Michigan Football’s defense will benefit from schedule in 2022

Michigan football is losing a number of key pieces on defense but the schedule should make things a little easier. 

After an uncharacteristic down year in 2020, Michigan’s defense was back among the nation’s elite in 2021. The Wolverines ranked eighth in scoring defense, 18th in total defense, and 13th in yards per play allowed. However, Michigan football will have several departures on the defensive side of the ball.

It was expected that Michigan football would lose Aidan Hutchinson, David Ojabo, Daxton Hill, Josh Ross, and Brad Hawkins.

Chris Hinton and Vincent Gray also declared for the NFL Draft, meaning the Wolverines will lose seven starters from last year’s defense. As defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald begins to piece together his unit for next season, he may get some help from Michigan’s schedule, and here’s why.

Michigan will begin this season with home games against Colorado State, Hawaii, and UConn. In 2021, Colorado State ranked 97th in scoring offense and 57th in total offense. The Rams are also losing Mackey Award Winner Trey McBride, who had 90 receptions and 1,121 yards.

Hawaii was 64th in scoring offense and total offense. It will also have a new coach with former record-setting quarterback Timmy Chang at the helm now. UConn was 129th in scoring offense and 128th in total offense.

Those teams will be looking to improve offensively as well, Michigan should win each of those games handily and will likely open up as 20+ point favorites. You may say “Michigan didn’t play anyone” if the defense dominates the first three games. However, we saw the defense was much improved last season in the season opener against Western Michigan. In my opinion, Kaleb Eleby was one of the five best quarterbacks Michigan played last season.

What Michigan’s defense will face next season

Michigan opens up Big Ten play on September 24th at home against Maryland and heads to Iowa for the first road game of the season the following week. Iowa will not scare Michigan too much offensively. U-M has held Iowa to 20 points in the last three meetings, including three points in each of the last two games.

However, I expect that to be a difficult game. Iowa will be extremely motivated after the thumping Michigan gave it in the Big Ten Championship Game. Kinnick Stadium is also one of the toughest places to play, particularly at night.

However, Maryland’s offense could pose a significant challenge. The Terps will return Taulia Tagovailoa at quarterback, who was second in the Big Ten in passing yards (3,874) and fourth in touchdown passes (27) last season.

He will get his top receivers back in Rakim Jarrett and Dontay Demus Jr., who was lost for the season after a knee injury he suffered against Iowa. Maryland also returns its entire offensive line. The unit struggled a season ago, but continuity goes a long way up front.

Michigan should still be able to win that game with its offense. However, it could be closer than it should be if the defense struggles. While jobs will be won in spring ball and fall camp, those first three games will allow Mike MacDonald additional time to break in new starters and figure things out before Big Ten play.