Will Johnson on Michigan pass defense struggles: 'Disappointing ... all we can do is try to get better every day'
Michigan Wolverines football ranks tied 35th nationally with 6.4 yards allowed per pass, but opponents are throwing on the Maize and Blue quite a bit. They’re facing 40.3 passes (133rd) and giving up 259.8 yards through the air (110th) per contest.
“When they throw the ball and they have success, they’re going to keep doing it,” Michigan junior cornerback Will Johnson said. “So we can’t let them have success when they throw the ball.”
One of the most disappointing aspects is the big plays that are being given up. Through six outings, opponents have had 71 passes resulting in 10-plus yard gains, the seventh-worst mark in America. That comes after the Wolverines gave up only 92 such plays in 15 games last season.
“It’s definitely disappointing, but all we can do is try to get better every day from now and try to fix those mistakes,” Johnson said. “But yeah, I know what both sides look like, so you gotta do your part.
“We gotta be better. We gotta be better at not letting them get that, be disciplined, have good eyes and make plays when the ball is thrown to our side.”
Johnson has served as a mentor to some of Michigan’s younger defensive backs. He’s the only one of three starting cornerbacks that were starters last season, with sophomore Jyaire Hill and junior nickel Zeke Berry being susceptible to being picked on by quarterbacks and receivers.
“I mean, it all comes down to knowing your assignment, knowing where your help is, film study and being prepared for game day,” Johnson said of his advice. “So doing that throughout the week will help you be ready for the games.
“I try to help everybody that asks me questions. All the guys that don’t have as much experience — Zeke, Jyaire, B-Hill [sophomore safety Brandyn Hillman], really all those guys. I try to help out as much as I can.”
The 6-foot-2, 202-pound Johnson hasn’t been thrown at as much as his fellow starting cornerbacks. He’s faced 25 targets, allowing 15 catches for 183 yards and no touchdowns. Hill (39) and Berry (37), meanwhile, rank second and third, respectively, among Big Ten cornerbacks in targets.
One thing’s for certain: Michigan’s pass rush has been tremendous. The Wolverines rank tied 19th in the country with 17 sacks and are 25th with a 34.1-percent pressure rate per Sports Info Solutions.
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“They help us out a lot. We got the best edge rushers and D-linemen in the country, so that makes it a lot easier on us,” Johnson said. “We gotta help them out, too, on the back end ourselves.”
The defensive line has been responsible for 10 of Michigan’s 33 pass breakups this season. That group has been so good at batting passes at the line that junior defensive tackle Kenneth Grant has more passes defended (4) than Johnson (3).
“It’s really impressive,” Johnson said. “They work it in practice all the time. When you do it in practice, it shows up on game day. It’s all about how you prepare throughout the week, and it shows on game day.”
Michigan is 4-2 coming out of its first bye week, ahead of a big clash at Illinois. The Wolverines have only one Big Ten loss, and all of their goals are in front of them, but time is ticking for the group to start playing better and stacking wins.
“We got opportunities, and we don’t take them for granted,” the Michigan corner noted. “Every opportunity we get, we’re going to try to go out there and get a win and take full advantage of them.
“I think right now it’s just making sure everyone knows how serious and urgent it is. We got some young guys that haven’t experienced this at all or experienced the losing and things like that. So as a whole, we’re just trying to attack every single day and be urgent.”
