Michigan’s week of prep for Oregon comes with a few familiar headaches, and Lewis Powell didn’t sugarcoat any of them.
The Wolverines’ run game coordinator and defensive ends coach said defensive lineman and edge rusher Dominic Nichols is still working back from a lower-leg injury, though he’s inching closer to full strength. Powell said the issue has flared up at times, but he also made it clear Nichols keeps pushing through it.
“He’s getting banged up, but he continues. He’s a tough kid, and he shows up every week ready to work,” Powell said.
Powell also singled out John Henry Daley, who has been dealing with injuries of his own. The coach praised Daley’s toughness and the way he keeps showing up and grinding, even without being fully healthy.
The biggest personnel update, though, was Nate Marshall. Powell confirmed the defensive lineman is suspended indefinitely, and there’s no clear timeline for a return.
“I absolutely love Nate. He’s an awesome kid and a big-time talent, but right now he’s suspended indefinitely and not sure if he’s going to come back or not,” Powell said.
Powell said he was part of the conversation around the suspension and stressed that the situation comes back to team standards.
“We have some team rules that we all got to abide by, and he knows what they are and he’s being held accountable,” Powell said.
That accountability theme has taken on extra weight for Michigan with four losses already on the board. Powell said keeping the group locked in hasn’t been easy, but the message inside the program is simple: handle the next game, then the next one after that.
“It’s been tough,” Powell said. “Right now it’s just week to week to go 1-0 and hopefully find a way to make a bowl game.”
He added that players still have individual goals and take pride in competing for respect, and he said the practices this week have been strong as Michigan gets ready for No. 16 Oregon.
Powell spent plenty of time on the Ducks, too. He said Oregon looks different than it did earlier in the season, especially with injuries and quarterback changes. He pointed to Detroit native Dante Moore’s arm talent and said the Ducks have plenty around him to stress a defense.
“They have a lot of weapons around him,” Powell said. “A bunch of good receivers and a strong O-line that’s athletic and two really good running backs.”
He also said Oregon’s offensive line has gotten better even after injuries forced changes up front, and he expects a physical game.
Michigan’s own offensive situation has shifted as well, with Jim Harding taking on a larger role after Jason Beck’s departure. Powell said he has confidence in Harding, who has previous experience as an offensive coordinator, and he brought up Michigan’s last trip to Eugene under that setup.
“Last time Jim Harding was the offensive coordinator, we went to Eugene, Oregon, and he scored 62 points,” Powell said. “So hopefully we can find a way to get back to that.”
Powell called Harding a close friend and said he expects him to respond well.
He also had praise for head coach Kyle Whittingham, describing him as heavily involved while still giving his assistants room to do their jobs.
“He’s one of the best head coaches,” Powell said.
On defense, Powell said Jay Hill has done a strong job leading the unit, and he noted their shared background playing for Whittingham at Utah. He said the players have bought into Hill’s system and kept working through mistakes as the season has gone on.
Now the challenge shifts to Eugene, where Powell said Autzen Stadium will be as difficult as advertised. Michigan has been preparing for the noise, and he expects it to be a factor from the first snap.
“It’s going to be loud on every down,” Powell said.
Powell also acknowledged the adjustment that comes with coaching at Michigan, where the spotlight is brighter and the pressure is heavier.
“There’s a lot of outside noise. It’s a bigger market, and the expectations are a lot higher,” Powell said.
Michigan and Oregon kick off at 3:30 p.m. in Eugene on Nov. 14.
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