Report card: Grading Michigan's defense at the midway point

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said in the preseason he had a “sneaking suspicion” this year’s defense could be even better than last year’s.

If it hasn’t been, it’s certainly close.

RELATED: Report Card: Grading Michigan’s offense at the midway point

RELATED: Michigan football: Balas and Skene react to dominant win over Penn State

The Wolverines have continued to improve on that side of the ball, and the dominated Penn State in a 41-17 win last week. Here are our midseason grades for coordinator Jesse Minter’s group.

Michigan Defensive line — A

Fox analyst Joel Klatt opened some eyes when he said on his weekly podcast this Michigan defensive line might be better than last year’s that included first-round pick and edge Aidan Hutchinson and second rounder and end David Ojabo. He might be right, though, especially on the interior. 

This group is getting it done by committee in the pass rush game. The Wolverines are 9th nationally in sacks with 24 in 7 games … last year’s squad had 34 in twice as many games. Senior Mike Morris has been strong with a team-leading 5 sacks for 35 yards, also leading the team with 8 tackles for loss. Grad student Eyabi Okie has been outstanding as an edge rusher, too, with 2.5 sacks and several pressures. 

In the middle, senior Mazi Smith has been outstanding, junior Kris Jenkins has upped his game, and freshman Mason Graham is perhaps the best true freshman defensive tackle we’ve ever seen here. U-M ranks 6h nationally in run defense at 85.9 yards per game.

Linebackers — B

The Michigan defense is still missing junior linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green — he’s been out all year with an undisclosed injury — and that’s been a big loss. Grad student Michael Barrett has played well and junior Kalel Mullings is coming on (2nd on the team with 31 stops), but Hill-Green was expected to take a huge leap this year and potentially be one of the Big Ten’s better linebackers. 

Sophomore Junior Colson, meanwhile, has had some outstanding moments, leading the team with 49 tackles, but he’s been somewhat inconsistent. The Wolverines have been exploited at times between the ‘backers and the safeties in coverage, but it’s improved since the Iowa game. 

Adding edge Jaylen Harrell to this group as an outside ‘backer bump the grade. The junior has been outstanding holding the edge against the run, and while he only has 16 tackles, 5.5 have been for loss and he’s notched 1.5 sacks. He also leads the team with 5 official quarterback hurries. 

This group can improve, but it’s still played a huge role for the nation’s No. 4 team in total defense (250 yards per game).

Michigan Secondary — A-

We expected senior DJ Turner to have a great season, and he’s been good (but a bit handsy at times). Grad student Gemon Green, however, has been the team’s top cornerback through 7 games, rarely getting beat. Turner and senior Mike Sainristil, who moved to nickel from receiver, lead the team with 4 pass break-ups each, but Green has been fantastic when quarterbacks throw at him. He’s been one of the team’s pleasant surprises. 

The same could be said of Sainristil, who made the move this spring and has been nothing short of outstanding. He’s still learning at times — he gave up a big third down play at Iowa — but for the most part, he’s playing at an All-Big Ten level. Michigan frosh Will Johnson is starting to see more time and is getting comfortable.

Safety play, too, has been very good. Junior Makari Paige has made a huge leap and is proving tough to take off the field, while Michigan sophomore Rod Moore leads the secondary with 26 tackles and 2 interceptions. R.J. Moten has been solid, as well. 

Special Teams — A-

It’s past time to acknowledge the job Jay Harbaugh has done with the special teams since he arrived in Ann Arbor. This year is no different. Grad student kicker Jake Moody and sixth-year punter Brad Robbins are the best kicker – punter combo in the country. Moody is 13-for-16 on field goals and has been very good on kickoffs, as usual. Robbins is averaging 46.2 yards per punt with 9 inside the 20. 

Michigan is allowing only 3.4 yards per punt return, 16.11 per kick return. That’s good for 15^th in the country. Junior A.J. Henning has been solid on punt returns, averaging 9.4 per return (23^rd nationally), but U-M is only 105^th nationally on kick return. That needs to improve.

Overall, though — great. 

Defensive Grade Overall — A-

No, the schedule hasn’t been all that tough, so we don’t know how this Michigan defense will fare against the “good” teams on the schedule (or team — Ohio State). But you can only play what’s in front of you, and this group has been very good and getting better. 

Is it “built to beat Ohio State” like Joel Klatt said (not that he was predicting it)? We’ll see.