Michigan Football: Everything you need to know about Michigan State

Defense

Michigan State lacks offense. They did last year, and they will next year, but the saving grace was supposed to be an All-Big Ten defense with two preseason All-Americans among the ranks. Joe Bachie and Kenny Willekes received the high honor, and they either hadn’t lived up to the hype or couldn’t find a clean friend when the NCAA came around with their ‘random’ drug test.

Michigan has allowed 152 points in nine games while Michigan State, as mentioned earlier, coughed up 100 in just three games. That’s not to say the Wolverines defense is better; it’s just to say that statistically, the Wolverines defense is better.

Michigan is 7th in Total Defense, MSU is 24th.

Michigan is 12th in Red Zone Defense, MSU is 22nd.

Michigan is 5th in Passing Yards Allowed, MSU is 53rd.

And on, and on, and on.

“Every game’s been different as we’ve gone through it,” coach Mark Dantonio said. “Those three games, you saw some big plays in those games which led to a lot of the yardage.”

Big plays vaulting opponents score to heights rarely observed in the previous seasons. In 2018, Utah State reached the elite list of those hanging over 30 on the staunch defense. 2019 is a different animal, apparently.

“It’s definitely frustration,” fifth-year senior defensive end Kenny Willekes said. “You come into the season with high expectations as a defense and then three teams in a row put 30 points up on you.”