Michigan’s 3-2 start has been messy on one side of the ball, but the defense has carried itself like one of the country’s best units. Through five games, the Wolverines sit atop the Big Ten and No. 2 nationally in total defense, allowing just 241.4 yards per game and 3.9 yards per play.
That kind of production is hard to miss, even with the offense dragging the record down. Michigan has had to keep absorbing pressure week after week, and the response has been simple: hold firm, get stops, and keep the game manageable.
“We’re playing really well on defense,” head coach Kyle Whittingham told the media on Monday. “I think we’re third in the country in total defense right now, and with the strain and the stress that has been put on them, that’s pretty darn good.”
The Wolverines have been especially sharp against the pass. They rank fifth nationally by allowing just 146.8 passing yards per game and sixth with 5.7 yards allowed per pass, both best in the Big Ten. That has made life miserable for opposing quarterbacks and kept Michigan in the upper tier of the national defensive rankings.
A big part of that success has come under first-year defensive coordinator Jay Hill, whose group has played with discipline, aggression and versatility. Whittingham said the fit has been obvious from the start.
“Jay Hill and myself go way back,” Whittingham said. “As soon as I got the head coaching job, he immediately became one of the first hires that I made and he has done a very terrific job for us in that capacity. He has such a bright future.”
The players have noticed the difference, too. Defensive end Benny Patterson III pointed to Hill’s influence after speaking with the media on Tuesday.
“Coach Hill is really smart. He’s able to motivate us to the best of our abilities and you see those results on the field,” defensive end Benny Patterson III told the media on Tuesday. “We’re always going to come in every week and work hard regardless.”
Up front, Michigan has backed up the preseason hype. The Wolverines have racked up 12 sacks and are allowing just 2.8 yards per carry, which ranks 12th in the nation. John Henry Daley, who leads the team with three sacks, and Dom Nichols have drawn plenty of attention, but the full line rotation is what has made the group so difficult to deal with.
“We’re a really close-knit group,” Patterson said. “We continue to try and play our best brand of football.
We have a room full of guys that can go out and make plays. We want to continue to put that on display and we take pride in it.”
The back end has been just as reliable. Cornerbacks Jyaire Hill and Zeke Berry, along with safeties Rod Moore and Chris Bracy, give Michigan a secondary built on experience, physicality and versatility.
Even at linebacker, the supposed question mark has held up. Troy Bowles leads the team with 40 tackles, while Nathaniel Staehling and Chase Taylor have each made steady contributions. Taylor said the defense’s pre-snap disguise has been a major edge.
“We disguise very well as a defense. We don’t show what we’re in as a defense and Jay Hill does a great job of that,” Taylor said. “We also have guys that can play everywhere, make plays and step up whenever they need to.”
That ability to hide coverages and keep offenses guessing has only sharpened the effect of all that talent. Michigan may not be getting the full national spotlight because of the offensive struggles, but the defense has done enough to stay near the top of the sport.
The Wolverines will look to keep that standard intact Saturday against the Penn State Nittany Lions.
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Michigan Hits A Dangerous Pressure Point Against Penn State
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For Michigan, the pressure point is hard to miss: the offense still needs to find more consistency, even as Bryce Underwood gives the Wolverines a possible running threat to lean on. Penn State, meanwhile, needs splash plays to change the feel of its own offense, and special teams could end up carrying more weight than usual in a matchup where both teams are searching for any edge that can stop the slide. [Read more 🡒]