Another year, same result... Michigan (Don Brown) #1 in Total D at 233 ypg

Submitted by rs207200 on September 30th, 2018 at 12:11 PM

What’s craziest about this stat is: 

1) I think the general consensus is that the defense has been underwhelming.

2) Gary is either injured or he is just simply not the player we thought he would be. (8 sacks in his career)

3) Penalties have kept them on the field for many extra plays

Some future opponents:

Wisconsin tied at #17

Sparty #28 

Penn State #50

OSU #55

Leonhall

September 30th, 2018 at 4:11 PM ^

He is definitely injured. He can be a great player. Is he really getting doubled a lot? I would assume winnovich is? How many can be doubled??? I’ve criticized Gary lately but it’s clear he’s injured. It looks like he needs a week off, or possibly it’s sometbing that needs more than a week, idk. Winnovich has been unreal.

Joined: 06/14/2012

MGoPoints: 16430

Blue in Paradise

September 30th, 2018 at 12:28 PM ^

NFL isn't fooled with "splash" plays.  Last year, NFL analysts were dropping Hurst into the 2nd round (before his heart condition popped up) because they felt he benefitted from the double and triple teams that Gary was eating last year.

He is still eating those on the regular this year, even with a dinged up shoulder.

If opposing coaches and NFL analysts are telling us something, we should be listening...

Joined: 08/14/2016

MGoPoints: 36794

BlueWolverine02

September 30th, 2018 at 1:36 PM ^

Then why do they put such a premium on pass rushers? Those are the guys who make the splash plays.

And what Mel Kiper says doesnt really effect what he is doing now.  He will likely be a 1st rounder based on his combine, but so far the production doesn't say early 1st rounder.  And all I care about is what he does for us.

Joined: 09/20/2014

MGoPoints: 18473

HAIL-YEA

September 30th, 2018 at 1:31 PM ^

Plus they had a bye week and a great game plan. The officiating was garbage, worse than usual and our team was way overconfident after the Nebraska game. All that added up to what we saw, my biggest take away from that game was that was the first time I have seen the defense hold when the game was on the line. NW's offense is poop like Brian said but in the past our great D has folded like a cheap lawn chair in tight games.

Joined: 07/15/2009

MGoPoints: 10810

JonnyHintz

September 30th, 2018 at 2:50 PM ^

Well if you really know anything about NW you’d know they’re a very well coached team (albeit without the high caliber athletes it takes to win big). 

Coming off of a bye week with an extra week to prepare, I really felt Northwestern would come out prepared with a gameplan to attack our defense out of the gates. They did.

If you look at the score, yes. We struggled. But if you watched the game it wasn’t all that much of a struggle. Northwestern came out of the gates hot and did nothing the final three quarters. Aside from some penalties being a setback for Michigan, it’s pretty clear we were the better team here and it wasn’t all that close. Even though the scoreboard didn’t reflect that

Joined: 01/11/2015

MGoPoints: 48336

Durham Blue

September 30th, 2018 at 4:54 PM ^

NW losing to Akron makes zero sense based on how they played us yesterday.  They played well enough, with a good amount of help from the refs, to beat Michigan.  We just came out on a mission on D in the second half, Shea made some plays and we eked out a win.  If NW played and executed against Akron like they did against Michigan I highly doubt they would've lost to Akron.  It's the frickin' bullseye theory.  We always get the other team's best.  See every single MSU game for many examples.

Joined: 10/09/2008

MGoPoints: 30004

DairyQueen

September 30th, 2018 at 6:34 PM ^

I love Wormley, but he wasn't even close to being able to cover the flat like Gary could. Also Gary's speed rush (which, in my opinion is Don Brown's default), pretty much opens up a hole in either side for a blitzer.

Of course the downside is overpursuit, but Don Brown is clearly a risk-reward guy with being over-aggressive.

Joined: 04/20/2014

MGoPoints: 6642

jdemille9

September 30th, 2018 at 2:02 PM ^

Criticism is mostly from people who have no clue about football. Like the same ones who constantly criticize the "old school" offense as the reason for our struggles, but that is a post for another day.

For the top player in his class (and projected 1st-round NFL talent) you'd expect a ton of fancy stats, and he hasn't racked them up. Those in the know understand his impact. Gary makes it possible for those around him to make the plays they make, Hudson, Bush, Winovich aren't the terrors they have been without Gary on that line. 

And who gives a shit what the critics think anyway. No matter what Harbaugh and Michigan do they will always harp on something that isn't good enough. Harbaugh is the ultimate click-bait name, Michigan could win 5 national titles in his tenure and the knock will be he didn't win more or something equally ridiculous. 

Joined: 01/29/2011

MGoPoints: 8523

Leonhall

September 30th, 2018 at 4:16 PM ^

He’s banged up clearly. But he has 8 career sacks...his pass rush is just try and run around the tackle, ive never seen him use another move. He plays with energy, however, when healthy, Id like to see more. Unfortunately that looks like it will have to wait another season as he looks banged up right now.

Joined: 06/14/2012

MGoPoints: 16430

BoFlex

October 1st, 2018 at 12:08 AM ^

> Gary has been tremendous, I don't get the criticism.

It boils down to the lack of production. Yeah, sure Gary might get double teamed pretty often, but so do other projected top-10 pass rushers. Jadeveon Clowney, Ed Oliver, Joey Bosa... All those guys face double and triple teams regularly, but they still find a way to rack up numbers while freeing up teammates at the same time.

Joined: 05/30/2011

MGoPoints: 5281

CHUKA

October 1st, 2018 at 1:19 AM ^

I agree Gary’s been great but I think he’d have a bigger impact on the team at the 3tech though. If we had someone that could get inside penetration like Hurst we’d be significantly better off. Not to mention we’d have more talent on the field. I’d rather have Paye on the field than Marshall, and that’s not a knock on Marshall. I just think Paye has been a standout.

Joined: 10/22/2016

MGoPoints: 1082

Yo_Blue

September 30th, 2018 at 12:49 PM ^

Exactly.  Some people think every opponent's drive should be 3 and out with a sack or two thrown in for good measure.  Defense is about adjusting to what they throw at you.  Brown is as good as they come in that respect.  Northwestern had two weeks to scheme against us.  EVERY defense has weak points.  They found ours and exploited it.  When we shored up against their slants, they had no other options.

Joined: 08/24/2010

MGoPoints: 102594

The Fan in Fargo

September 30th, 2018 at 4:04 PM ^

I'm not a hater but everyone said this defense was elite last year and now here's their second year in and they were supposed to be dominant this year. They were dominant against Nebraska but we'll see what these cats are made of against Wiscy and Sharty. Sharty will hold all of their best schemes and plays for that game. That's a given every year and the sick obsession they have with Michigan. Fucking idiots.

Yet, I don't put too much stock into what happened in this game. It doesn't matter. What matters is how they play in those next three big games coming up. Michigan State didn't look impressive yesterday against whoever it was right? They are holding stuff back. Do you guys understand that concept??

Joined: 09/04/2016

MGoPoints: 1877

bluepow

September 30th, 2018 at 12:20 PM ^

While certainly admirable, statistics feel very hollow to me at this particular juncture in the history of Michigan Football.  We all know what counts more than ever.

Joined: 11/11/2009

MGoPoints: 3931