Michigan coach Sherrone Moore: Wink Martindale did 'outstanding job' of picking his spots with pressures, coverages

Michigan Wolverines football debuted a lot of ‘new’ in its 30-10 win over Fresno State Saturday night. That included the first game for defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, who coached the last 20 years in the NFL including seven as a coordinator.

The Michigan defense was lights out, for the most part, allowing just 10 points and 247 total yards. Fresno State registered only 9 rushing yards, with the other 238 coming through the air.

Michigan was aggressive on passing downs, blitzing 59 percent of the time, according to PFF. Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene averaged only 5.6 yards per attempt when blitzed compared to 8.1 when the Wolverines brought four or fewer rushers. On the back end, the Maize and Blue used mostly zone coverage.

“I saw the fast, attacking defense we saw all training camp,” Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said on the ‘Inside Michigan Football’ radio show. “I thought Coach Martindale did a an outstanding job of deciding when to pressure and when not to pressure, when to play zone and when to play man, and mixing up the different looks, because I think that’s going to be important as we go throughout the season of picking the spots and doing the things you need to do.”

There was one sequence when Michigan was using a planned rotation in the secondary and second-string cornerback Myles Pollard, a junior, was burned to the tune of 23 yards down the sideline. That set up a Fresno State field goal in the second quarter that made it a 7-3 Michigan lead. In the fourth quarter, senior Ja’Den McBurrows, the backup nickel back, was in the game and the primary.

“There are always things you gotta clean up,” Moore said. “Some backup guys got in there and allowed some plays, so we gotta clean that piece up and make sure we got the right guys in there in certain situations. But overall, I thought it was a really good day by the defense.”

Moore said Michigan had some planned substitutions in the first half, which is why some backups were in more than expected.

“We’re definitely going to see who are the best guys for the best fits, and we’re just going to play the best players at every different position,” Moore added. “I think we’ll have different packages as we go throughout these weeks.”

Michigan notched 3 sacks, including 2 from senior EDGE Josaiah Stewart, and held the Bulldogs’ rushing attack to only 2 runs of 5-plus yards.

“Those guys did an outstanding job, obviously, stopping the run,” the Michigan coach explained. “It was a focal point, one of our musts that we had to get done — and they did a great job doing it. But the pressure, it came from four, it came from five, it came from six … those guys, everybody up front, did a great job keeping that guy uncomfortable.”

Junior linebacker Jaishawn Barham made his debut, recording 2 tackles and a quarterback hurry.

“He played outstanding,” Moore said. “The stats don’t say how many plays he made, but he was chasing that guy around the field all night. He was all over the field, making hits, playing physical. He did a really good job. And as far as his run fits, he’s as good of a blitzer in the run game as I’ve been around.”

Michigan committed 45 penalty yards on a fourth-quarter drive, before junior cornerback Will Johnson had an 86-yard pick six to seal the win. Moore said after the game he was imploring his team to keep its composure.

“Yeah, definitely something we don’t like to have around here,” Moore said of the penalties. “We’re a disciplined football team, so we’ll continue to stress that.

“Some of those things, you can say they might not have called them or they should not have called them, but they did. So for us, we’re going to eliminate those things and not even make it close.”

Overall, the Michigan coach is pleased with his group but outlined some areas it can improve. He also named two offensive players that should receive the ball more going forward in junior wideout Tyler Morris and sophomore wide receiver Semaj Morgan.

“The biggest thing is consistency, and consistency in the details of everything we do — offensively, defensively and on special teams,” Moore said.

“Offensively, making sure we continue to have the right guys in the right spots, making sure we continue to get the ball to our playmakers. After the game, watching more, we thought Semaj Morgan should’ve gotten more touches, Tyler Morris should’ve had some more touches.

“So definitely do that and help those guys, and it takes the load off of [junior tight end] Colston [Loveland]. But with Colston Loveland in the game, you’re going to still have to find a way to get him the ball. Just be balanced in everything we do on offense and make sure the physicality is still there.

“And then defensively, continue to iron out all the little wrinkles to make sure there are no big plays, and continue to build the ball to stop the run.”