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Michigan Football has a Championship Caliber Defense

By Chris Peterson

Oct 10, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines safety Jabrill Peppers (5) breaks up a pass during the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines safety Jabrill Peppers (5) breaks up a pass during the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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There is a lot of hype surrounding the Michigan football program. But, with the defense the Wolverines have assembled, they have a reason to be confident.

Although the hype machine has been firing on all cylinders for Michigan football, the truth is that the Wolverines have every right to have big expectations in 2016 and one reason why is a potentially dominant defense.

Related Story: Michigan D-Line Will Dominate in2016

If there was one thing we learned from college football last season, it was that great defenses win championships. Just look at the Big Ten, where Michigan State won with defense. Yes, Connor Cook was great when he had to be, but make no mistake, Sparty was built on def.

That’s why the Spartans could knock off Ohio State on the road, while Michigan football was trounced at home.

But that was last year. This year, the Wolverines should be even better on defense and with new defensive coordinator Don Brown and his love for harassing quarterbacks, they should be more exciting to watch too.

Of course the defensive line is loaded. Chris Wormley, Ryan Glasgow, Taco Charlton, Maurice Hurst and Rashan Gary, just to name a few, make up one of the most talented front fours in the nation, let alone the Big Ten.

Brown, who’s defense at Boston College last season, was tops in the nation in opponent yards per game, held opposing teams to just 2.5 yards per carry in 2015. And If Glasgow remains healthy, he and his front-four mates can easily match that production.

Unlike D.J. Durkin, Brown loves to blitz and bring pressure. This Michigan defense is going to force the action on opponents and with a ridiculously talented secondary that includes Jabrill Peppers, Jourdan Lewis, Channing Stribling and Jeremy Clark, Brown should be able to ramp it up to ridiculous levels.

Of course, a defense can’t win a championship by itself. You need skill players to help you do that, but the Wolverines have plenty of those with Jake Butt, Jehu Chesson, Amara Darboh, etc.

The offense may not be great, but it can be good enough. The real determining factor will be the defense and its ability to show up in big games.

Last season, the Wolverines only allowed 280 yards per game. Yet, in their all three of their losses, they allowed 24 points or more. In fact, of the 10 wins Michigan football managed in 2015, only two of them came when opponents scored more than 20 points (Indiana and Minnesota).

This year’s Michigan offense will be good, but if the team is going to meet or exceed expectations, it will be on the shoulder’s of the defense to carry the day, especially if Michigan wants to finally topple the likes of Michigan State and the hated Buckeyes.

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How great the defense will be in 2016 remains to be seen, but there is no question, that with the talent they posses, the Wolverines definitely have the makings of a championship-caliber unit.

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