ANN ARBOR -- For Chris Partridge, the offseason was a flattering one.
The Michigan football assistant coach was rewarded for his success mentoring the linebackers with an offer to coach alongside Nick Saban at Alabama. In the end, Partridge turned it down and elected to stay at Michigan, which rewarded him with a hefty pay raise and new job title.
While Partridge continues as special teams coordinator, he switched from coaching linebackers to safeties, a group that helped comprise the nation's No. 1 pass defense in 2017. But it also had its share of flaws.
Right away, Partridge got to work.