5 things we learned from Michigan football loss to Illinois

The defense can play winning football

What's frustrating about this Michigan football team is all three phases never seem to working in unison. If the defense played as well against Washington as did it against Illinois, Michigan might have won the game.

Giving up nearly 200 yards rushing was shocking to me. The fake punt was also a huge mishap that changed the game. Points were at a premium and that led to seven for the Fighting Illini.

But there were plenty of times when the defense bailed out the offense. Give Wink Martindale credit. He went much more vanilla. The Wolverines only got one sack but they only allowed 21 points and even some of that was due to the poor play of the offense.

Losing Will Johnson hurt and it's hard to know when he'll come back. But if there is one thing this team can count on, it's stil the defense and the defensive line, as long as it gets a little help.