Michigan D/ST notes: Wolverines make life miserable for Indiana QB

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Michigan football defense had a massive edge at the line of scrimmage over an Indiana offense depleted by injuries and void of steady play all season long in a 29-7 win.

The Wolverines’ pass rush, led by junior end Aidan Hutchinson and redshirt freshman outside linebacker David Ojabo, was dominant. Hutchinson registered a whopping four quarterback hurries, while Ojabo had a strip sack, his fourth forced fumble of the season, with sophomore defensive tackle Christopher Hinton recovering. Redshirt sophomore Taylor Upshaw added a sack of his own in the second half.

Facing pressure all night long was Indiana freshman quarterback Donaven McCulley, who threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Maryland last week. He completed just 10 of his 24 pass attempts for 88 yards against Michigan, which totaled nine hurries and two sacks.

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“David Ojabo just keeps getting better and better,” head coach Jim Harbaugh said. “He’s doing a great job. The combination of him and Aidan, and also part of it just to put David in on more of the base defense, as well, so he’s going to keep getting more playing time. I thought he really responded well to that.” 

Continued Harbaugh, speaking of Ojabo’s strip sack: “It was big. He’s got a knack for that. He’s somebody you really have to account for. His ability to rush the passer, and also adding some other parts to his game.

“We see it in practice. Aidan on one side, David Ojabo on the other. They’re both getting to the quarterback and doing a heck of a job.”

The Indiana signal-caller was making his second career start and began the season third on the depth chart but was thrust into action due to injuries.

The Wolverines’ coverage was also stingy, with two pass breakups — one from redshirt freshman cornerback DJ Turner and one from redshirt sophomore cornerback Vincent Gray. Indiana fifth-year senior tight end Peyton Hendershot totaled just 34 yards, while fifth-year senior wideout Ty Fryfogle recorded only 21 yards.

The best success McCulley found was on a 24-yard scramble after he got out of the pocket in the second quarter, getting all the way down to the 2-yard line and setting up the team’s lone touchdown.

Michael Barrett Sees His Role Increase

Redshirt sophomore linebacker Michael Barrett had seen just 39 defensive snaps this season before Saturday, after serving as a full-time starter at the no-longer-used ‘viper’ position in 2020. And while Barrett technically didn’t play much linebacker in this one, he saw plenty of time on defense, featuring as a nickelback.

Michigan was called for multiple substitution penalties and allowed two touchdowns while reinforcements were late to run onto the field in last week’s loss to Michigan State. Barrett’s involvement on defense, among other factors, was a result of those struggles, giving the Maize and Blue a more versatile player to keep on the field and move around in a few different spots.

“We wanted to be in some packages where we didn’t have to substitute with teams that were going fast,” Harbaugh said. “That was an issue we had coming into this game, and that was one of the fixes. That’s what led to more playing time. I thought he played well from what I saw.”

“Mike B has always been part of us, for real, and he had a big package this week with the game plan,” Turner said. “It felt normal out there. There was no drop-off or anything like that. Got the call and just played.”

Barrett’s package included more of sophomore Daxton Hill at free safety as opposed to nickel, and less of second-year freshman safety R.J. Moten altogether.

Jake Moody Continues To Help Michigan Capitalize, Returners Make Debuts

The Wolverines ‘settled’ for three field goals, but junior kicker Jake Moody continued his trend of ensuring they come away with three points even when the offense doesn’t finish drives with touchdowns.

He nailed two 34-yard field goals and a 32-yarder. He’s now hit seven straight placekicks and 21 of 23 for the season.

“He’s putting together a heck of a year,” Harbaugh said of Moody. “Had a lot of very high confidence in Jake Moody. Been very steady and very good.”

Heading into a pivotal three-game stretch to close out the regular season, Harbaugh knows how crucial having a solid and reliable kicker is.

“Going to be very important,” he said. “That’s the most important thing for a field goal kicker, putting the ball through the uprights on the field goals. That whole mechanic — [snapper] William Wagner, [holder] Brad Robbins and Jake Moody really excelling as a battery. 

Michigan’s special teams featured a new punt returner in Turner, who replaced second-year freshman A.J. Henning after an injury, and a new kick returner in freshman wideout Andrel Anthony, who was in for second-year freshman Blake Corum following his ailment.

Anthony returned one kick for just 21 yards, while Turner exploded for a 25-yard punt return and made successful fair catches on his other opportunities.

“I thought DJ did a heck of a job coming in as the punt returner,” Harbaugh said. “Had a nice return, caught the ball each time.”

“I practice at it all the time,” Turner added. “It was my first time doing it in a game, but after all the coaching and preparation, I felt comfortable out there. And, next man up.”

Miscellaneous Michigan Football Defense / Special Teams Notes

• Indiana’s 195 total yards are the least Michigan has allowed in a game since giving up 180 yards to Notre Dame in 2019.

• Michigan freshman linebacker Junior Colson made his second career start, and posted a team-high and career-high eight tackles.

• With their 16.0 combined sacks on the season, Ojabo and Hutchinson have the most among Power 5 duos.

• Robbins punted four times for 164 yards, with a long of 54 yards and one pin inside the Hoosier 20-yard line.

• Hinton logged his team-leading second fumble recovery of the season.

• The Michigan defense held Indiana’s offense to zero first downs in each of its first four drives of the second half.

• Barrett made his first start of the season and seventh of his career.

• Michigan’s defense held Indiana to just 88 passing yards, marking just the second time Indiana has been held to less than 100 passing yards this season. The other time came against Ohio State, when the Hoosiers recorded just 80 yards through the air.

• The Wolverines have held just one other opponent to less than 100 passing yards in a game this season (Northern Illinois, 46). Michigan has now yielded less than 200 passing yards in seven of nine games.

• Indiana averaged just 3.2 yards per play, totaled 11 first downs and went 4 of 14 on third down.