Mailbag question: Defense is really thin.

Mailbag question: Defense is really thin.

Wow, are they really thin and the problem with all the walk-ons playing has hurt this defense.

What do you guys think?

Defensive recruiting really needs to pick up I believe. You?

We are going to struggle against some of these more powerful teams -- your thoughts?

Jim T.

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Thanks for the question.

We think it is great that Coach Rod has an excellent walk on program. Coach Rod, a former walk-on himself, knows that having these additional players on the roster will help. Right now they are helping with depth and hopefully in the future they will help on the practice squads.

We also like how he treats the guys down on the depth chart, including the walk-ons. He gives almost everybody snaps in practice. This is accomplished by how many snaps a practice the team organization allows for. The team routine is to try and get three snaps off in one minute. We have witnessed this first hand with some of UM’s practices and scrimmages, where everything is upbeat which gives the first team, second team and even the third team snaps so the subs are ready in case they are called upon in a game situation.

We have also been very vocal and taken some heat for our stance on lack of talent and depth on the defense. We have been hammering that point since the spring clinic in 2008 when we first brought it up and seeing the second group defense perform even back then.

We also have been concerned about the lack of size on the defense. We agree 100% that recruiting on defense needs to improve. We also share your concern about how the defense will hold up against some of the power teams left on the schedule.

If teams such as Eastern Michigan, Notre Dame and Indiana can get so many yards on the ground, we are concerned what will happen when Michigan plays more powerful teams like Iowa, Penn State, Wisconsin, and Ohio State.

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Written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine