Rutgers Snowflakes: The Defense
September 23rd, 2023 at 2:54 PM ^
One bust away from a shutout. Well done!
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:11 PM ^
But somehow I still find myself worried about the back 7 after this one
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:33 PM ^
that's bpone. maybe a third big ten championship and trip to the playoffs in a row will cure it. But then again, maybe not.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:39 PM ^
we had all 3 CB's playing and are now just missing Rod Moore back there
I am more concerned about depth back there as opposed to the starters
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:44 PM ^
Reddog -you missed a good game. One with Rod Moore starting and playing throughout!
September 23rd, 2023 at 11:29 PM ^
Wasn’t it Rod Moore that totally whiffed the tackle on the long pass TD?
September 24th, 2023 at 12:14 AM ^
also the same Rod Moore who went out after that series and didn't come back in
September 24th, 2023 at 9:48 AM ^
Really? Swore I saw him back in later in the game. Unless they have a different #9 on defense.
September 24th, 2023 at 11:53 AM ^
I saw that he played, but I didn't think he played full snaps
September 23rd, 2023 at 11:26 PM ^
Cumong, man. Sainristil slipped and the Rutgers receiver got free. It happens. Rutgers never got closer than our 30-ish yard line the rest of the game.
The defense is stealing the show over the offense. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.
September 23rd, 2023 at 2:54 PM ^
Good showing by the D, keeping Michigan in the game until the O could get on track.
September 23rd, 2023 at 2:55 PM ^
Mike Sainristil had himself a game. That pick 6 run back...
Other than one bad play the defense shut them down pretty much. They got some yards, but this is actually a decent Rutger team with an effective running game.
September 23rd, 2023 at 2:56 PM ^
Thank God for Sainristril's uncanny balance.
Overall an expected defensive performance.
September 23rd, 2023 at 2:56 PM ^
Lack of pressure is going to be fatal against PSU and OSU.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:02 PM ^
I'll bet you a nickel the pressure numbers are good in this game. Maybe no QB hits / sacks, but they were in Wimsatt's face for every one of his ridiculously lucky completions.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:45 PM ^
Let me guess - you said the same thing last year.
September 23rd, 2023 at 5:14 PM ^
That QB is sneaky good with his runs. They had "almost" sack so many times. Hard to bring down a running QB if he bails as soon as he sees pressure.
September 23rd, 2023 at 2:56 PM ^
Seems like we actually hold more back on defense than offense in these kinds of games. The nickel pressure is way too predictable, especially when we're giving mediocre receivers 10-yard cushions on the outside.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:19 PM ^
I think we're giving up space on the outside so we have more eyes in the backfield to play the run.
Yes, Michigan can press Rutgers, canceling their recievers, but at the cost of our backend turning their backs to the run game which is scary especially vs that QB.
I'm not a coach though just a fan so I could be wrong.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:30 PM ^
Fair point although if Wimsatt is running at a corner, something probably went wrong already.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:35 PM ^
Yeah, the soft corners were just from playing zone a lot. Eyes in the backfield. If Wimsatt was going to keep them in the game w/ his arm, so be it.
The coaches were right btw. 7 points on 1 busted play.
September 23rd, 2023 at 9:07 PM ^
Rutgers threw for 5 YPA if you take away the one busted play, and that's with a handful of other circus catches boosting those stats.
September 23rd, 2023 at 2:57 PM ^
Our D is a-maizing!!!
Mikey's pick six changed the momentum.
September 23rd, 2023 at 2:57 PM ^
KENNETH GRANT SMASH
September 23rd, 2023 at 2:57 PM ^
Someone said in the game thread that Mikey went out injured. That true?
September 23rd, 2023 at 2:57 PM ^
I think Im a little concerned with the DL's ability to get home. No sacks in this game IIRC and haven't gotten home a ton at all this season. Doesn't look like any of the ends are game changers
September 23rd, 2023 at 2:57 PM ^
Stellar. Class of the FBS.
September 23rd, 2023 at 2:59 PM ^
D played good enough. Really, just one truly bad play. Would like to see more pressure from the DL and tighter coverage by the secondary.
September 23rd, 2023 at 4:29 PM ^
The pressure is there. Getting home is not (when QB is flushed, we can’t seem to get him).
September 23rd, 2023 at 2:59 PM ^
If it wasn’t for Mikey falling down and Moore whiffing on the tackle, that would have be3n a much more comfortable start.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:03 PM ^
Nice job against their running game, but I didn’t see much pass rush and a lot of open receivers.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:04 PM ^
DL is worrying with the lack of pressure, especially from the edges.
Secondary looked rusty but they also haven't played together until today so I feel like they should improve.
I don't understand the massive amounts of cushion they were giving to a QB is known for his terrible accuracy.
LBs looked good.
Mikey is amazing and I never want him to leave.
September 23rd, 2023 at 7:17 PM ^
Well, Michigan didn't get sacks because they were playing contain on Wimsatt to keep him from bolting out of the pocket. That kid can fly. They did pressure him a lot.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:04 PM ^
Thank God for Sainristil, because otherwise this secondary is a mess.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:14 PM ^
It’s not. Rutgers made some terrific catches.
September 23rd, 2023 at 11:33 PM ^
This has been our defense since Mike MacDonald took over. It's a lot of zone and underneath stuff for the opposing offense. Occasionally the other teams make long-ish passes but they're usually well contested. Run defense has been really good.
What we don't see much of anymore is the OSU debacle from a few years back where shallow crossers go for 65 yard touchdowns. I'll take it.
September 24th, 2023 at 2:17 AM ^
BUT CJ STROUD HAD A LOT OF PASSING YARDZZZ!
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:05 PM ^
They didn't look good on Rutgers first drive by giving up a few pass completions and runs and fell behind 7-0. Then it was lights out. They pressured Rutgers QB, got home once. Picked him off for a Pick-6: Thank You Mike Sainistril! That's two INTs for him this season.
I give them a B+. This defense has yet to give up more than 7 pts in four games so far. Can't complain. I call it GOOD.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:52 PM ^
And first play of second drive — thank goodness for the hold (which wasn’t at all egregious if what I was looking at on end of LoS) — then settled down very nicely, thank you. Rutgers made some plays. (Can’t believe I just typed that sentence, but true.) Rutgers gets 4th win next week. I thought they looked decent what I saw of games 1-3; I’m calling it now: they will make a bowl. (Helps that only 3 good teams and one clearly above-avg (Md).) Rod Moore wasn’t ready yet. Did Sabb play? Down those two for all intents & purposes affects my assessment: very strong performance.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:05 PM ^
I don’t recall the last time our DL was shifting so much right before the snap. Interested to read the UFR
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:11 PM ^
Mike Sainristl is a Boss, and a super player. Nice defensive effort overall after giving up an ugly big td play early. Wimstatt seems like a pretty athletic qb with skills.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:19 PM ^
Bad tackling. No sacks. Poopy
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:21 PM ^
I chock up the first and only big play to Sainristil tripping on the turf, he played great outside of that
run defense looked good overall, did a good job adjusting to the zone reads, but would like them to read that better earlier
defense is great at reading screens. That’s 2 picks on screens in the last 2 games
4th down defense was clutch
Pass rush didn’t get home, but I feel like there was some holding, QB did a good job getting ball out too
Rutgers WRs we’re making some stupid catches, especially on a couple well covered fades
We did give up too many easy yards on 2nd down by playing too far off the receiver, puts defense in such a tough spot on third
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:54 PM ^
Rod Moore also really blew that. Mikey’s miss is 15yd completion. Moore’s way off angle = TD
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:31 PM ^
Wallace better be on a horse.....teams are gonna avoid Johnson like the plague.
September 24th, 2023 at 10:27 PM ^
Eventually i'd like to see more of Hill and less of Wallace. I think teams will be throwing at Wallace more and more. He's serviceable but against the better offenses he'll get exposed.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:43 PM ^
Kris Jenkins quiet again
September 23rd, 2023 at 4:16 PM ^
Quietly breaking two of their OL, you mean.
September 23rd, 2023 at 4:00 PM ^
They still seem to be bend but not break mode! But I still think we have a top 5 D