Erik_in_Dayton

November 23rd, 2013 at 3:34 PM ^

The defense wasn't perfect, of course, but they are the reason Michigan was in the game at all.  They were pretty tough.  You can only be punched in the mouth - as Iowa wants to do - so many times before you drop.  How many times did Iowa start out at their 40 or better?  The offense and punt team put the D in bad positions again and again.

Joined: 12/03/2008

MGoPoints: 59347

uminks

November 23rd, 2013 at 3:34 PM ^

Make me think the HC should be shown the door. It's going to be really ugly in the big house! OSU D >>> IA D and their O >>>>>>>>>> IA O. Looke like it could be one of those 60-13 type scores. Urban will run it up to try to sneak into the BCS game.

Joined: 11/10/2009

MGoPoints: 32200

MikeCohodes

November 23rd, 2013 at 3:34 PM ^

That's nearly all the D should do is just run all week. It's clear the O can't stay on the field long & give the D a rest, so they need to be in super endurance shape for this week or they'll be dead by the 3rd quarter.

Joined: 08/28/2012

MGoPoints: 4804

bighouse22

November 23rd, 2013 at 3:52 PM ^

The defense doesn't get gold stars for playing a partially good game.  They needed to play 60 minutes.  This is the 3rd loss where they went into the 4th qtr with a lead and have failed to close out the game.  MSU was just before and after the half.  They looked really good for large parts of the game, but I would actually like to see them stop someone when the game is on the line.

Joined: 10/29/2013

MGoPoints: 3064

RFM

November 23rd, 2013 at 3:59 PM ^

For our defense is markedly harder than a normal team due to the lack if offensive success. Can't imagine how demoralizing it must be for them to watch the O. Not only does the O not score but they also lose field position.

Joined: 02/19/2011

MGoPoints: 367

MileHighWolverine

November 23rd, 2013 at 4:33 PM ^

How are they supposed to do that when they are saddled with 8 three-and-out drives from the O, shitty field position all day and an offense that couldn't score or move the ball to save their lives. 

You cannot blame the D at all for this one. They were responsible for 1/3rd of our offensive output!! 

Joined: 09/02/2008

MGoPoints: 7748

LSAClassOf2000

November 23rd, 2013 at 3:41 PM ^

The defense did well enough today - they did exactly what they are supposed to do and kept this one manageable, even being opportunistic and forcing turnovers. That I liked to see. It doesn't seem like there has been much of it this year. We allowed 5.59 yards per snap when all was said and done, but at halftime, were were holding them to under 5 yards per snap, which is where our typical performance is.

Good job for the most part by this unit today - they were clearly tired in the second half. A few more key stops and we're perhaps telling a different story, but clearly the fault is not primarily on them. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130827

Profwoot

November 23rd, 2013 at 4:29 PM ^

Yes, the defense was pretty good today -- good enough to expect the offense to pick up the slack. That said, the offense didn't pick up the slack, and therefore the defense wasn't good enough to win. Combine this shit offense with MSU's D, and M is at least 9-2 right now.

I don't get the folks who demand that Michigan be a championship caliber team, but are perfectly satisfied with a good-not-great D. Yes, the offense is the major culprit, but given that, the D let this game slip away.

Joined: 10/12/2010

MGoPoints: 153

RadioMuse

November 23rd, 2013 at 4:32 PM ^

The defense continues to perform at a solid-B level.  Given all the turnovers and Frank Clark's penetration today I'd go so far as to give it a B+ even.  The defensive touchdown at the beginning of the game more or less offsets Iowa's long scoring drive to start the 2nd half in my book.

They were a little softer than I'd like on a YPP basis, but they made up for it by being very opportunistic with turnovers.  They put the offense in a position to win the game repeatedly and even put points on the board.

The only way to really criticize the defense is saying that they could've been truly elite and shut down Iowa on a few key plays late. If you have Michigan State's defense that's a much stronger arguement...  this defense is still pretty young and inherently soft in places by no fault of the coordinators.  Youth, occasional miscommunication, and some RPS losses at key moments continue to hold them back.  But with a little help from the offense in the second half I have little doubt that they could've held Iowa to 21 points MAXIMUM.  They just never got any help.

Joined: 03/20/2012

MGoPoints: 311