Michigan still #1 Overall Defense & Scoring Defense
November 1st, 2015 at 9:34 PM ^
November 1st, 2015 at 11:00 PM ^
November 1st, 2015 at 9:13 PM ^
The defense did not have a bad game but still worried about the number of third and long situations that Minnesota was able to convert toward the end of the game.
The defense had so many plays they were in position to get turnovers.
November 1st, 2015 at 9:28 PM ^
So many of those 3rd down conversions by Minnesota were totally fluky or just perfectly executed. Gotta hand it to the Gophers, they played with heart. I kinda thought we'd have a fight on our hands with Kill retiring last week.
But the Michigan defense did not look lost in this game, even when they were getting beaten by a hair.
November 1st, 2015 at 9:32 PM ^
November 1st, 2015 at 10:57 PM ^
Carroo will be a handful for Michigan secondary. He's the best WR in the conference. Already have 9 TDs in 5 games.
November 2nd, 2015 at 8:41 AM ^
With Lewis, I'm not worried about any WR no matter how good unless they also have a Connor Cook in at QB to hit those impossibly tight windows.
November 2nd, 2015 at 5:04 AM ^
November 1st, 2015 at 10:15 PM ^
One play that sticks out was where our DB (not sure who it was) was in the correct place to intercept the ball (near the sidelines) but it was such a poorly thrown ball that it ended being like 3 yards from the sideline and the WR somehow caught it.
November 2nd, 2015 at 9:29 AM ^
I believe that CLarck was the CB that was in great position to defend the Flag pattern. But the underthrown ball allowed the receiver to adjust.
November 1st, 2015 at 11:28 PM ^
November 2nd, 2015 at 9:28 AM ^
normaly Morgan is very solid, but he had a rough game.
November 2nd, 2015 at 9:22 AM ^
The 4th down slant was a perfect throw/catch. And there were a few dropped INT's that change might have put the game away. But we got beat on a few plays in the secondary. I wonder if we expected better pressure on Leidner because it seemed like he was excellent reading and releasing.
November 2nd, 2015 at 9:44 AM ^
November 2nd, 2015 at 10:34 AM ^
Yeah, it really was just a bunch of funky stuff that got those conversions. I'll give them credit for that 3rd-and-17, but I mean, Mitch Leidner just chucked a couple of balls up and in any other universe would have been batted down or intercepted. This felt like a perfect storm of bad luck, not something a team like Rutgers will be able to exploit.
November 1st, 2015 at 11:42 PM ^
Not much you can do about 3rd down conversions where the ball is released quickly, the throw basically perfect, and the receiver catches the ball even with a defender on them. Hell I think on at least 1 of those, the defender even had a hand on the ball during the catch and the receiver still caught it.
November 2nd, 2015 at 6:59 AM ^
November 2nd, 2015 at 10:02 AM ^
He definately had a bad game, and although no one has talked about it, if you notice the guy seems to come out with more and more tape and bandages. He is definately not 100% healthy, and I think that has been hindering his play. But, yes, as a whole the LB's were a definate let down in this game.
November 1st, 2015 at 9:13 PM ^
That's because the stats understand how fluky that Minnesota offense was yesterday.
/s
November 1st, 2015 at 9:14 PM ^
November 1st, 2015 at 9:14 PM ^
November 1st, 2015 at 9:15 PM ^
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November 1st, 2015 at 9:29 PM ^
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November 1st, 2015 at 9:58 PM ^
I don't know where they are exactly, but I know BC"s numbers are seriously propped up by a slaughter vs FCS Howard. Their real defensive stats should exclude that game
November 1st, 2015 at 9:36 PM ^
Hopefully, the link works - LINK
Per their listings (not comprehensive) -
Michigan is #2 in total defense (241.9 yards) behind Boston College
Michigan is #2 in rushing defense (74.6 yards) behind Boston College.
Michigan is #2 in scoring defense (11.4 points) behind Wisconsin
Michigan is #2 in 3rd down conversion percentage allowed (21.6%) behind Clemson
November 1st, 2015 at 9:15 PM ^
November 1st, 2015 at 10:02 PM ^
Agreed, AGP
November 1st, 2015 at 9:19 PM ^
Harbaugh
November 1st, 2015 at 9:21 PM ^
Wisconsin is #1 scoring defense at 11.0 .............
November 1st, 2015 at 9:24 PM ^
the defenses in the rest of college football? It is almost nonexistent in parts of the country.
November 2nd, 2015 at 9:30 AM ^
game is a perfect example of 'no-defense', and parentheically, no tackling.
November 1st, 2015 at 9:32 PM ^
They're #2 in both, not #1. BC is #1 in total defense, Wisconsin in scoring defense.
November 1st, 2015 at 9:38 PM ^
November 1st, 2015 at 9:40 PM ^
Threads are being recorded as if the DST rollback had not occurred. It's an hour earlier now.
November 1st, 2015 at 9:43 PM ^
November 1st, 2015 at 9:59 PM ^
November 1st, 2015 at 10:15 PM ^
He's the other side of the equation. If we pressure Laviano, and I believe we can do it, single coverage with Lewis should result in the usual broken passes.
November 1st, 2015 at 10:16 PM ^
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November 1st, 2015 at 10:59 PM ^
has 9 TDs in 5 games with 24 receptions no less. He was on his way to a big game before the injury like you stated.
Going to be a tough matchup for Michigan secondary
November 1st, 2015 at 11:01 PM ^
Also, Caroo is banged up.He didn't play vs Wisconsin because of an ankle.
November 1st, 2015 at 9:58 PM ^
DE - Wormley? Beast.
DT - Henry? Godin? Beast.
NG - Glasgow? Hurst? Beast.
BUCK - Ross? RJS? VERY IFFY...in fact, underwhelming right now.
LB - Bolden? Solid, but...eh
LB - Morgan? Very average
CB - Lewis? Beast.
CB - Stribling? Clark? Very average
NB - Peppers? Beast.
S - Wilson? Solid
S - Hill? Very average
Right now I count 5.5 positions (Wilson being the .5) that aren't playing to the best of their ability.
That's not good enough if you want to be elite, that's half the defense.
Ross and RJS need to get their shit together, but I am VERY confused on why we don't play Charlton more at that BUCK spot since he's a natural DE. Especially when teams like Minnesota start establishing the run on us.
Bolden and Morgan need to just pick it up, period...you're seniors. They can't be this inconsistent.
Stribling and Clark are regressing to what we thought they would be, so I'm less concerned about them as I am the LBs. That said, if they let a WR behind them again, I swear you will hear my scream in your homes.
Wilson is consistently solid, just not "beast" - so he's the .5, which is fine by me.
Hill is regressing with Stribling and Clark, but he was supposed to be one of the better players on the defense this year. I don't give him the same benefit of the doubt. Step it up.
On a positive note, Hurst and Glasgow are playing at an insane level right now.
November 1st, 2015 at 10:17 PM ^
November 1st, 2015 at 10:40 PM ^
Morgan has been picking it up IMO. He had 1 bad game - it happens. Bolden has been the 1 dragging and the eye test says ross did not have a good game either.
The BUCK is supposed to be more of a hybrid player who can play in space. But I think once they saw Mario could not do that they made him more of a traditional DE. Not sure what happens to Jenkins Stone this game - he had been playing well. I assume he did something stupid early and was benched. Charlton has not played much this year from best I can tell - spot duty mostly and at this point seems a lot like Dymonte Thomas - great in measurables; not so great a football player.
You left out Thomas in your list - which again from eye test seemed to really struggle this game. Hill also has had 2 rough weeks. Which coincides with Qbs who actually test our safeties.... which was not happening ex BYU Utah prior to MSU.
Pass rush also did not get home on Leidner save for blitzes.
November 2nd, 2015 at 2:27 PM ^
We haven't had one explosive play from a LB all season. Neither Morgan nor Bolden. There have been no flashes of Jake Ryan, even Kenny Demens would make a play or two.
Correct on BUCK, Ojemudia was a great fit...huge loss because of what was behind him. RJS played well at first but regressed. Ross looked awful in that spot.
At least Charlton is a DE is my point. At least he knows the general responsibilities and he can hold up against the run.
I don't know how many times I watched Ross just get swallowed by a Minnesota OT.
Thomas has been average all year.
November 1st, 2015 at 11:05 PM ^
MSU has a top QB and WR. They'll seriously test any defense. The Minnesota game was obviously horrendous. Hopefully, they'll use this as motivationt to get back to how they were playing when Rutgers comes into town.
November 2nd, 2015 at 8:14 AM ^
Good analysis. Our linebackers are not as athletic as they need to be in the future. They are going to have to get it done with what they have, but improvement lies only in recruits I'd bet.
Some speed and covergage ability would be great. Morgan and Bolden both can play solid at times, but they seem too much alike to be playing at the same time. Morgan has overachieved with smart play; Bolden never quite lived up to his billing, but he is a competitor. Ross offers more athleticism, yet does not seem to be as heady as the other two. As a group, they may yet surprise us, but we need better athletes to be truly elte.
Line and backfield have surpassed all expectations. Sribling/Clark/Thomas very meh, their playing time will diminish when the next guy steps up, probably not this year.
Make sure there is no drop off at the strong spots, and improve linebacking over the next few years will bring us back to a traditional Michigan defense. I bet it happens.
November 1st, 2015 at 10:14 PM ^
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November 1st, 2015 at 10:20 PM ^
Others weren't. I attribute that lack of enthusiasm unknown to humankind to travel, something we haven't handled as well as I would prefer. We're playing Rutgers at home and I would expect our typical endurance this game. Injuries aside, I think we'll win by three touchdowns.
November 1st, 2015 at 10:34 PM ^
The dropoff in the rush d was more "strange" then the pass D being hurt. Leidner threw some 50/50 balls up that we tipped or just missed and got home. If we make some of those plays the yardage drops and his completion % drops. Then when that happened he morphed into a confident QB with some non Leidner type throws in the 4th. Some of those throws on that last drive he wont do again all year.
The rush D though? That should be consistent. The edge contain was not solid nor was the LB play - that has to get cleaned up if possible. Maybe we just don't have the horses to do much about it. We thought the LBs in space would hurt us at some point but at no time did I think that point would be "Minnesota".
Honestly we benefited from a lot of bad QBs early - (1) Seth Collins was a freshman who is now benched, (2) the UNLV guy was hurt, the backup horrid, (3) Caleb rowe was LOL bad and was the 3rd QB they tried and was immediately benched post UM, (4) we missed Taysom Hill completely although Mangum is quite good (but ad a horrid day as freshman do a few times a year), and (5) NWs QB Thorson was a rs fr with no weapons at wrs. So 4 of those 5 QBs were just bad and Mangum had an awful day from the get go.
Wilson Cook and Leidner meanwhile had quite good games; Leidner being a surprise.
We should still beat rutgers handily (OSU shut them out in NJ!) but Laviano can throw at least as well as Leidner, Sudfeld scares me based on what Cook could do, and Hack can still be good on any given night as he was the past week. Obv OSU we know the story. So none of these next 4 are pushovers @ QB and IMO all are better than Leidner. So I expect to give up pass yds in the next mo - but the run D has to return to bread and butter to make teams 1 dimensional; it has been excellent all year until this game.
p.s. S&P+ still has UM #1 on D... although I think we get dinged in FEI when it comes out later in the week.