Jay Hill, Jason Beck assess each other's Michigan football schemes

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan football had perhaps the best dual coordinator hires of the offseason in Jason Beck and Jay Hill, leading the offense and defense, respectively. And while they'll work to create headaches for opposing teams in just a few short days, the past several months, they've been creating headaches for each other.

The latest has come in fall camp, where each coordinator is working to ready his side of the ball. When the team goes good-on-good -- meaning the starting offense vs. the starting defense rather than against the scout team -- each is working to get the best of each other.

So, what does each side of the ball look like in each other's eyes?

Starting with the defense, Beck notes that there's a lot of moving parts and that can become problematic for all parties involved. It starts with confusing the quarterback, but the offensive line and the receivers also have to be mindful of what Hill's defense is doing on any given play.

"Very capable players, good players, very multiple front coverage," Beck said. "They do a really nice job disguising things on you. So you have to be dialed in with the fronts in the coverages because that is not a static thing. That's the same, play in and play out. So it taxes your whole line with their targeting. It taxes your pass protection with all your assignments.

"And then for the quarterback, that thing can change on the snap with what your reads and progressions are. So very capable in terms of the people, and also the scheme is a challenge."

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The offense is perhaps the side of the ball most people are particularly excited about.

Beck oversaw the No. 4 offense in the country at two different schools in two successive years. Now, he's working to ensure that the third time isn't any different -- lest it be better.

Hill thinks that Michigan football fans will be elated when they see just how dynamic and explosive Beck's offense is, given all of the different wrinkles and schematic advantages it has.

"I can say this: Jason Beck's offense is awesome," Hill said. "And it's another one of those things where you better be prepared for the tempo and the physicality and all the zigging and zagging and everything that goes with it. I think the fans are going to love it, and the players are going to love it.

"Now we've got to go out and execute, but I'm excited to watch it in person and be on the other side of the ball of it. I have seen the offensive players just get better and better and better at their execution. That's probably a better question for Jason exactly where they're at, but I can't wait to watch it in person too. Going against it, it's tough to defend."

Fans will have a chance to see both the offense and defense in action on Saturday when the Wolverines host Western Michigan at The Big House.