Mailbag question: No offense, but can anyone really say that defense is not needed?

Posted at 4:00pm — 10/7/2010

Mailbag question: No offense, but can anyone really say that defense is not needed?

I am curious about your thoughts on not needing a defense because our offense is so good this year, and we can score on anybody at will.

Don’t crucify me, but I was on another message board and got railroaded when I said we (Michigan) would never compete against the “elite” teams with just a great offense.

I don’t see Michigan running up and down the field on a team like Alabama and being able to outscore them while our defense ranks at the bottom in the nation for defensive stats.

Yes this approach works against Bowling Green, UMass, a new Notre Dame team, a disappointing UConn team and Indiana, who is better, but still Indiana.

I guess we will see once we go into battle with the big boys.

Your thoughts regarding this new defensive philosophy.

Freddy007

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Thanks for the question.

Well anybody that says a major college team does not need a defense obviously has never played the game, or for that matter even adorned a jock to be honest.

This (not needing a defense) may be like giving an opponent Park Place and Boardwalk free to an opponent in Monopoly. This reasoning may be similar to letting the other team count your team’s free throws into their score. Perhaps this is like saying I lose in blackjack unless I hit a 20 or 21.

There are three components of a football team’s success: offense, defense, and special teams (thank you for the rudimentary indulgence). Defense is still the king in many quarters of the football world. The idea that the opponent can have three components compared to your two is flimsy.

To all of you, believe what you will, but all of us believe in defense. We also believe in offense and special teams. Great teams have it all and this does not happen by accident.

Great teams go well past losing or struggling against the likes of teams such as Indiana, Purdue, and Illinois (this year only for point of reference and no disrespect is intended, those teams might say the same for Michigan).

Michigan through the decades has believed the program to be “Leaders and Best,” so the goal is to compete against teams like Alabama and other elite teams year in and year out. We all realize that baby steps must be taken, but the baby will not grow or prosper without a good defense.

Forget the vary notion of beating Alabama with the worst defense in the nation. Michigan should be able to score against Alabama, but not at will as against Bowling Green and Indiana.

Offense is definitely the sexy side of the ball. This facet of football is what causes the fireworks and excites fans. But defense can also excite fans when they conclude games are won or lost by defense. Teams can win games with an explosive offense, just not all or even most assuming good competition.

This bad defense/good offense scenario typically plays out like so: we score points, who cares; we play someone very good with a great defense; our defense gave up a ton and the offense was stopped cold and floundered in a late comeback attempt throwing against a stacked defense; now everybody cares.

In our opinion playing great defense and fielding high-level, well-prepared, special teams lead to a more consistent program. Yes, a team does need to score points and move the ball, or a defense will be on the field too long. Teams that challenge for the BCS Championship play great defense and offense. By doing so, such elite teams are in complete control of the game.

Go back to 2002 when Ohio State faced Miami. Going into that game most people thought Ohio State would get easily beat because Miami had a powerful offense. Well, what counters a powerful offense — a great defense? Ohio State did not need to score a lot of points with their great defense and great special teams. Ugly, perhaps, but the final objective, victory, was secured by following a closely managed formula.

Offense sells tickets but defense wins championships is more than an old worn out cliché.

Look back to all the NFL Super Bowl teams, or even just very good teams that almost got to the big dance. Few teams are declared great without at least a better than average defense. The same goes for major college football, and we are willing to bet teams like Ohio State and Alabama both believe that great defenses were/are necessary to be elite and win national championships. Simply put they do care about defense.

Written by GBMWolverine Staff

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