Michigan Linebackers Chase Higher Standards
Linebackers coach Alex Whittingham says the group is not satisfied despite outperforming expectations through nine weeks of the season.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Football
Michigan linebackers coach Alex Whittingham said the group is not satisfied, even though the unit has overperformed relative to expectations through the first nine weeks of the season. The linebackers were viewed as one of the defense's few weaknesses entering the year.
Why it matters
Michigan's defense ranks among the best in the country, so improvement from its linebackers could be decisive in the Wolverines' push for a stronger finish. The unit's production is still below the coaching staff's goals.
Michigan's 5-3 record and 82nd national ranking in forced turnovers, with eight total takeaways, show the defense's havoc gap. The linebackers have forced just one turnover, and the team sits outside the top 25 in havoc rate, leaving the coaching staff's goals unmet.
The players
Alex Whittingham
Michigan's linebackers coach, whose assessment that the group remains unsatisfied highlights the gap between the unit's overperformance and the staff's targets.
Troy Bowles
Michigan senior linebacker who ranks second on the team in tackles for loss and is mentoring younger teammates in the position group.
Chase Taylor
Michigan sophomore linebacker and the youngest player in the unit, who made a key tackle for loss against Rutgers.
The details
Whittingham said the linebackers are not satisfied, pointing to tackles for loss and havoc production that remain short of his standards. Sophomore Chase Taylor, the youngest linebacker in the group, is picking up finer points from senior Troy Bowles, who ranks second on the team in tackles for loss; on Rutgers' final drive, Taylor brought down the quarterback for a loss on a zone read.
Timeline
Oct. 6: Bowles praised Taylor's communication.
Last Saturday: Taylor made a tackle for loss on Rutgers' final drive.
Wednesday: Whittingham said the linebackers are not satisfied.
Season Trajectory
Michigan's defense is among the nation's best, but its 82nd-ranked turnover total and absence from the top 25 in havoc rate show that the linebacker group's production is the main gap in the Wolverines' 5-3 campaign. Their improvement will shape whether the program's strong defensive reputation translates into a stronger late-season résumé.
The linebackers' havoc and tackle-for-loss numbers will be the clearest measure of whether Michigan's defense keeps pace with its ranking. Fantasy and betting interest in individual linebackers such as Bowles and Taylor may track those production numbers as the season advances.
The takeaway
Michigan's linebackers are outperforming expectations, but their havoc production still has to climb before the defense matches its overall strength. Watching tackles for loss and forced turnovers over the next games will show whether that gap closes.
Further reading
Follow more coverage in Football for the latest on Michigan's defense and linebacker group.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Michigan Daily.
