Mailbag question: Michigan defense
I have seen Michigan decline in defense in the past 10 years or so and wondered why we did not focus on defense earlier. In 2008 and 2009, our defense was our own enemy. An extra four or five games could have been won in 2009, if we had an OSU type of defense.
How do you see our defense in 2010? Who is in the running to take the place of Coach Hopson? Do you think Coach Rod and Greg Robinson are on the hot seat and will focus on improving the defense for 2010 and turn it around?
It's been evident and heartbreaking to see our rival (Ohio State) consistently is strong at defense year in and year out, while Michigan has struggled to assemble a quality and power type of defense. It just seems as though Ohio State has found the right formula for defense, but Michigan still can't find the answer.
One puzzled Michigan fan -- James F.
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Thanks for the question and yes we have seen a UM defense that for the last ten years has struggled, a defense which does not possess the confidence that they are able to stop somebody like the defense we had with the 1997 team.
GBMW sees the defense continuing to struggle in 2010.
We just do not see a replacement for our best defenders; Stevie Brown, Brandon Graham, and Donovan Warren. Add to this dilemma is the inexperience at linebacker and safety. It becomes difficult to envision a defense being much better. If improvement is indeed achieved, the probable contributing reasons will be using the same scheme instituted by the same defensive coordinator for a second year. While some may laugh at this level of continuity, it is the best UM has had in recent times.
Michigan will not reach Ohio State’s status on defense until the same talent level is secured and that will not happen without placing a high emphasis on defense like Ohio State does. That means recruiting must land some elite talent and this talent must be developed in practice.
We have told the story multiple times of Coach Robinson trying to use a coachable moment to teach a defender and then get shut down by Coach Rod. The same thing happened to Coach Shafer. Why so? The philosophy has been that the defense exists to improve the offense.
As to Coach Hopson's replacement, we are hearing a number of names. ESPN reported former Michigan assistant coach Bill Sheridan was a leading candidate, but we do not know if that is accurate or just speculation with him previously being on the Michigan staff.
We will get a better idea in the near future. The coaching convention is coming up shortly and that is where job deals get done much of the time.
Written by GBMW Staff
Go Blue -- Wear Maize!
2 comments:
Michigan needs to get back to playing smash mouth football. Take no prisoners. Their current approach under coach rod in totally UNACCEPTABLE!!!!
Defense wins championships in the Big Ten. Period.
Penn State and Ohio State will likely continue to dominate the Big Ten because of superior defensive coaching. Bradley (PSU) and Heacock/Fickell(OSU) and Norm Parker (Iowa) are doing fine jobs.
Actually, Rodriguez had some fairly decent defenses at WVU between 2001-2007, but this was because of Jeff Casteel (a young but very competent DC focused on scoring defense) and Todd Graham, one of the best LB coaches you will ever see (now HC at Tulsa, running the spread and shred).
RichRod/G. Robinson can't just settle on anyone to replace Jay Hopson. UM needs a grade A, top-of the-line-guy who can coach up Ezeh, Mouton and Fitzgerald and recruit both Michigan and Ohio like a madman. Landing an former OSU or UM defensive position coach would be ideal.
I completely agree with the 2010 UM defensive assessment. The LB corps and secondary are going to be trouble spots all season. The main bright lights might come from the young DL (Martin, Van Bergen, Campbell and Roh/Lalota).
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