Skip to content

Ad Disclosure

Joel Klatt explains why he was surprised by Michigan’s stout defense: ‘Better than I anticipated’

Ethan Stone

By Ethan Stone

Published:

Joel Klatt was not expecting Michigan’s defense to be a good as it is.

The Wolverines had a solid unit last season that underwent some turnover in the offseason. Because of this, Klatt had some questions towards that unit’s efficacy on  that side of the ball.

But the Wolverines are just fine in that department, boasting the No. 1 scoring defense in the country. Klatt noted that and spoke on their surprising unit ahead of the final 2 weeks of the regular season, including a looming matchup with Ohio State on Nov. 26.

“Their defense is better than I anticipated,” Klatt said Monday on The Joel Klatt Show. “So, in the offseason I remember having a lot of discussions with people about Michigan. I said this is a magical team, it was a magical chemistry. In particular those defensive players, there’s a lot to replace on the defensive side of the ball. And I look up and say, man this defense in 2022 is a bit better than last year’s defense and the numbers even bear that out. This is the No. 1 scoring defense and No. 1 total defense in America. This is the No. 4 passing defense in America. They’re really good and I was not expecting that.”

Ethan Stone

Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Tradition.