Mailbag Question:

Hey Guys,

How some of our new defensive commits fit into what Coach Shafer wants to do with this defense.

In addition, how much of the blame is the defense compared to the bad offense of the first three games.

Dan

--------------------------------------------

Thanks for the question. Football is the ultimate team game. All phases of the game share equally in any success or failures any team may have.

Michigan has been lacking at times, in all three phases of the game. Did turnovers hurt the defense, sure, but so did the defenses poor tackling, penalties, and giving up big plays. Bottom line in our opinion is Michigan needs to improve in all three phases of the game.

Coach Shafer is in the process of bringing in defenders who can run and play in space. It is evident to us that Michigan lacks Linebackers and safeties who can cover and make plays in space.

What sticks out on the film are that Michigan’s new defensive commits not only can run, but all are high energy, super motor players who can also hit. One of the things that we are concerned with is the defense has not played aggressive, hard-hitting defense enough.

One of the best ways to stop some of those annoying short passes, or other spread routes is to have Linebackers and safeties that rip the heads off receivers who cross, or attack between the hashes.

Michigan needs to be a far more physical, hard-hitting, intimidating defense. It does appear to us that Coach Shafer and Coach Rod are beginning to get the players who can play this style of defense.

written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine