score a lot of points. The defense needs a good recruting year or two to be a real gooddefense.
wersch213
Sat, Sep 25, 2010 : 7:24 p.m.
In the words of David Molk "We're a freakin train and can't be stopped!!" Denard BLUE the game wide open in only 9 minutes. Denard + "The Bigger House" + an average defense = Michigan 45 MSU 24...but one game at a time, GO BLUE!!
ohiowolverine
Sat, Sep 25, 2010 : 7:03 p.m.
Tater, I agree. After taking out Indy MSU maybe PSU Ill and Perdue the D should hold its own against Whisky and OSU. GO BLUE!