Time to get super high on defense
I listened to Mattison's interview on BIG network last night. When he was asked what are the weaknesses of the defense, Mattison paused for a moment and then basically said none. Then he went to praise every unit and say that we are going to be very aggressive because the DL will put pressure of QBs. This morning, there is additional information on MLive with Mattison defending Hoke, but also sounding really high on the defense. I think we are going to have a really good defense this year -- May be the best in BIG. http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2014/08/greg_mattison_defends…
Edit: sorry for the typo in the title: "Heigh"
August 12th, 2014 at 1:49 PM ^
of that, Stanford probably knows much better how to prepare for Oregon than MSU will. Could also argue that Indiana gave MSU trouble the last two years (55 pts in the two games) and we might see Oregon do the same. It's hard to pick a winner from that one, but if I'm putting money down, it's on the Ducks.
August 12th, 2014 at 12:31 PM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 12:37 PM ^
It'll be interesting no doubt. If the game were toward the end of the season, I'd think a low-scoring game would be more likely. Given that it's early in the season with MSU replacing so many key starters, I think Oregon could shred them a bit.
August 12th, 2014 at 5:53 PM ^
I don't know. Of all the teams in the Big Ten last year, I think MSU showed the most improvement of anyone throughout the season. This blog was laughing at their offense last August and it ended up pretty fairly decent by the end of the year. If MSU gets beat pretty soundly at Autzen, I'm not going to read to much into it.
August 12th, 2014 at 9:46 AM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 10:30 AM ^
is ranked 23rd in the nation. I hope it is true and they did show glimpses despite a bad line last year. I think it's possible if the offensive line holds up but that may be a big if.
August 12th, 2014 at 9:26 AM ^
The defense will be in the top 2 in the conference, if not #1. There is depth everywhere and talent. Same goes for the team as a whole. As Gerry Dinardo said, talent is not a problem on this team. This should be a year where if they don't get it done, the fault will rest completely on the coaches shoulders.
August 12th, 2014 at 9:32 AM ^
One could make the argument that OSU's defense will be better than ours as well. From a D-Line perspective, it absolutely will. The back 7 will leave a lot to be desired from them for the time being though, so for now, I'd probably call it a push between the two of us.
August 12th, 2014 at 9:57 AM ^
Last year you'd have thought their D-line would've owned us but it didn't really. We still hung 40 on them. I'm a bit skeptical that Urban will ever have a great defense down there
August 12th, 2014 at 11:59 AM ^
I agree with you on MSU defense, I disagree on OSU defense. That was not a good defense last year and aside from the DL not much is proven. Their best corner left as did their best LB. Yes their DL is going to be very good but that is 1 level of 3. I think the name on the jersey colors perception - they did not have a great defense last year at all. They do have a pretty darn easy schedule however.
As for MSU they rotate a ton of players everywhere so I think for most positions there won't be a drop off - the 2 that matter are the MLB and the new CB. They still have 3 potential 1st/2nd round picks on that defense in Waynes, Calhoun and Drummond and right now the people who question MSU's defense annually are in the same camp as those who think UM bball is going to seriously drop off. I see MSU in the 15-20 area nationally, and UM in a very similar range actually.
p.s. Oregon just lost its senior LT who could have went to the NFL to an ACL. And they lost their only returning WR with major experience to an ACL in spring. Somewhere Dantonio has a vodoo doll.
August 12th, 2014 at 1:33 PM ^
100% agree. MSU has earned it and (partly at our expense). We have to prove it on the field . . . all this preseason ranking stuff means nothing to me at this point.
August 12th, 2014 at 4:37 PM ^
So MSU's defense is # 1 until proven not to be but Ohio moves to the same level as us without us seeing a game?
August 12th, 2014 at 9:23 AM ^
I'm hoping our defense isn't doing so well in practice because our O-Line is simply that bad. I hope our defense is just that good.
August 12th, 2014 at 9:40 AM ^
is that bad.
August 12th, 2014 at 10:13 AM ^
It is, sadly, that bad. It must affect the defense too, going against such a poor oline every day. I hope that the defense can find a way to play above the level of their competition all the time in practice.
August 12th, 2014 at 10:18 AM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 11:01 AM ^
the 3 weakest link on last years line were G, C, G. The only thing holding it together were two bookend NFL caliber tackles who by the way are in the NFL now. You've just increased the suck factor with 2 more inexperienced tackles, and btw one of them is a true Freshmen.
August 12th, 2014 at 11:13 AM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 11:35 AM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 11:44 AM ^
^^ This x 1000!
One of the things that is so sad, IMO, about the pessimism that has infected so many in here is the fact that to maintain their Debby Downer mentality they throw out all possibility of improvement, and that they discount that a new coordinator will have a substantial impact. This, despite the fact that we ourselves witnessed one of the great "turnarounds" even with the 2011 defense under GMat.
We've all read how disjointed and disfunctional the former OC's schemes were, and how he bascially confused the crap out of the young OLinemen. Add to that the buzz about a lack of leadership, and some anticdotes about how older guys like Lewan -- although talented -- may have actually hurt the teams chemistry, and I think there is a very good likelihood we'll see SIGNIFICANT improvement.
August 12th, 2014 at 3:01 PM ^
gets blame for poisoning the unit's cohesiveness, however Schofield was there too. It was Bosch, talking about the haircuts, that said there were the Seniors (plural) and the freshmen. Bosch made it clear to me he saw both seniors as part of the chemistry problem. Schofield may not have said anything but he evidently felt more comfortable being part of the small splinter group.
August 12th, 2014 at 10:05 AM ^
in the last two games. In fact, the opponents moved at will..
August 12th, 2014 at 10:47 AM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 10:54 AM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 1:30 PM ^
Indiana offense has been doing it to everybody all year long. They're the best offense in the conference by a wide margin.
August 12th, 2014 at 5:59 PM ^
They scored 3 points against Wisconsin and 14 against OSU.
August 12th, 2014 at 10:57 AM ^
How do you know the offensive line is "simply that bad?" Are you referring to last years line? This year will feature a completely different line, different schemes, different coaching and has talent (albeit young) at every spot. Considering a live snap hasn't yet been played in the 2014 season, I don't understand how you can conclude they are "that bad".
August 12th, 2014 at 9:30 AM ^
When asked about where depth might be an issue, he paused and went in a different direction. What got me was without prodding or questioning, he brought up Maurice Hurst and Bryan Mone and spoke positively about them.
Hurst is an interesting situation; he was listed by the recruiting sites at 295 (ESPN), 305 (Rivals & Scout), and seemed primed to be in the rotation at some point at the NT position with Pipkins. But he's listed down at 282 on the roster (more than a bit undersized to play NT) and I was left wishing Mattison gave more indication of where Hurst fit in. Glad to hear Mone's name mentioned too as a guy who's impressed. I'm also trying not to read into it too much that Henry's name was missing from the discussion. He could either be the primary backup at NT to Pipkins and DT to Wormley and get a lot of time, or he could be down beneath Hurst and Mone and not be heard from.
August 12th, 2014 at 9:36 AM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 9:54 AM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 10:46 AM ^
This will be the best defense we've had since 2006 - there's no doubt about that.
His quote on the offensive line, though... Personally I read "they working real hard" as "these guys are trying, they're coming to compete every day and getting better... but they still aren't very good".
August 12th, 2014 at 9:38 AM ^
every year, build them up publicly, praise them repeatedly.
Rinse, recycle, repeat.
August 12th, 2014 at 9:48 AM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 9:51 AM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 11:02 AM ^
attention to the hype train on players like Thomas Rawls.
August 12th, 2014 at 1:15 PM ^
I'm not sure that's completely the case. While Mattison will never go out and say "our defense is quite terrible at doing this and this," usually the optimism is capped with a bit of "need to continue to develop in 'x' area." I really think Mattison knows this is his best defense he's had at Michigan, and he's having a difficult time containing his excitement.
August 12th, 2014 at 10:29 AM ^
That's a stupid comment.
August 12th, 2014 at 9:45 AM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 9:48 AM ^
and what comes out of 'em.
August 12th, 2014 at 11:13 AM ^
This makes me uncomfortable.
August 12th, 2014 at 11:52 AM ^
Seconded.
Is it a male or female or rainbow?
Why fingers instead of hooves? If it's a centaur then shouldn't the head be human with a big ass beard?
Why bending over hay and lifting its tail whilst doing the diamond cut calf lift as if to pass gas?
Why the female bodybuilder muscle tone?
Why the McKayla not impressed sneer?
Why did all these questions swirl instantly into my bizaare brain?
Very uncomfortable indeed.
August 12th, 2014 at 9:50 AM ^
If this team even has a pulse on offense, they will go into Columbus and win. They nearly did it a two years ago until Al Borges decided to run Vincent Smith into a wall of eleven defenders over and over and over again.
August 12th, 2014 at 1:26 PM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 9:56 AM ^
Cypress Hill agrees with this topic
August 12th, 2014 at 10:15 AM ^
Let's hope.
August 12th, 2014 at 10:19 AM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 11:05 AM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 10:37 AM ^
I love all of the "we have to show it on the field" comments in every thread. Well...
August 12th, 2014 at 10:39 AM ^
"“His consistency, his staying to the gameplan, his demanding that everybody in this program play Michigan football, his graduating of 69 out of 69 seniors -- that’s unheard of,” Mattison responded." - Mattison on Hoke
I know people talk about the record as tangible evidence of progress, but what Mattison is talking about is the progress that does quite a towards achieving the record that everyone wants in the long-term, I think. In any case, it is great to see the staff upbeat about the upcoming season, and in the case of Mattison, I will say that I also have a feeling that, given what we've heard / seen thus far, we may very well like what we see from this defense.
August 12th, 2014 at 11:04 AM ^
was a near-daily topic for every journalist looking for clicks? When was the last time we even saw it mentioned?