Just a picture of the 2013 starting defense

Submitted by Seth on

Thought I'd throw up a screenshot of the first snap and label the spots since this is just about as base as we're going to get all year. Stick it on your phone or whatever for when you're talking to someone who thinks Will, Mike and Sam are first names.

2013starters

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Farnn

September 2nd, 2013 at 1:54 PM ^

Anyone else surprised by the lack of big plays by Ross?  I was expecting him to have some TFLs and big plays where he diagnosed the play before the ball was snapped and was already streaking towards the ball carrier.

Joined: 07/07/2008

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TakeTheField

September 2nd, 2013 at 2:08 PM ^

but I like that our defense had a very good performance without perhaps our best player doing too much. It looks like we'll have a lot of guys capable of good days on defense, and we won't be depending too heavily on any one or two. If the opposition decides they need to neutralize Ross, someone else will be able to take advantage of that.

Joined: 06/17/2013

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go16blue

September 2nd, 2013 at 2:55 PM ^

When Ryan comes back, do people think he will replace Gordon? Gordon seemed to play really well to me, and Ryan has already shown he can play with his hand in the dirt, so I would prefer him to take over for Heitzman. 

Joined: 04/28/2010

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Farnn

September 2nd, 2013 at 3:20 PM ^

They will probably rotate similar to how Beyer and Gordon are now to keep them both fresh.  On passing downs you can probably have one of them move down to WDE and have the other at SAM with Ojemudia or Clark at SDE.  Offenses won't know where the pressure is coming from.

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LSAClassOf2000

September 2nd, 2013 at 3:49 PM ^

Nice capture, and you are right, it almost looks like a standard diagram of a 4-3 under base formation. 

Of minor note, the four players in the secondary here ended up with a smidge over 1/4 of all of Michigan's tackles on the day. Other stats on the defense as a whole - 9 TFL for 33 yards, 4 sacks for 22 yards.

 

Joined: 01/07/2011

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tigers17fan

September 2nd, 2013 at 9:54 PM ^

What's the difference between SDE and WDE? From what I've read and heard it seems people aren't too excited about Heitzman at SDE but thinks we have three solid at WDE (Clark, Ojemudia, Tacopants). Why can't we just swing one of those three over to SDE?

Joined: 06/07/2012

MGoPoints: 167

Seth

September 3rd, 2013 at 6:16 AM ^

WDE is more like SAM than SDE. We play a 4-3 Under, which means the strongside defensive end is a guy lining up in a 5-technique (inside shoulder of the offensive tackle) while the WDE is lining up outside the OT. The non-nose defensive tackle is like the SDE on the other side; he lines up on the outside shoulder of the offensive guard.

Think of it more like a 3-4, where there's a nose tackle and two big "ends" to either side of him. You don't replace the end on the left side with an outside linebacker; you replace him with the end to the other side.

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