A laughingstock no longer, Michigan defense turns in its best performance in years during 58-0 romp over Minnesota
Senior defensive end Ryan Van Bergen (53) celebrates after recording one of Michigan's season-high three sacks during a 58-0 win over Minnesota on Saturday.
Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com
There was no way Courtney Avery was running out of gas.
After struggling last season as a freshman cornerback on a Michigan defense that was ranked 110th in the country and became the butt of more than a few national jokes, there was no way he was stopping short of that end zone.
“I started slowing down a little bit,” Avery said smiling after the Wolverines’ 58-0 win over Minnesota. “But I saw open field and just said, ‘There’s no way I’m falling down on this one.'"
Michigan sophomore cornerback Courtney Avery returns a fumble recovery 83 yards for a touchdown.
Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com
Michigan hadn't shut out a team since a 38-0 victory over Notre Dame in 2007. The Wolverines allowed just 177 yards of total offense Saturday, and over the past three weeks, have yielded just 10 total points.
Minnesota crossed the 50-yard line once in the first half. That was on a play that ended with freshman cornerback Blake Countess forcing a fumble that safety Carvin Johnson recovered.
Michigan racked up three sacks in the first half, one less than it had through the first four games.
The Wolverines swarmed the undermanned Golden Gophers, who played without starting quarterback MarQueis Gray, and held them to just 3.8 yards per play. As a group, Michigan broke up three passes, recovered two fumbles and made five tackles-for-loss. Five of the team’s top six tacklers were linebackers or defensive linemen.
For the first time in a long time, a Michigan defense thoroughly dominated an FBS opponent.
It's a feeling no one on the current roster is familiar with, but one they admit they could get used to.
“It feels great,” junior defensive tackle Craig Roh said. “It’s great. I don’t know how much more to say, it’s nice to pitch a shutout, to be dominant.”
Earlier in the week, defensive coordinator Greg Mattison discussed how points allowed and wins were the only statistics he concerned himself with. Through five games, the Wolverines are 5-0 and have allowed 10.2 points per game.
Michigan also started 5-0 last season, but on defense, the Wolverines gave up 25.4 points per game and 433.6 yards of total offense per contest.
Mattison continues to harp on how far away this year’s team is from becoming a true “Michigan defense.” Head coach Brady Hoke agrees, but that doesn’t mean the unit isn’t improving.
“We communicate with them pretty well,” Hoke said. “I think Greg and his staff challenge them. This was a first step to what the goal and expectation of this football program is and has been, and that’s a Big Ten championship.
“You can’t go out in the second half and slop around and not tackle and not have intensity. That doesn’t get you any better. You go backward. And we’re not real big believers in going backward.”
The team insists they’re not your father’s Michigan defense just yet.
But it’s also pretty clear they’re not a laughingstock anymore, either.
“We always believe that we have the ability (to play well),” Roh said. “The more we listen to our coaches, the more we can dominate like that.”
Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.
Comments
Rufus
Mon, Oct 3, 2011 : 2:27 p.m.
Mattison was a great hire. Give credit to the AD.
Hebner
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 7:17 p.m.
I am optimistic as well, because of the fact we are improving every game. Coach Hoke will not let the team get too confident after this game, and rightly so. The next opponent is Northwestern, who lost a close game at Illinois with a really good performance by Persa. We will be a statement game for them, so we need to have a week of focused preparation. Forget the Minnesota victory! We are 5-0, but have not claimed anything in big ten play. The goal is to win the big ten championship, and anything else is less than the goal. The last coach is gone, he is the past mistake in school history; reluctant to utilize the talent was his downfall as well as trying to control everything. N
Keith
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 2:02 p.m.
This team is different, Last year this would have been a shoot-out. (Or Every Game) This year a shut-out! WOW! Go Blue, Beat OHIO,
BornInA2
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 4:20 a.m.
Anyone left in the house who still thinks the former coach's failures were all due to not having the right players? Cue the crickets.
XTR
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 11:53 a.m.
RR was a poor offensive coach and head coach from the start. A good coach will custom his plays to the skillset of his players at hand. Having no "players I recruited" is just an excuse. A good coach will win with players he did not recruit. That is why Bo, Gary and Lloyd never had 3-9 seasons their first year. Brady has 5 wins in 5 games so far. RR is also a poor Offensive coach because his offense is a one trick pony offense, easy to prepare for and defend. RR also never had any adjustments whatsover at gametime. RR is/was a poor coach, bad luck that UM had him for 3 mediocre years and we are all glad that he is gone.
uminks
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 4:35 a.m.
He did not have the right defensive coaches! It cost him for not being a complete HC. I don't see why that was the case at Michigan! But Hoke is doing a great job. Our AD may have been correct all along!
1st Down
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 2:52 a.m.
This D is much improved...with the guys coming in next year with recruiting...it will be a dominant unit probably next year and going foward... the future is bright This is Michigan.
#58ontheroster
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 1:56 a.m.
Michigan has the same record as the last 2 years, but has vastly improved on defense. Last year in the first 5 games the D gave up 25+ points per game. This year, 10.5 points per game. This gives you the feeling that Michigan won't nose dive in the Big 10. I'm getting a renewed sense of a championship looming on the horizon. If it doesn't happen this year, at least we can see the reemergence of Michigan football. Tough, smash mouth football. Yost, Chrysler, Bump, Bo and Lloyd are all smiling again.
XTR
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 11:57 a.m.
The team last year did not dominate the weaker teams like this on both sides of the ball. Yeah Denard was a phenom coz of the unorthodox style but when teams learned to defend that spread, it was easy to stop and the team struggled all season long. I could not believe that 50% of fans last year still wanted RR to continue and wanted to suffer a mediocre team. Look at what this new staff is doing to the team RR left. Nothing was wrong with the players and the team, what was wrong was RR and his coaching style.
azwolverine
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 12:48 a.m.
Ray, I agree with most of what you said...but beating everyone left on the schedule? I'm not quite agreeing with you about that at this point, but I would sure be happy if you are right.
XTR
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 11:48 a.m.
After 5 games, there are no almost "sure" losses in the sched. Everybody will be an equal toss up. That scenario was not like that at pre season when people said UM will lose to ND, MSU, Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and OSU.
RayA2
Sat, Oct 1, 2011 : 11:50 p.m.
The boredome of a game in the bag by the end of the 1st quarter brought back memories of the days when Michigan could count on mostly easy games in the big 10. There's an awful lot going right for this team and they improve every week. We'll see how good Nebraska is tonight but I think Michigan will beat everyone else on their schedule. Great game Michigan Wolverines!
1st Down
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 2:53 a.m.
Neb looks terrible on both sides of the balll....
umgoblue47
Sat, Oct 1, 2011 : 10:58 p.m.
great effort on both sides of the ball. . . i like the new style offense and the D is improving every game! on a lighter note hats off to sparty for beating ohio at the shoe. . . maybe superbuck or osubebetter can keep us posted as to what's cooking in c-bus tonight. . . i don't think it will be a meat product? GO BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!