MnB article on how far our defense has come.

Submitted by Double-D on
One of the most satisfying aspects of watching Michigan Football is seeing such a well coached team in all areas of the game. We truly have an all star staff for each position coach and an overall scheme which is producing results....not hope. This team plays good football, works hard, and learns. The coaches scheme hard and adjust. It feels damn good to have a defense that will raise fear in our opponents and is going to keep getting better. We may have some bumps in the road but the real suffering is over. http://www.maizenbrew.com/2015/9/28/9405209/michigan-football-do-the-wo…

The Victors

September 28th, 2015 at 6:57 PM ^

UNLV and BYU game plans were well-planned from the get-go and didn't require any major game-plan adjustments, but Oregon State went right down the field on their first drive against us.  It was fairly well-documented that Durkin and the coaches made adjustments after that first drive and, well, you know what happened the rest of the game. Even in the loss to Utah, we made adjustments to the offense, particularly the running game, and it was significantly more productive in the 2nd half.

Fact is, we don't really know how many adjustments the coaches make in-game because we only really see the results. I'm sure the coaches are making small adjustments constantly.

The most important aspect I see coming from the coaching staff is the initial game plan and overall preparation. The best coaches put their players in position to succeed, and thus far, this coaching staff has shown a dramatic improvement compared to the previous staffs.

FauxMo

September 28th, 2015 at 7:17 PM ^

Honestly didn't hear much about "adjustments" after OSU's first possession, more just talk about the defense needing to get used to the spread again, as teams often do when they haven't seen the offense every day in practice. But it would not surprise me if adjustments were made...

smotheringD

September 28th, 2015 at 11:19 PM ^

Yup, the players talked about being too tentative in the earlier games, which comes from getting used to new schemes.  Sometimes it's nerves.  Sometimes it's the brain trying to process all of the coaching they've been getting for the past 5-7 weeks or so.

I think what we saw last weekend was the players starting to "get it".  All of the coaching started to sink in, they weren't thinking out there, they'd had enough good reps so they were just playing football.  The BYU coach said as much in his post game presser, that UM was more prepared, more physical, super-sharp, disciplined, precise execution (with a few minor exceptions like the fake punt).

http://video-embed.mlive.com/services/player/bcpid1949050400001?bctid=4…

Perfect practice (good reps) > good precise execution > dominance

Man was their coach humbled.

M go Bru

September 29th, 2015 at 11:09 AM ^

If not, you are lost in the NFL.

We have all successful coaches! That is why the NFL press was in denial that Harbaugh would go back to college. And he has assembled an amazing staff. Get used to the fact that it will be changing when they get offered promotions in the future. But it will also serve to provide a future successor.

Giving up a TD on the first drive against Oregon State reminded me of the '97 Champtionship team, whose defense was number one in the country. The opponents first drive was their best drive. Adjustments were made and it was typically lock down from there on out.

But I must admit that BYU defense was truly awesome! Our debacks have now learned to be the lockdown type and playing the type of agressive hands-on approach that is now being allowed. The same type of coverage that made MSU's defense. 

Hail Harbo

September 28th, 2015 at 7:02 PM ^

100% concern trolling.  However, there is no way to know how much adjustment goes on throughout any game.  Well, unless you took part in creating the initial plan.  Did you?

FauxMo

September 28th, 2015 at 7:15 PM ^

Oh, of course. I guess I was thinking of adjustments as that word is often used (but not exclusively) - when a team is doing poorly or losing at halftime, and the coaches change things up offensively or defensively to better contend with the opponent's gameplan, and the second half goes much better.

LSBlue

September 28th, 2015 at 7:19 PM ^

That's not what I would've described it as. That made me pause when I read that and had to go back game by game in the memory banks. That was not a bend don't break defense. I recall feeling very comfortable with a 7-10 point lead that whole season. The only exception was against OSU. Even when Iowa made it a game, you knew UM wasn't losing that game.

LSBlue

September 28th, 2015 at 8:45 PM ^

Right, because what I recall of the defense that year was that they were more shut down than bend/break. That punt return to close the half was crushing, no doubt about that. I just personally recall feeling that UM would still win the game because the defense would shut them down in the second half.

DanDiego1999

September 29th, 2015 at 2:24 AM ^

The '97 defense was without question one of the most aggressive, attacking defenses Michigan ever fielded.  The writer loses some credibility with me if he actually "clearly remembers" our defense that year being bend-don't-break...  I was a junior back in '97 with season tickets, went to the Rose Bowl, and what I clearly remember was Jim Hermann unleashing our athletes in all manner of blitzes, aggressive man coverage, and selling out to stop the run (because we had a certain fellow who was able to shut down half the field).  With the exception of the first half of the Notre Dame game that year (which was the only time I remember us strangely playing semi-passively which allowed them to score 14 points before half-time), our defense dictated its terms to the offense by forcing them to respond to their play (and not vice-versa).  No defense we've had since then ever matched that team's aggressiveness, tenacity, and play-calling on that side of the ball

michiganman001

September 28th, 2015 at 7:18 PM ^

Credit for the defense goes to the players obviously, but to also Haurbaugh, Durkin, and yes even Hoke. 

However the guy I think should get the most credit for the D is Mattison (which is why Hoke gets credit, he got him here). The defense in 2010 was just awful and Mattison came in and turned it into atleast a top 30 defense for now 5 years in a row. I really hope the team can get a B1G 10 championship, and dare I say it, a National Championship while he remains at UM. 

Nitro

September 28th, 2015 at 7:25 PM ^

The real test of how far the defense has come will be The Game. In all fairness, while the current sentiment that MSU and OSU are overrated is presently accurate, both teams are still adjusting to new coordinators. It can be expected that, while maybe not as good as last season's versions, State's defense and Ohio's offense will be improved by the time our shots against them come up.

BuckNekked

September 29th, 2015 at 6:29 AM ^

Thats because getting used to a new coordinator in the same system with continuity everywhere else is so difficult as compared to a completely new staff with the third offensive system in three years?   You are overselling the new coordinator angle especially where State is concerned. Thier secondary sucks and would suck with Narduzzi IMO.

UMProud

September 28th, 2015 at 7:44 PM ^

After watching TCU, UCLA, Arizona & Texas Tech defense this weekend....I'm in shock and how much they look like swiss cheese.  Even basics like tackling were horrid.

Watching a well coached team like Michigan vs these other guys really makes you appreciate what we have in Jim Harbaugh who really sweats the basics.

Double-D

September 28th, 2015 at 8:09 PM ^

The O-line is getting better and WRs are all blocking well downfield. Punt coverage and placement is incredible and punt returns are helping us win field position. The FG unit looks sound after early concerns. I noticed Peppers and Lewis taking turns at safety valve on kick-offs. Putting our best open field tacklers in a position where they are not cracking the wedge but can insure nobody takes it back. Stribling and Clark are light years ahead of last year and making the whole defense better.

It's nice to watch Michigan play smart sound football again and not tear your hair out. Nobody has it better than us!