defensive tackle

Previously: Podcast 14.0A, 14.0B, 14.0C. The Story. Quarterback. Running Back. Wide Receiver. Tight End. Offensive Tackle. Interior OL.

BEFORE WE GET STARTED

War never changes, but the preview posts do. We've held onto the idea that a 3-4—really a 5-2 since one of your starting "OLBs" is 292 pounds—is not really a thing in 2022 even if Michigan says it is. They did last year, and we didn't believe them, and then they ran out one linebacker for big chunks of the Michigan State game. Was this a good idea? No. Does it force us to reconsider some things, preview-wise? Yes.

Also. I worked on this depth chart for a month and then Harbaugh … just podcasted it out, with full on OLB/tackle/nose/end Ravens 3-4 nomenclature. So. Here is what we believe will happen with the defense this year:

• ANY SPREAD LOOK, STANDARD DOWN: 4-2-5 nickel that looks bog standard Don Brown pre-snap complete with viper-type person who is either Michael Barrett or Mike Sainristil.
• ANY SPREAD LOOK, PASSING DOWN: Exotic blitz pu-pu platter.
• BEEFCAKE: 5-2-4. Nominally a 3-4 but the SOLB is 290 pounds and the weakside end probably isn't dropping much, so functionally a … yep, 4-3 under.

This means that Harbaugh naming about 16 defensive starters sort of makes sense. Is Mason Graham a starter against Maryland? No. Mike Sainristil is. Vice versa against MSU.

The major difference here is that the nickel adjustment is "remove DT, add DB" instead of the more traditional "remove LB, add DB." Since it's 2022, though, the nickel is really your base and a heftier front is more unusual. We have adjusted our depth charts to reflect Michigan's approach but continue to assume base nickel personnel. Like the rest of football, we've given up on calling things defensive ends: welcome to the "edge" era.

DEFENSIVE INTERIOR: PRESS F TO PAY FOR SPINAL SURGERY

The last couple years this was a pain point, or at least expected to be one. Last year the DTs were expected to be an Achilles heel and were instead decent-to-good. This year Michigan loses Chris Hinton, a solid guy without a lot of upside, and brings back the two biggest bust-out candidates on the team.

This looks like a dichotomy: there's every reason to believe that Michigan will have a couple of stars here, but you need four guys, not two, even when you don't run a defense that effectively has 3 DTs starting. Michigan's going to get plays here, in bunches. The threat is that other teams make plays based on youthful backups if they can stay on the field.

Previously: The Story. Podcast 12.4A, 12.4B, 12.4C. Quarterback. Running Back. Wide Receiver. Tight End. Interior OL. Offensive Tackle. Defensive End. Defensive Tackle. Linebacker. Cornerback. Safety. Special Teams. 5Q5A: Offense.

1. What's the point of anything if OSU is just going to put up 60 on us?

Well… you see… I mean… you know?

Your author has to admit that every time he gets even slightly intrigued about football happening he quickly remembers that OSU has put Michigan in a blender the last two years, and there's no real reason to expect it will stop. I am still not over two years ago, when Michigan entered the OSU game with the #1 pass defense in the country, by both regular and fancy stats, and was systematically dismembered because their third cornerback was suddenly a giant liability.

The idea that might be a fluke went out the window last year. And now we're looking at a season where the corners are Vincent Gray, who might be okay, and the vague hope someone out of the hodge-podge of other guys breaks through. And then they need a nickelback.

I don't mean to be a downer, but what's the mechanism via which Michigan gets from gives up a zillion to anything else? To my eye the best argument you can muster is that hiring Bob Shoop gives Michigan a crafty zone expert who can anticipate and defeat OSU's approach. That feels extremely thin, because he's not the defensive coordinator.

The other way Michigan could turn around the last two years is to have a defense that's on par with OSU, talent-wise. This is not that year.

[After the JUMP: good news! we got the depressing stuff out of the way]