Aidan Hutchinson calls Michigan’s staff the smartest he’s been around

The Michigan football program has 4 new members on its defensive staff, the scheme and the mentality aims to be different than that of the Don Brown era.

When speaking with the media on Tuesday, Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson made it a point of emphasis that he’s already learned a lot from the likes of co-defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and the other assistants.

“Coach Mac came in here with a lot of energy and its a different type of focus,” Hutchinson said. “You can tell he’s been in the league for the past eight years. He’s got that way about him. I like what we’re doing with the defense. I like the culture he is instilling in us, I think he’s doing a really good job and I’m just really fired up to have him as my coach.”

Rounding out Michigan’s new look defensive staff is co-defensive coordinator/DBs coach Maurice Linguist, LBs coach George Helow, safeties coach Ron Bellamy, and DL coach Shaun Nua.

Hutchinson calls this edition of Michigan’s staff the smartest he has been around.

“In terms of staffs I’ve been around since I’ve been at Michigan this is probably the smartest staff I’ve been around. Just in these few weeks I’ve had with this staff I’ve learned so much more about the game of football, so much more about defense, all that different stuff just because of the coaches we brought in,” Hutchinson said.

The common theme from Hutchinson, as well as Hassan Haskins and Brad Hawkins (who were interviewed Tuesday as well) is the new staff members have them energized and ready to roll. “I’m fired up,” Hutchinson said. “We got a young staff and I love all the coaches that coach Harbaugh brought in. It’s kind of a different energy around Schembechler (Hall) these days,” defensive end Aidan Hutchinson said on Tuesday. “Everyone’s excited, everybody’s just fired up to keep working on this defense and get out there and practice it.”

Michigan’s staff has gotten younger, more analytical, and it’s clear that players like Hutchinson are listening with open ears and minds to what the new coaches have to say. Communication goes a long way when it comes to cohesion.