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 8:59 AM ^
Whats defense? Some new type of drug?
August 12th, 2014 at 3:24 PM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 9:00 AM ^
The best thing is, on paper the defense should be even better in 2015. We have recruited the talent and it is being developed. If our Oline can find a way to be average, we may have a great season.
August 12th, 2014 at 9:54 AM ^
We're talented enough everywhere to be right in the mix for a conference title except for the question surrounding the O-line. Another terrible O-line could submarine what is actually a really talented team. An average O-line could get this team to a top 10 finish
August 12th, 2014 at 10:13 AM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 10:50 AM ^
Every year we hear about how great player/group/unit X is and every year we're disappointed by the tire fireishness of the whole thing. Last year, the playing off 10 yards by the DBs combined with the inability of the DL to get any push doomed the team because the OL looked like they had never seen the field together. If it weren't for Gardner, they would have gone 2-11 last year. I'll READ about improvement and other peoples' increased expectations, but I'm really at a point the team needs to SHOW they have improved for it to be believable.
August 12th, 2014 at 12:39 PM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 11:06 AM ^
I was watching the NU game replay last night on the BTN (I was at the game too in November) and our OL screwed up so many times in that game it was an utter miracle we won. Getting stuffed for no gain or losses a number of times by NU's defense, and Schofield giving up a huge sack were some of the lowlights. But yes, all we need to do is be serviceable this year, especially early in the season and we can have a good year.
August 12th, 2014 at 11:57 AM ^
That NU game was one of the better statistical games from UM's running backs. Green averaged 4.2/carry and Smith 5.1.
I watched the last drive of the 4th Q then the OTs and realized I'd forgotten just how miraculous that win truly was.
August 12th, 2014 at 10:42 AM ^
Gardner says he has only been sacked once. Now, by itself that doesn't mean the O Line is good, but I'm guessing it means that the message is getting across.
http://michigan.scout.com/story/1432957-gardner-i-ve-been-sacked-once-through-camp?
August 12th, 2014 at 10:53 AM ^
He's throwing the ball away instead of eating the sack. It doesn't say anything about the fact that the OL is giving him any time. just that he's learning not to run backwards 20 yards and eat a face full of dirt.
August 12th, 2014 at 10:55 AM ^
if gardner truly has only been sacked once, i don't think this is good, considering all of the shuffling on the o-line. sounds like the same old QB pressure issues for the DLine to me.
August 12th, 2014 at 11:26 AM ^
I wouldnt read much into this statement.
There was a highlight film of Nuss last week and in it there was a play that if in a real game Devin would have been sacked, when he hesitated , double clutched etc. So if we saw that in highlight reel video... well.
This is a QB talking up his line.
August 12th, 2014 at 11:41 AM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 12:44 PM ^
...more so in the fact that it seems well-based...As renowned wordsmith/poet laureate Brett Michaels has said "Give Me Something to Believe In."
We don't really know what'g going on, but the recent trajectory begs negativity.
August 12th, 2014 at 1:09 PM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 1:55 PM ^
Totally agree with you. We are still an incredibly young team, with hardly any seniors. The o line can only improve, and with Nussmeier"s proven teaching abilities, I think we will see a mature poised Gardner, and backups who are capable of coming in and not being a complete mess. We have tons of talent on the team. Like everyone says, the oline is the key to the season, but i have enough faith to be hyped up.
August 12th, 2014 at 1:53 PM ^
Last year was a total tire fire that was built on a bed of hopes and dreams at the beginning of the season. It changed people's perceptions of the program and of the overall media relations piece. Skepticism is just going to be built in at this point. Be happy you're not broken, but realize that you are......indeed....one of the few.
August 12th, 2014 at 2:20 PM ^
From Akron last year till now is lately?
August 12th, 2014 at 10:58 AM ^
I agree that this defense is going to be a lot better than people expect, especially as the season goes on and they get some confidence rolling. One of the reasons they struggled some last year was that the offense couldn't get them off the field.
I think this has the potential to be a very sucessful season, regardless of the tough road schedule. One thing for sure: the game in EL is going to be a friggin' WAR.
August 12th, 2014 at 9:05 AM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 9:31 AM ^
Hellough.
August 12th, 2014 at 9:49 AM ^
Hay!
August 12th, 2014 at 9:43 AM ^
Gabba Gabba Heigh?
August 12th, 2014 at 9:08 AM ^
Every interview with Mattison seemed like the sky was falling.
August 12th, 2014 at 9:12 AM ^
I hate when I do this. After each season I tend to form what appears to be a realistic picture of what this team will be like the following year and if anything, I keep things on the pessimistic side to guard against getting disappointed the following year.
Then fall camp starts and all the practice buzz starts whirling around and I forget all my guarded expectations and get caught up in the hype and before you know it we're back in the national championship picture (in my expectations I mean).
I do believe this defense can be great this year but the offense scares the crap out of me. I am hopeful to be sure, but to say I'm practicing guarded optimism for that unit would be an understatement.
August 12th, 2014 at 9:19 AM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 11:12 AM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 12:31 PM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 9:12 AM ^
I'm still waiting for a DC to say, "I'm really excited about our defense this year. We're going to sit back in a soft zone and play bend-but-don't-break all day. It's the least aggressive defense I've ever had and I love it."
August 12th, 2014 at 9:12 AM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 9:14 AM ^
According to [REDACTED DISREPUTABLE SOURCE], doing so was a prime contributor to The Horror.
August 12th, 2014 at 9:18 AM ^
I'll withhold from getting "heigh" on defense until about game 5 or 6. If we were carrying over a top-rated defense from last year, yeah, we would be justified in a few tokes. But now? I dont think so.
August 12th, 2014 at 9:19 AM ^
FWIW ESPN's FPI preseason rankings is predicting Michigan to have the best defense in the B1G.
Predicted Defensive Ranking Nationally for 2014:
Michigan 16
MSU 20
Ohio State 21
Maryland 26
Iowa 32
Penn State 33
Nebraska 35
Wisconsin 40
They also predict Michigan as the 2nd best team overall in conference.
August 12th, 2014 at 9:24 AM ^
Hard to take a lot of stock in this, but I do find that pretty interesting. Seems like Michigan is flying under the radar at this point. That might be the best possible thing for this group.
August 12th, 2014 at 9:35 AM ^
You point to a blip on the radar that has been identified as Michigan, and then say that Michigan is flying under the radar. I'm a bit confused. The only radar we have right now are these pre-seson BS rankings.
August 19th, 2014 at 3:44 PM ^
My point was that I was surprised by that information. The fact that basically everyone else has Michigan unranked would lead me to believe that they are flying under the radar. Is there anyone out there in the media that is even remotely expecting this team to be any good?
August 12th, 2014 at 11:23 AM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 10:11 AM ^
Sec games last year but I'm surprised with ole miss and miss st at 9 and 11.
Time to read up on ucla.
Edit: gah, just got back from that article. The comments... they burn.
August 12th, 2014 at 9:31 AM ^
Wholly Maryland
August 12th, 2014 at 9:34 AM ^
August 12th, 2014 at 9:53 AM ^
I believe that they lost 7 starters on defense. I think they will still be a formidable team and defense, but I do predict them losing 3 regular season games.
August 12th, 2014 at 10:19 AM ^
really gelled in the last half of the season, but there were times that they seriously struggled with the following: WMU, USF, Indiana, Iowa and Purdue. Obviously moving to Cook after the USF game needs to be considered, but if the offense takes a small step back this year, they could lose 3 or 4 games (Oregon, OSU, UM, PSU being most likely). I don't see them losing 4, but I also don't really see them going 11-1.
August 12th, 2014 at 11:20 AM ^
Let's see what happens after they travel to Oregon. I think their first game is against a high school team but then Sparty will have a real test pitting their new defense against a heisman candidate QB on the road. If they get spanked (a real possibility), the wheels could fall off quickly. If they win the game, they'll be en route to a good season.
August 12th, 2014 at 11:25 AM ^
Should be the perfect gauge for what they're going to do this season. We know Oregon's going to get their points regardless of how good MSU's defense is. Question should be: Can MSU's offense keep up enough to stay in the game into the 4th quarter?
August 12th, 2014 at 12:13 PM ^
Stout defenses from Stanford and USC have been the downfall of Oregon recently - especially Stanford. I can see MSU winning the game 24-17 pretty easily, but that would obviously depend on if they can maintain a top 10 defense
August 12th, 2014 at 12:34 PM ^
I think MSU struggles early after losing so much talent and so many great players off the '13 defense. I think the score will be closer to an Oregon 38-24 win than a 24-17 win for MSU.
We'll see, looking forward to watching that game.