Ham

September 15th, 2018 at 7:05 PM ^

SMU was able to drive the ball at will in the second half. Don Brown is overrated. They are also extremely undisciplined. So many penalties. That's already killed them once this year. It'll do it again if they don't change.

Ron Utah

September 16th, 2018 at 12:08 AM ^

You were doing fine until the last sentence. 

The defense was attacked by a great gameplan and some very good athletes. Porche would start for just about any team in the country. The officiating was lousy. 

Did our defense show some cracks? Absolutely. But that was not the same version of SMU that played the first two games and I’d expect their offense to come alive from here on out. 

jackw8542

September 16th, 2018 at 11:14 AM ^

We stopped most of their drives until the refs moved them along with ridiculous penalties.  The targeting was BS (their targeting of West, on the other hand, was egregious), the PI on Hutchinson was absurd as the QB's still had the ball in his hand when the tackle began, a couple of the PIs were just bad calls (one involved a ball thrown so far over the receiver's head it landed a good ten yards OOB) and their refusal to call holding on SMU was the cherry on top.

FreddieMercuryHayes

September 15th, 2018 at 10:35 PM ^

There's nothing gimmicky at all about it.  Every defense and scheme has weaknesses.  Brown's have always been QBs able to break the pocket and in press-man, get some yards, and also be vulernable to reverses/screens becasue of aggressiveness.  Brown needs to just adjust as other adjust to him.  The biggest thing to me is lack of pass rush TFLs.  I'm not sure if that is because of DTs or blitzes not getting home.  But containing the QB and getting pressure is number one concern right now especially given the modern game.  I think there needs to be more disguising of different coverages as well.

PrestigeWorldwide

September 15th, 2018 at 8:00 PM ^

Agreed. Love Don Brown as well, but for the love of god can throw in an occassional zone coverage on 3rd and long so I dont have to see another QB run for 20 yards while our DBs are all running in coverage with their backs to the play again! This lost the game against OSU last year and I dont see it being any different this year.

991GT3

September 15th, 2018 at 7:57 PM ^

This defense usually pads their numbers against weak teams causing them to statistically be rated high but if the game is on the line they fold like a cheap suit. The only game I can remember the defense winning is the Indiana game when they made a stop at the goal line. Against good teams, they are an average defense. Not many are willing to say this but it is fact. I could point to several games last year when the defense caved despite us having  good leads

Teams are exploiting this mano mano defensive philosophy. Either DB changes or it will be a long season. What we saw today was pathetic. A freshman QB looking like Ton Brady against our vaunted defense.

 

Swazi

September 15th, 2018 at 8:08 PM ^

Don Brown isn’t overrated come on now.

 

One TD was on a coverage blown by Hawkins.  A guy who’s in his third career game at safety.

Miami gave up 20 to Toledo.

 

Wisconsin just lost to BYU.

The entire B1G sans UM, Penn State, and Indiana has looked like hot garbage today.

CHUKA

September 15th, 2018 at 8:45 PM ^

Enough excuses man. Any time someone messes up it’s, “but he’s young!”, “but that quarterback is really good!, “but that’s not a Harbaugh recruit!”, “but the refs messed up!” - just make a fucking play for God’s sake. I’m not saying the shit’s easy, but if you repeatedly show that you can’t make the play then why are you still on the field after multiple games and/or seasons in Kinnell’s case. Throughout his career I can maybe think of 2-3 good plays he’s made on the ball off the top of my mind. You might as well have another LB on the field when Kinnell’s in - Metellus played great though. Of course he shows out the second he gets less reps.

CHUKA

September 15th, 2018 at 8:19 PM ^

To everyone downvoting this, how has Don Brown proved to you that he can field an elite, great, or even good defense against a good offense during his stay at Michigan? I know the blitzes look cool and fun to you guys but how effective has the D really been against a decent team?

The best case scenario is the other team scores something like 21 by halftime and we shut them out the rest of the game. But at that point it’s too late - especially with our inept offense. The man to man shit doesn’t cut it unless your DBs are very talented and disciplined, and simply put they’re not. The DBs are underperforming BIG. I thought Lavert was an All-American type corner but even Zordich said, “... it looked like he never played man to man” (referring to the ND game). And what’s up Kinnell being named “the most improved player” by the team? If he’s the most improved then I’m seriously concerned about this teams future/development.

I already know the first thing people will say to refute this is “BUT HE GAVE US A TOP 3 DEFENSE 4 YEARS IN A ROW!!!” or some shit, but I don’t give a fuck if we dominate shitty offenses (which we can’t even really do anymore) then go and give up 42 against PSU. 

Until he proves otherwise I believe he can only field a decent defense if we greatly outmatch the talent of the offense. 

This disappoints me the most too. I knew the O would be average at best but I really thought we could have an elite defense this year. I’d say we’re above average at best right now. 

maizeandsmeef

September 16th, 2018 at 1:07 PM ^

My thoughts exactly. 

The story in Brown is out. The great teams/coaches could always beat him but now even the worst teams on our schedule have figured him out. 

PSU and OSU are going to curb stomp this defense. 

Don Brown is cool and uses cool nicknames and talks a big game but the eye test is there - he doesn’t adapt and he needs to figure it out or go back to BC.

Alumnus93

September 15th, 2018 at 8:20 PM ^

I prefer Durkins M defense which seemed to have kept play in front of it.  Browns doesn't... And too often you see two players turning into one when blitzing...I hate that.   And I hardly see the types of stunts ND pulled on us well... Rather we see odd angle blitzes that force QBs hand but to a forward field short two players.  MSU I gonna really screw us with our overpursuit unless they smarten up. 

I wish Brown on 3rd and long would send three to rush, and the rest to contain.

MGoBlue96

September 15th, 2018 at 10:06 PM ^

You mean the Durkin defense that got it's doors blown off against OSU in 2016 and didn't give the team a chance in that game? I will say Brown does need to figure out a fix to getting burned on qb scrambles on 3rd and long and it wouldn't hurt to throw in some zone here and there, but his defense did give UM a chance to beat OSU the last two years. Your comment is absurd. Besides the PSU game the defense gave the team a chance in every game last year

Go Blue 80

September 16th, 2018 at 7:32 AM ^

I agree Brown is overrated, he's still a good coach, but he's not some superpower Greek god that this blog and many others make him out to be.  Most of the defensive stats are padded against weak teams, then they choke against good teams and in crunch time they can't get a stop when they need to at the end of games.

I Like Burgers

September 15th, 2018 at 9:30 PM ^

I was going to reply that they got kinda carved up, but decided to look at the box score again an eh...  passing wise they went 19/34 for 209 and had 31 rushes for 109 yards.  So maybe not.

But it did feel an awful lot like the Notre Dame game where they can't seem to get off the field when they need to, allow untimely 3rd and 4th down conversions (SMU was 3/4 on 4th down) and have a penchant for shooting themselves in the foot often.

If this was a young defense, you'd think time would iron some of those things out, but its an extremely vet heavy and experienced defense.  My guess is these are all season long issues.

OccaMsrazr

September 15th, 2018 at 7:06 PM ^

Don Brown needs to diversify or PSU MSU OSU and even Wisconsin will blow this defense up. 

Hell, Nebraska with their starting QB will give this defense a run for its money. 

Anyone mobile shreds this D 

3rd and long? FIRST DOWN!!

And what the hell is up with the penalties? So undisciplined. 

 

uofmfan_13

September 15th, 2018 at 7:07 PM ^

Ppl need to take a pill of chill. Defense was solid the QB made amazing throws. When you play basketball and someone makes a jumper with a hand in their face, what do you do? Its great offense sometimes. Refs were awful as well.

MGrether

September 15th, 2018 at 7:13 PM ^

We bring the best out in other peoples QBs... Made some truly great throws in small windows with pressure... only so much you can do when they are on fire.

Also, Wimbush was made to look good because some "prayers" went ND's way. Three different plays hit UM players in the hands but did not end up as picks. If we picked those, we would have won the game. Once we got into the second half, Wimbush did nothing.