3 keys for Michigan football against Arkansas State

Michigan running back Donovan Edwards (7) runs for a first down against Texas defensive back Michael Taaffe (16) during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, September 7, 2024. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Get back to basics on defense

So much for continuity. The idea behind hiring Wink Martindale as the defensive coordinator was that he would be able to run the same defense and not have to change anything.

But we saw things on Saturday we didn't see last season. There were a bunch of blitzes that didn't work and other weird things like putting Mason Graham at defensive end.

The linebackers, who are experienced players, also looked clueless. The tackling was also poor and it looked like a defense trying to think too much.

Maybe all of this stuff Wink is doing will pay off as the season goes along, but he needs to get this defense comfortable before the USC game, and in my eyes, it means getting back to the basics.

This defense doesn't need to trick people. But the Wolverines have to get back to playing more than thinking, which wasn't the case on defense last week.

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