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8/16/07-Football
Trent hopes to lead rebuilt U-M defense in '07
By MIKE ROSENBAUM Of The Observer and Eccentric
Cornerback Morgan Trent was a key part of a defense that helped the University of Michigan begin last season 11-0 by permitting only 12.1 points and 231.5 yards per game.
Trent was also a part of a defense that allowed 74 points and 942 yards in the Wolverines' final two games, a regular season loss at Ohio State plus the Rose Bowl defeat to Southern California.
The Orchard Lake St. Mary's graduate, a senior who has two years of football eligibility remaining, acknowledged at the start of pre-season practice last week that the two losses left a bad taste in the players' mouths, particularly on the defensive side.
"I think we were all upset to a certain extent, which we should have, because we didn't end the season like we wanted to," Trent said. "It's something that we weren't happy about, but something that we kind of just took with us."
What Trent and his defensive teammates took with them was a determination not to repeat last season's mistakes, and to prove wrong those who said that the two losses showed the true measure of U-M's defense.
"I took that as motivation all summer," Trent said. "Coming off the Rose Bowl game, I felt I didn't play as well as I could have. I watched the tape. It's not something that I dwell on, but something I see where I need to get better and what I can do to get better. So it's something that you just kind of keep in the back of your mind."
With some promising freshmen joining the Wolverines this fall, Trent hasn't been guaranteed a starting role. Most likely, however, he'll not only start, but will be an important, veteran leader on a younger defense. U-M lost six starters from last year's defense, including four who were selected in the first two rounds of April's NFL draft. One of those selections, Leon Hall, was Michigan's top cornerback last season, a role Trent hopes to occupy this fall.
Asked if he feels pressure to fills Hall's cleats, Trent said, "Yes but no. It's great pressure. It's my turn to lead. We always had that one defensive back -- Leon was here, Marlin Jackson was here -- so I see it as my turn to step up and be here and lead. I will be an example on the field and off the field."
Trent entered Michigan as a wide receiver in 2004 but switched to corner while red-shirting as a freshman. He played in 11 games, starting five, in 2005, then started 11 of his 12 games last season, missing one contest due to injury. In two seasons Trent has 67 tackles, including 60 solo hits. He's intercepted two passes and broken up nine throws.
Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr said Trent "has wonderful ability. The biggest thing is confidence. That's the test back there. You have to have a guy with a short memory. You can't dwell on the bad plays because everybody sees them. That's pretty much true with any positions, but it's particularly true back there. So, Morgan has wonderful ability. I think our coaches did a good job with him in the spring. I think (secondary coach) Vance Bedford will have a significant impact on him, and I expect that he'll have an excellent year."
Bedford, in his second stint as U-M's defensive backs coach, "brings a lot of fun out here," Trent said. "We have fun in meetings, but he's teaching a lot as well. He's teaching us how to play the game of football. Not just what the playbook says. Skip the playbook, throw it out the window. What happens when you look over here (on the field) and you see what you see? You've got to have a basic instinct and understand how to play the game and what to do."
During informal summer workouts, Trent added, "the defense has been looking fine. We're younger. We've got seniors, but our seniors, we've got to lead by example and show these younger guys how to play. But we're going to be just fine."
A second St. Mary's grad, Chris McLaurin, hopes to see his first significant playing time at tight end this year following two injury-filled seasons. McLaurin came to U-M as a linebacker but switched to tight end last year due to recurring shoulder injuries. He red-shirted in 2005 and saw action in nine games, mainly on special teams, last season, contributing two tackles.
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