Dare We – A Comparison of the UConn and Michigan Defenses

Posted at 8:00am — 9/2/2010

Dare We – A Comparison of the UConn and Michigan Defenses

Compared to the two offenses, which in the case of UConn has been very productive and in the case of Michigan could be very productive, the defenses are the proverbial redheaded stepchildren, beaten up and held in low esteem. No doubt plenty of defensive players would take issue with the above.

Anything can happen, especially in an opener, but there are few talking about either team throwing a shutout on defense. The consensus of talk centers on which defense will give up the most acreage and which one can best accomplish damage control?

Even more than the two offenses, the defenses on paper, on film, personnel wise and statistically do appear to be near twins. The basic scheme for UConn is the 4-3 and Michigan will probably play multiple fronts. The ongoing line of thought is that both teams will blitz but both teams will sometimes fall back into a standard zone designed to keep the plays in front of the defense, minimizing the damage. There will probably be help given to the corners by the safeties, backing them up. If this is so for UConn, then the UM running game may gain some advantage. If UConn follows the recent defensive script other teams have used against UM, the Huskies will crowd the safeties, blitz the backers and dare UM to dial up the passing game. If so UM must respond by attacking a potential soft spot, the UConn secondary.

Both defenses have very adequate strength on the d-line, but last year both groups gave up big runs between the tackles. This unit comparison is almost certainly a push on paper.

The linebackers favor UConn, substantially. Lawrence Wilson is first team All-Big East, a big hitter, and is a preseason All-America selection in some quarters. He is joined by 2nd team All-Big East selection Greg Lloyd, who has been recently cleared to start in the middle Saturday, and Scott Lutrus, an accomplished linebacker in his own right. This group is big and physical and it would be most problematic to argue the threesome is not the best part of the UConn defense.

The Michigan linebackers have one hybrid linebacker, Craig Roh, of any note. He will be a key to pressuring the Husky passing attack. A tough-nosed former fullback, Mark Moundros, now mans the middle backer spot and the flank is covered by up and down Jonas Mouton. The success of Mouton will go a long way in providing at least adequate play for this group as a unit. Michigan back-ups have not been able to step up and provide much help the last two years. The most glaring unit group weakness on the team since 2008 has not been adequately addressed. Will that evaluation continue throughout this year, or will someone finally step up and play at a high level? If scrimmages and practices are true indications of future linebacker success (and they usually are), do not expect miracles but hope for respectability.

The secondary of both teams can be discussed simultaneously. Both units lost an important 2009 cog and will play the 2010 season with limited experience and clear concerns about talent level and stopping the big play. In the case of the common phrase “best guess” the most operative word in that phrase is guess. Anything is in the realm of possibility, but the real question is will Michigan attempt to exploit UConn’s perceived weakness through the air, or run a business as usual game plan, emphasizing the run and the horizontal game. Bottom line: both groups will give up yardage, IF ATTACKED. The other clear apparent UConn weakness is protecting the flank with the smallish defensive ends last year giving up leverage for big plays.

Special teams somewhat mirror each other as well:

Punt return game –both adequate
Kickoff return game – both excellent
Coverage teams – advantage UConn
Punting – both unknown quantity, youngsters
Placekicker – UConn average – Michigan unknown

Written by GBMWolverine Staff

Go Blue — Wear Maize!