Ad Disclosure
Michigan football: Wolverines defense continues to impress
By Adam Biggers
Published:
The names of coordinators have changed but the results have remained the same for Michigan.
Year-in, year-out, UM pumps out highly ranked defenses — defenses that end up serving as breeding grounds for superstars.
Defenses that serve as backbones of a program.
These aren’t just good defenses, they’re consistently among the best in the country.
Entering this week, the Wolverines had the No. 15-ranked total defense, giving up roughly 311 yards per game. Other than Michigan State and Nebraska, no teams have really done much in the stat-stuffing department vs. the Wolverines. Despite giving up 37 to the Spartans and 29 to the Huskers, the Wolverines’ defense still has a great scoring average, giving up 17.1 points per game.
The Spartans and Huskers are the only teams to put more than 20 on the board vs. the Wolverines, who have the No. 10-ranked scoring defense to go along with a No. 15 total defense.
Greg Mattison, Don Brown or Mike Macdonald — hasn’t mattered during the past 7 years of the Jim Harbaugh era, the numbers always end up being there. This isn’t new for Michigan, which looks to finish with a top-10-ranked defense for the 5th time in the past 7 seasons. Mattison and Brown had UM in the top 3 during the early years of Harbaugh’s tenure.
And really, Mattison had things going before Harbaugh even arrived to Ann Arbor.
Expecting Michigan to finish among the top 10 or 15 defenses this season wouldn’t be out of line, not at this juncture. With Indiana and Maryland lurking around the corner, the Wolverines will have a pair of opportunities to pad their impressive stats.
Give Shaun Nua some credit too. Michigan’s D-line has developed into one of the best in the Big Ten. Anchored by DE Aidan Hutchinson, the Wolverines have arguably the best all-around player in college football. Hutchinson’s 7 sacks have him tied for No. 13 overall, and he should tack on at least 1 or 2 more this Saturday vs. Indiana, which is fielding a true freshman QB who’s making his second start.
Mike Morris, Mazi Smith and Christopher Hinton deserve credit too. Hutchinson isn’t the only one in the trenches. Hinton has come up with a fumble recovery, while Morris and Smith have each done their part in getting into the backfield.
According to Football Outsiders, UM’s D-line has a 6.4 percent sack rate, among the best averages in the country. That rate goes up to 10.4 percent on passing downs, good enough for No. 27 overall (top teams are separated by decimals, so No. 27 sounds out of “top” range — but it’s not).
Per Football Outsiders, UM’s DL gives up 2.63 yards per play — that’s different than regular yards per play. The DL yardage measures plays that don’t make it past the first level of tacklers (the DL).
Linebacker David Ojabo has burst onto the scene and is being mentioned among the best pass-rushers in the country. Like Hutchinson, Ojabo has 7 sacks on the year. With Hutchinson, Ojabo is half of one of the most dangerous pass-rushing duos in college football.
Michigan is used to having guys like them, so it’s no surprise to see pair of excellent edge rushers on this year’s roster.
The Wolverines are 1.1 points from having the best scoring defense average in the Big Ten. Roughly 3 points separate them from having the No. 2 scoring defense in the country, a familiar recognition over the years — regardless of coaching staff. The Wolverines have held opponents to 14 points or fewer 5 times this season.
Michigan is top 20 in 3rd down conversions, allowing 32.8 percent to convert. The Wolverines have allowed 130 first downs this season, No. 13 overall — and 14 of them were freebies via penalties.
Wisconsin’s 95 opponent 1st downs tops all of college football, for those counting.
Go back and look at defensive statistics from previous years, and a common theme will immediately jump off the page: It’s hard to run against Michigan, and UM always has star players.
Adam Biggers brings his expertise on the Michigan beat to Saturday Tradition. Follow him on Twitter @AdamBiggers81.