'We want to choke them out': Michigan defense's relentless mentality starts in the weight room

Michigan Wolverines football has one of the finest defensive outfits in the country. The Maize and Blue rank tied for fourth nationally in points per game allowed (13.4) and slot third in total defense (277.1 yards per game).

The group lost plenty of talent from the 2021 season, including three top-50 picks in defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, defensive back Daxton Hill and outside linebacker David Ojabo, but is arguably even better this season. That comes as no surprise to sophomore linebacker Junior Colson, who knew what some of the replacements could do with their increased opportunity.

“I was interviewed in the spring, and that was one of the first things I said. I was like, ‘It’s going to be a different kind of defense, but we still have guys that can step up. We still have guys that are hungry, that want to play. They’re going to show you because they have talent. Those guys played because they have talent; these guys just haven’t had the opportunity to shine yet.’

“You’ve got to see it. And they’ve been shining all year. They’ve been phenomenal, especially in the run game, pass game. They’ve been wreaking havoc back there.”

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Colson praised the mentality of the Michigan unit — its relentlessness and stinginess — and believes it starts in the weight room with strength coach Ben Herbert and his staff.

“We really want to choke them out,” Colson said of Michigan’s opponents. “Our strength coach, our strength staff is the best in the country. I will say this. I will put my hand down that we have the best strength and conditioning coaches in the country.

“And I think that all starts with the way they treat you. They want the best for you. We have so much trust in them, that we know if they tell us, ‘Go do something that sounds absurd,’ we’ll all go do it because we trust them enough that they’re not going to put us in harm’s way. Herb is probably one of the smartest guys I know. Every time, whatever he puts out there, it’s for the better of the team. It’s going to make me better, it’s going to help me out.”

Colson added that while other teams hope to maintain strength during the season, the Wolverines have added it.

“We’re always trying to get better and be more competitive,” Colson said.

That has manifested itself in second halves, too, with Michigan playing at a higher level as the games have gone on. Since Oct. 8 at Indiana, Michigan has allowed just 29 points in the second half. The Wolverines have gotten stops on 12 of their 13 opponents’ first possessions of the third quarter, with the lone blemish being a field goal by Penn State.

“I think it’s mostly our will,” Colson explained of the second-half success. “The first half, especially when we go into the locker room, that’s just the type of team we are. We know what we can do. And when we come out of halftime, by them getting that many points on us, that makes us feel disrespected.

“Now, we feel like we want to choke them out. They’re not going to get a drop on us. That was our whole mentality — ’choke them out right here. They’re not crossing the 50.’”

Michigan carrying ‘underdog’ mentality against TCU

Michigan is a 7.5-point favorite over TCU, but the Wolverines still feel like an underdog, Colson said.

“We carry an underdog mentality, but we still think we’re gonna win,” he said of the Michigan team’s mentality this season. “We still have confidence in ourselves as we’re out there. We’re never gonna overlook an opponent. We’re never gonna think we’re the top dogs until we’re the top dogs.”

TCU has a balanced offense that ranks 25th nationally in both rushing and passing yards per game. Senior quarterback Max Duggan was the Heisman Trophy runner-up and has thrown 30 touchdown passes, while junior running back Kendre Miller has rushed for 1,342 yards and 17 touchdowns.

“They’re a good team,” Colson said of the Horned Frogs. “Their offensive line is pretty decent, and they’ve got a great running back. He’s got great patience. I think if we take them too lightly, they can run all over us. I believe we all — especially as a defense — got our helmets strapped up, ready to go, and we’re not gonna let that happen.”

The Michigan linebacker compared TCU to Ohio State when asked if the Wolverines have played an offense with a similar style.

Duggan is a more mobile player than Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, however, posing a different challenge. Colson respects Duggan’s game.

I’m happy for him. I’m happy for the player,” the Michigan linebacker said. “You can tell he’s got a lot of heart. He’s got a lot of drive, and it’s cool and all that, but you’ve just gotta choke him out, don’t let that happen. For our team, we can’t give him hope. That’s the thing, you want to see the spark come out of their eyes and keep pounding on them.”