Should this Wolverine Defense have a nickname?

Submitted by PeterKlima on

Brian shared some pretty amazing stats about this defense after 6 games in his Game Summary post today:

  • S&P+ believes Michigan would give up 3.7 points to an average D-I team. Next best nationally, Clemson, is at 10.3.
  • Michigan is #1 in scoring D, YPP allowed, YPA allowed, opponent third down conversions, redzone trips allowed, and TFLs. They're #2 in sacks.
  • PFF reports that Michigan is pressuring the QB on 54% of passing snaps, and the national average is 29.5%.

And Michigan's backup defenders looked pretty good against Rutgers too. 

Personally, I think this defense is starting rival the '97 defense.  (I am looking for stats so I can see what percentage of the other teams offense the 97 D allowed vs. this year's team... if anyone knows.)

We all know about the great defenses of the past that were so impressive, they were nicknamed..... the "Steel Curtain," the "Purple People Eaters," the Nebraska "Blackshirts," the "Orange Crush," A&M "Wrecking Crew" etc.

This year's defense has great stats and also a lot of personality and swagger.  I think they might need a nickname at some point..... or is that too contrived?

If so, how about:

  • Brown's Big Blue Crew
  • The Blue Monster
  • Pepper's Posse
  • Don's Dudes

Etc.... bad idea?  Do my names suck? Or do we need to wait a few weeks to do this?

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Football
Jabrill Peppers
2016 Michigan football season

Honk if Ufer M…

October 10th, 2016 at 8:13 PM ^

I already said Brown's Bruisers, Brown's Bombers, The Blue Meanies & a fourth one that was just mentioned that I forgot already. Name thieves!

 

Now I think it should just be: 

Bubba

Spike

Rocky

Shorty

Brooklyn

Noodles

Tiny

Doc

Or Tex

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mld9199

October 10th, 2016 at 9:32 PM ^

NO NO NO and NO again!!

 

Naming units like defense is like naming plays and those are things the stupid the spartans do! Be better than the skirts!!

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GoBlueInIowa

October 10th, 2016 at 11:00 PM ^

I believe we call the 1997 defense, "the 97 defense"

Also, I have heard the 2006 defense called "the 2006 defense"

All kidding aside and the running joke, but can't really name a unit until we have beaten MSU and OSU.

Also, seems like any naming of a defense should really come from Brown and the players, if they decide to.



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GoBlueInIowa

October 10th, 2016 at 11:06 PM ^

Anyone else read too fast and thought the OP was creating a thread to give Wolverine Devotee a nickname?

(Maybe it is because I just read the don't freak out non-jersey thread posted by WD)



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wolvemarine

October 11th, 2016 at 2:17 AM ^

...only Zuul. No. Wait. There is no defense. There is no offense. There are no special teams. There is no mascot. There will be no nicknames. There is only THE TEAM. THE TEAM. THE TEAM.

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Ali G Bomaye

October 11th, 2016 at 8:32 AM ^

I think this defense rivals the '97 defense, with the caveat that we'll need to see how they do against Ohio State.

Brian pointed to a couple reasons why. First, this defense is more versatile, with an equal ability to defend spreads and pro-style offenses. Remember that Washington State, the only spread offense the '97 defense faced, moved the ball pretty effectively against us. Second, offenses are generally better in 2016 than in 1997, so shutting them down is more impressive.

But I think you answered your own questions regarding the nicknames, by way of your comparison to the 1997 defense. The 1997 defense didn't have a nickname. So why would you try to create one for the 2016 defense? When was the last time a college defense/offense/team had a nickname?

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IMB87

October 11th, 2016 at 9:32 AM ^

This is Michigan, fergodsakes!  Other great units like the 97 and 85 defenses did not need nicknames and neither does this team.

Remember when Arizona was "Desert Swarm?"   

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