Michigan Football: 5 things we learned in uneasy win over Rutgers

Lack of impact plays a problem for the defense

There’s a lot to like about Michigan’s defense.  Through four games, the Wolverines are allowing just 11.8 points per game, which is fourth in the nation. Michigan football is giving up just 303 yards per game too, but there is a huge caveat.

The Wolverines haven’t played an elite offense or anything that can be considered close to elite — even good outside of maybe Western Michigan.

Dylan Morris and Noah Vedral looked too comfortable for my taste and the pass rush, or lack of it, is becoming a major issue.

Outside of Aidan Hutchinson, the Wolverines don’t have a single edge rusher who can do anything consistently. David Ojabo did force a fumble to seal the game late, but in four games, the Wolverines have six sacks and 4.5 are from Hutchinson.

Michigan has also forced just three turnovers. Fourth-down stops are nice, but good defenses take the ball away, and the Wolverines haven’t shown that ability.

Ojabo has flashed but needs to be more consistent and the interior rush has been non-existent. Turnovers often come because of pressure on the quarterback and unfortunately, for the Wolverines, even against a team with a porous O-line, the pass rush was invisible.