Analysts provide Michigan practice intel: 'Physical' defense is 'the complete package,' potentially 'better than last year'

Michigan Wolverines football held its first scrimmage in The Big House Saturday, and Big Ten Network dropped by for Monday evening’s practice outside Schembechler Hall. The common denominator for both — the defensive line shined.

TheWolverine.com’s Chris Balas reported that the defensive line had the edge over the offensive line Saturday (along with much more intel), and BTN analysts said the same thing about situational scrimmages Monday.

“I don’t know where to start, but you can start up front with that defensive line,” Howard Griffith said of the Michigan defense. “There was a period they went short yardage and goal line. We know how good this offensive line will be and can be, but you talk about just being able to dominate an area — [the defensive line] really did an unbelievable job on the goal line. So I think it ultimately starts up front. Then you think about this linebacker group that can run and really make a lot of plays.”

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Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh dubbed his defense a no-star, no-name group last season, though plenty broke out as some of the best players in the Big Ten. Coordinator Jesse Minter has said ‘no-star’ is more of a mentality for how they play together than anything. Whatever it’s called, it’s been impressive.

“So this defense, if they called it no-name last year, you might want to go down that road again — but you can make an argument that this defense may be better than last year’s, as well,” Griffith added.

“I think they’re probably all better at this point than they were a year ago,” Gerry DiNardo added of Michigan’s defensive standouts. “What was impressive was the way they run, which wasn’t a surprise.”

Ever since Michigan switched its defense to be more multiple, resembling an NFL style, in 2021, many have praised how the different looks help prepare the team’s offense for facing different defenses throughout the season. DiNardo said it works the other way, too.

“Part of their success, I think a lot of this has to do with the way they’re prepared,” the BTN analyst said. “This was a physical practice, so this defense saw downhill run today, they saw third-and-long against an offense that can throw the ball. This defense sees more variety from this offense than any other defense we’ve seen or will see. I think that has a lot to do with preparing them for the season.

“They’re getting spread work here, as well. My point is, they’re getting both — they’re getting down hill and a spread, more so than any other offenses that we’ve seen. We’ve seen maybe some offenses that run it more than Michigan does, and we certainly will see offenses that throw it more, but no other defense will see a blend, in my opinion, of the spread and the downhill run that they saw today.”

DiNardo added that Minter being back for his second season at Michigan is also extremely beneficial. It’s ‘Year 3’ of the system, with former coordinator Mike Macdonald implementing it in 2021 and Minter continuing it last season and into this fall.

“That’s a major plus that Jesse’s back,” DiNardo said.

The talent level has improved. The show noted that Michigan has more returning defenders who earned All-Big Ten honors last season than returning starters on offense — a fact not many are aware of.

“The fact that the back end runs, the fact that the interior two push and the outside two rush the passer … they’re the complete package on defense,” DiNardo said.

“They’ve really done — since we’ve watched this happen, when they were starting to build and recruit guys that are juniors now — they really have elevated the talent, and they’ve really stacked those classes together,” Griffith added. “You introduce the portal to that, and they’re able to really field an elite football team. This is a really good football team. A really good football team.”

By all accounts, Michigan fall camp has cruised along with plenty of positives. Two and a half weeks remain until the Sept. 2 season opener against East Carolina, and excitement is building.