There is a ton of off season love being thrown Michigan's way relative to how stout their defense is. Some are saying that they may have the best defense (or top 3 defense) nationally. They are largely basing that on a combination of last year's results and the fact that they are returning 9 starters from that unit, including guys like Rashan Gary, Chase Winovich, Devin Bush, Khaleke Hudson and David Long, all of whose names I've seen out there in the All American conversation.
I do think the Wolverines have a good defense, but I have a hunch that they are a bit overrated and it's based on the fact that I think they compiled the majority of last year's statistics against some of the worst offenses in the country... How bad you ask?
Florida: 124th Total Offense, 109th Scoring Offense
Cincinnati: 108th Total Offense, 112th Scoring Offense
Air Force: 73rd Total Offense, 44th Scoring Offense
Purdue: 53rd Total Offense, 92nd Scoring Offense
Michigan State: 76th Total Offense, 96th Scoring Offense
Indiana: 84th Total Offense, 78th Scoring Offense
Penn State: 22nd Total Offense, 7th Scoring Offense
Rutgers: 129th Total Offense, 121st Scoring Offense
Minnesota: 123rd Total Offense, 110th Scoring Offense
Maryland: 121st Total Offense, 100th Scoring Offense
Wisconsin: 30th Total Offense, 28th Scoring Offense
Ohio State 4th Total Offense, 6th Scoring Offense
South Carolina 102nd Total offense, 99th Scoring Offense
Let that sink in for a second...
- They played a total of 3 teams who finished in the top 50 of total offense, and 4 teams who finished in the top 50 of scoring offenses.
- They played a total of 7 teams who finished in ranked below 100th in total offense, and 5 teams that finished ranked below 100th in scoring offense.
The only top 25 offenses they faced were Ohio State and Penn State. They gave up 31 points and 42 points in those respective losses.
Now, I understand that they had 10 new starters that will be older and more experienced this year. I also understand that they had a high school offense at times (largely because of QB problems) that put their defense in a bind during their marquee matchups (Wisconsin, Ohio State, Penn State) and the addition of Shea Patterson should help them in that department.
But before we anoint the Michigan defense among the best in the country, can we see them play a few teams with an offensive pulse? The last two high end offenses they faced (Penn State and Ohio State) they yielded 36.5 points per game. That's nowhere near elite.
I do think the Wolverines have a good defense, but I have a hunch that they are a bit overrated and it's based on the fact that I think they compiled the majority of last year's statistics against some of the worst offenses in the country... How bad you ask?
Florida: 124th Total Offense, 109th Scoring Offense
Cincinnati: 108th Total Offense, 112th Scoring Offense
Air Force: 73rd Total Offense, 44th Scoring Offense
Purdue: 53rd Total Offense, 92nd Scoring Offense
Michigan State: 76th Total Offense, 96th Scoring Offense
Indiana: 84th Total Offense, 78th Scoring Offense
Penn State: 22nd Total Offense, 7th Scoring Offense
Rutgers: 129th Total Offense, 121st Scoring Offense
Minnesota: 123rd Total Offense, 110th Scoring Offense
Maryland: 121st Total Offense, 100th Scoring Offense
Wisconsin: 30th Total Offense, 28th Scoring Offense
Ohio State 4th Total Offense, 6th Scoring Offense
South Carolina 102nd Total offense, 99th Scoring Offense
Let that sink in for a second...
- They played a total of 3 teams who finished in the top 50 of total offense, and 4 teams who finished in the top 50 of scoring offenses.
- They played a total of 7 teams who finished in ranked below 100th in total offense, and 5 teams that finished ranked below 100th in scoring offense.
The only top 25 offenses they faced were Ohio State and Penn State. They gave up 31 points and 42 points in those respective losses.
Now, I understand that they had 10 new starters that will be older and more experienced this year. I also understand that they had a high school offense at times (largely because of QB problems) that put their defense in a bind during their marquee matchups (Wisconsin, Ohio State, Penn State) and the addition of Shea Patterson should help them in that department.
But before we anoint the Michigan defense among the best in the country, can we see them play a few teams with an offensive pulse? The last two high end offenses they faced (Penn State and Ohio State) they yielded 36.5 points per game. That's nowhere near elite.