Mailbag question: How to fix the defense?

Posted at 12:00pm — 9/19/2010

Mailbag question: How to fix the defense?

GBMW,

How can the defense be fixed? It seems like no matter the opponent it doesn’t matter because anybody can move the ball against us.

How to fix and who to blame? Can it be fixed this year?

Tom R.

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Thanks for the question.

The only way to improve (not sure that fix is the right word at this time) the defense this year, at this point, is to keep coaching up the players UM has. There is no other way around it.

Who is to blame? That is not our concern or responsibility, we just want to see Michigan get better and such an objective will start with better defensive play.

The defense simply has to get better from the standpoint of fundamentals, tackle better, take better angles, and keep offenses in front and between the hashes. This is easier said than done, but the above can be done. Did anyone watch Air Force almost beat Oklahoma yesterday?

Michigan lacks elite level talent, the difference maker type of talent, something that the GBMWolverine staff has been preaching about for several years. We believe readers are starting to see the effect of having a moderate level of talent on the field. UM must now recruit or develop the elite type of athlete.

Michigan does not have an Adrian Clayborn (defensive end) or Tyler Sash (defensive back) from Iowa, a Cameron Heyward (defensive tackle) from Ohio State, a Ryan Kerrigan (defensive end) from Purdue, or a Greg Jones (linebacker) from Michigan State.

Until Michigan gets these types of athletes with improved defensive recruiting, it will be tough skating to become a good/great Michigan defense.

Recruiting is the life-blood of any program. A team can develop football players, but sometimes the elite level players that teams recruit turn into something special with excellent player development.

We understand this discussion can circle back to recruiting and the ranking of athletes, but the point is teams must focus on and get commitments from elite level players on defense, just as with offense.

We saw an improved effort late last year, in the 2010, recruiting year, on the defensive side of the ball, but UM still needs to further improve defensive recruiting. This needs to be an all-year pursuit and should be priority number 1 for the program.

The concern of the insufficient defensive recruiting over the past several years is becoming an unfortunate reality. We have been warning people about this potential consequence for quite awhile.

Defensively, as stated, UM must recruit better, and this starts by keeping the players from the state of Michigan, especially the local talent, and develop them into good football players that stick around and play four years for Michigan. UM cannot afford to keep losing players to transfers, academics, clearinghouse issues, etc. If this situation is not rectified the defense will always be playing with young, inexperienced players. UM must seek skilled players that want to be here and want to play for Michigan their entire college football career.

We obviously understand that some players do not work out, or fit in this program, and some will leave — that is the nature of college football and this happens at almost every program. But Michigan with the recent recruiting results cannot keep having players leave and expect to get better.

UM needs players that improve year to year by getting more experience, and by the time the players are red-shirt sophomores, juniors and seniors they can be a force for the defense. A top program cannot count on freshman to be a big part of a program year after year.

Right now, how many players on this defense would start for a program like Ohio State? We would like to hear what our posters think.

Until you can say at least half of the defense could play for a top program, honestly UM will not have a very good defense, or one that Michigan fans believe deserves the moniker of great.

Written by GBMWolverine Staff

Go Blue — Wear Maize!