How do we get more pressure from the DLine?

Submitted by Gentleman Squirrels on November 29th, 2020 at 12:48 PM

Question for the board or anyone who has knowledge of these matters. While I don’t think our grow a DT plan has really panned out, I don’t think this is entirely a recruiting issue since other programs with less talent on their DL seem to have better success in pressuring QBs than Michigan does. So what is Michigan doing wrong with what we are asking our DTs and DEs to do? Seems to me that throughout Harbaugh’s tenure that has been the most glaring issue in most if not all the games we have lost. Even looking back at games against OSU, the two years we kept the game close were 2016 and 2017 when Hurst was out there wreaking havoc and forcing QBs to throw faster than they wanted to. 

So with the limitations of our current DL not having individual star players, is there a way to scheme more pressure from the DLine? Or do we just have to wait for players to hopefully develop into something more than they are now?

MGoTakedown

November 29th, 2020 at 4:08 PM ^

The coaches plan is to wait 3-4 years until several SDE's grow into DT's. Until then the plan is to let teams that haven't won a game rush for 254 yards against us.

Sorry for the snark. It's not meant for you. I'm just frustrated with a strategy that was obvious to everyone except the coaching staff that it was a poor strategy. SDE's do sometimes grow into good DT's but that should be treated as gift, not something you gamble your whole defensive future on.