defense

Comments on defense

Miami has their Turnover Chain, Tennessee has a dumb trash can, Alabama has their belt. Besides for nothing, or maybe a Charlie Horse, which are likely the right answers, what would be an appropriate Turnover Celebration tool for Michigan?

After 4 games the Michigan defense is ranked No. 1 in the nation in Yards Per Play (3.52) and Yards Per Game (203.0).

http://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/22

Michigan's rushing defense is currently ranked 4th, giving up 69 YPG, just ahead of Alabama.

http://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/24

Michigan's scoring defense is tied for 12th (13.0 PPG), tied with the Scott Frosts.

http://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/28

Notable perhaps too that Michigan is ranked as high as 8th in the nation in Passing Yards Allowed (134 ypg):

http://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/695

Impressive work thus far, but MSU, @Indiana and @PSU loom ahead.

 

 

Last week Rashan Gary was asked:  “Do you guys have a nickname for your defensive group or a rally cry?”

Gary’s response:  “No, not at all right now. We’re just waiting for somebody to give us a name.”

The NFL has a long history of nicknames for outstanding defensive units. A few that come to mind from over the years are The Purple People Eaters, The Orange Crush, The Steel Curtain, Gang Green, The Killer Bees, and I’m sure many more I don’t immediately recall.  It doesn’t seem to be as popular for college units though.

So, should the 2017 Michigan defensive unit have a nickname?  A couple options include “The Blue-Collar Defense” (just a shirt I wear to work), or my personal favorite, “The Brownout Defense” or simply "Brownout D"  I can envision a future headline that reads “Penn State Whiteout suffers Brownout!”

What say you?

 

Side note:  My inaugural post so hoping I’ve followed the proper MgoProtocol.

11 Warriors has an interesting article on Don Brown's defense last year (link). 

For the second year in a row UM's linebacking core appears to be the weak link on defense late in the season. This is troubling, but can it be fixed...and quickly? Last year Ryan Glasgow's injury was a huge loss but we can't blame line injuries now. What can UM's staff do to help improve the play of say Mike McCray? Is the answer simply playing a more athletic Devin Bush Jr.? I'm not football smart enough to know but it sure seems ineffective linebacker play is UM's Achilles' heel versus the run and intermediate passes on an otherwise elite defense.

If the mods feel this has already been hashed out let's move on but I'm still unsure as to the answer.

Go Blue! A big Thank You to all student athletes for working your *sses off this season!