Defensive/ST notes: Michigan knows it can – and will – improve after Maryland

Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh often compliments his team for not flinching in a big moment. The Wolverines’ first opportunity to put that to the test came on Saturday in a 34-27 win over Maryland in the Big Ten opener.

More than half of Maryland’s scoring output came in the fourth quarter, but it moved up and down the field throughout the afternoon, racking up 397 total yards of offense and 269 through the air.

The Terrapins averaged 6.2 yards per play in the first half and took the long way on most of its drives. Coming out of the locker room, Michigan’s coaching staff had to make adjustments, and it did.

Harbaugh liked what he saw from the coaching staff and how it held Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagavailoa (20-for-30, 207 yards, TD, 2 INT, 4 rushes, 20 yards) in check.

“[Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and line coach Mike Elston] threw some really good stunts in there, some really good twists and stunts we do,” Harbaugh said. “Like being able to get any defense … get a team into third down. They were really good, too. Taulia was great getting out of the pocket, extending plays. Stepping up in the pocket. A lot of things to learn from there. 

“[Our rush was] getting past the quarterback a few too many times. He proved to be really slippery and good. We had some shots to get him back, get him on the ground, but he was tough. Tough to get him on the ground. Receivers were making plays. But so did our guys. DJ Turner’s interception, that was huge. That was a great, great play. So was RJ Moten’s interception, Mike Sainristil got his hands on the PBU he had, was great right there at midfield at an important time. We’ll move onward. Feel like we have things to improve.”

Michigan’s nonconference slate did not test it to the level that Maryland’s offense would on Saturday. The Wolverines knew they had to fight and push through whatever adversity came their way.

Once again, mission accomplished.

“Stay in the game and stay focused,” senior defensive back Mike Sainristil said. “Continue to trust in each other and have each other’s backs out there. We knew coming into this game that this was a team that was going to bring us a challenge offensively. They have really good athletes and a really good quarterback. When situations like that come up that the defense has to step up and stick in there and just stay together, that was our message. Keep fighting, keep making plays when they come, and don’t give them anything.”

Defense wants to improve communication

Michigan has its fair share of things to clean up on the defensive side of the ball. The biggest issue Saturday was communication and not being in the right spot or handling the appropriate assignment. Harbaugh is confident that is something that will get sorted out.

“We need to clean up some of the calls, just being in the right spot, being in the right technique or leverage. And we will,” he said after the game. “That’s probably the biggest thing to clean up. We got ourselves picked a few times. Being in the right leverage. There wasn’t much being called out there today. But to avoid some of that, to avoid getting a call, lining up right.”

Harbaugh was happy with how the team performed, though. Folks asked for a test and they got one on Saturday. This is one where the attitude and response may matter more than the box score.

“Four quarters, every possession mattered,” he said. “Every possession was like a basketball game. Every one of them mattered. Guys hung in and fought. You have character-type building games. Proud of the grittiness of the club today.”

Sainristil — who finished with 8 tackles (2 for loss), a sack and a pass defended — was part of a secondary that did an admirable job of keeping plays in front of them and converting on opportunities to make plays. He doubled down on the communication that needs to improve, though.

“A few times where communication wasn’t the best among DBs and getting calls to each other, like the two-point conversion. Communication was off there,” Sainristil said. “Those are little things we can clean up during practice and expect what’s to come in certain situations. That is something that will get fixed come practice Monday and Tuesday and throughout the season.”

Special teams helps Michigan avoid Saturday scaries

Michigan’s special teams unit continues to prove why that phase of the game is important. It was apparent on the very first play of the game — a muffed kickoff that the Wolverines recovered at the Maryland 10-yard line. One play later, quarterback J.J. McCarthy found tight end Luke Schoonmaker in the endzone.

Graduate kicker Jake Moody had a rare miss from 43-yards out, but hit a pair of big ones from 52 and 38 yards in the first and fourth quarters, respectively. Sixth-year punter Brad Robbins had 3 punts for 141 yards with 2 downed inside the 20-yard line.

Business was taken care of.

“Special teams was on point once again,” Harbaugh said. “Our special teams unit is really good. Don’t think we’ve had a punt return go over 5 yards. It’s incredible. Lot of credit to Brad Robbins and the cover teams. Jay and the staff  … just feel like you go into these games without motivating — how much pride our guys take in special teams, and how hard we work at it, that it’s going to be you expect to win the special teams battle. 

“Our guys did again today, and that was huge. We needed all of it.”

Miscellaneous Michigan Football Defense / Special Teams Notes

• The Wolverines allowed 397 total yards on Saturday, with 269 coming through the air (10.8 yards per completion), while 128 came via Maryland’s rushing attack (3.8 yards per carry). The Terrapins ran 73 offensive plays. Maryland ended the day averaging 5.4 yards per play.

• Maryland’s first-quarter field goal was the first time an opponent scored in the first half against Michigan so far this season.

• Sophomore linebacker Junior Colson led the team in total tackles with 13 (career-high) and had 1 quarterback hit. Defensive back Mike Sainristil had 8 tackles (2 for loss), 1 sack and 1 pass defended. Senior defensive tackle Mazi Smith had 8 total tackles (1 for loss).

• Senior cornerback DJ Turner‘s second-quarter interception was the third of his career and second against Maryland.

• Junior safety RJ Moten grabbed his second career interception in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game. His first came against Michigan State last season.

• Senior edge Mike Morris recorded his second sack of the season in the fourth quarter. Freshman edge Derrick Moore had his first sack in the final quarter, as well.

• Graduate kicker Jake Moody is now 6-for-8 on the season after hitting on 2 of his 3 field goal attempts on Saturday. He moved to fourth among all-time U-M field goal kickers with 46 makes in his career. He trails only Garret Rivas (64), Remy Hamilton (63) and Mike Gilette (57).

• Moody’s 52-yard field goal in the first quarter tied a career-long, which was set on Sept. 11, 2021, vs. Washington. He is now one of five kickers in team history to have 2 or more field goal makes from 50-plus yards (4: Hayden Epstein, Quinn Nordin).