Tuesday Thoughts: Michigan’s ‘elite’ defense, Jim Harbaugh on recruiting, more

Michigan is 10-0 heading into the last home game of the year, a showdown with first place (ish) in the Big Ten West Illinois. The Illini are struggling and running back Chase Brown is questionable after suffering a leg injury. 

RELATED

• Report: Big Ten will now wait until prosecutor findings to comment on Michigan State tunnel incident

• Wolverine TV: Jim Harbaugh talks stellar defense, Illinois, pass game, more

U-M head coach Jim Harbaugh talked about that, his recruiting class, an elite defense and more. We tackle his comments in News and Views format. 

NEWS: Michigan’s defense is No. 1 in several categories, including total defense and run defense, and hasn’t really been tested in the last several games. Harbaugh said before the season he had a sneaking suspicion it might be better than last year’s outstanding group.

HARBAUGH: “We really didn’t put any limit to the expectations. We thought that our defense could be really good, had the license and the ability to be an outstanding defense. At the time, I called it the ‘no-name defense.’ In some ways, we have guys at each position who are competing to make a name for themselves.”

VIEWS: Mike Morris comes to mind, and that’s another one Harbaugh predicted. He basically said, ‘who’s to say he can’t be the next Aidan Hutchinson?’ before the season, and while Morris hasn’t been quite as good, he’s been outstanding. Some now project the senior edge to be a first round pick.

Mazi Smith, too … we wouldn’t trade him for any run-stopping defensive tackle in the country. 

More than anything, though, these guys are playing inspired football and with great chemistry. They love each other, and it shows.

“I think that’s transpired — playing great team defense,” Harbaugh said. “Each position group is really playing outstanding, and they’re playing outstanding together.”

But whether this defense is better than last year’s? We’ll find out Nov. 26 in Columbus. 

NEWS: Illinois running back Chase Brown has been one of the best in the country, but he was banged up at the end of last week’s loss to Purdue. Coach Bret Bielema said he was “trending in the right direction” in his recovery.

“Very positive and excited, but don’t know where we’ll be by Friday for the trip and Saturday for the game,” Bielema said.

HARBAUGH: “Our run wall has been very good, [but] it’s going to be tested this week probably like none other up to this point. So … Illinois is very strong at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. They hsve an outstanding, outstanding run scheme, outstanding running back. 

“It will be a real challenge and a task for our team this year. And it’s been one of our strengths really on both sides of the ball — up front, offensive line and defensive line. I really feel like our offensive line is going to be tested this week as well. So yeah … big challenge and we’re preparing for it now.”

VIEWS: We’re a little more optimistic than Harbaugh (at least what he’s saying publicly). Though Illinois had a storybook beginning, the Illini have come back down to earth. They lost to moribund Michigan State at home, also fell to Purdue, and now probably won’t win the West … which is awful. 

If Brown plays, he’s probably not going to be 100 percent. Even if he is, we don’t like him to put up numbers on this defense. 

We expect a comfortable Michigan victory … as long as the Wolverines aren’t looking ahead to Ohio State. 

NEWS: The Michigan recruiting class is struggling to break the top 20 despite U-M winning the Big Ten last year and off to a 10-0 start this season. 

HARBAUGH: “I’m just always happy about the guys we get. And whatever the ranking is, sometimes it changes from now until signing day. It did last year. There are times where they rewrite them after a year. 

“So yeah … I just put more stock into the fit really getting the players that are going to be a great fit for the program, and they’re going to look at our program as a great fit, as well.”

VIEWS: The Michigan coach also said he’d anticipate an uptick closer to Signing Day, and a strong finish. 

In reality, though, U-M has been playing from behind in the NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) game, and the pond got smaller. It used to be that the kids who weren’t looking for something up front … well, at least a few of them are in play. 

Michigan has made it very clear their collectives would be more than competitive. Compliance has also said they can’t pay up front, and there are at least loopholes some schools are navigating to do just that. 

It’s an uphill battle. 

U-M is set for the next few years with some outstanding talent in the freshman and sophomore classes. After that, though, it gets dicey. New President Santa Ono is on it, and that makes us feel better … but there’s still a long way to go.

NEWS: Michigan senior quarterback Cade McNamara underwent leg surgery and will be out for the year.

HARBAUGH: “He underwent the surgery and seems that it’s successful. We’re supporting him in all rehab from here. But … very happy there was a successful surgery.”

VIEWS: McNamara will likely be honored Saturday on Senior Day, and he should get a huge ovation. He was one of the catalysts in leading the first Michigan Big Ten title since 2004, regardless of what some say, and helped change the culture and trajectory of the program. 

Though J.J. McCarthy won the job fair and square, this U-M team would be undefeated right now with McNamara under center, too. It’s clear McCarthy’s skillset — legs, bigger arm — is more advanced, and we’d like to see more of it. 

We expect McNamara to transfer next year, and there’s been buzz he could end up our West. Wherever he goes, we wish him well and hope he kills it. 

We expect he will.