The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/116680
O By Michael Spath ver the past five years, Michigan defenses have accumulated just 121 sacks (24.2 per year), ranking ninth in the Big Ten, a mere six QB takedowns better than Indiana. Since Brady Hoke and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison arrived in 2011, the Wolverines have averaged 26.0 sacks per season, but still rank sixth in the conference. Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen were instrumental in the turnaround U-M made defensively in 2011, but they weren't stout pass rushers, combining for nine sacks. A year ago, redshirt junior strongside linebacker Jake Ryan, who plays with his hand on the ground in obvious passing situations, led the team with 4.5 sacks while the entirety of the defensive line totaled only 12 quarterback sacks. "Going into this year, the key for us is to become, really, a dominant defensive line," Mattison said. "I don't think we can say anymore we're going to out-scheme people. We're not going to be able to continue to call blitzes to get us out of trouble … a big thing for us is to be able to get pressure with a four-man front. "When you're a really, really successful, solid defensive line, then you put four guys out there and you go get the quarterback without any help. That then allows you to have more coverage. That's a big goal for us — to rush the passer with four men. I've always taken pride in that, and we have capable guys that want to do that." The Maize and Blue will address a myriad of issues this spring in an effort to improve, with the intent to become a championship defense, but the success of the 15 practices might simply boil down to whether the defensive line shows an ability to harass opponents all on its own. Turning Michigan's Linemen Loose Among Michigan's 22 sacks in 2012, its defensive linemen accounted for 54.5 percent, with former Wolverine strongside end Craig Roh (2009-12) leading the way with a mere four sacks. Mattison cringes to think what the front four would have accomplished without the aid of blitzing linebackers and defensive backs. "Our numbers were even worse if we take out the pressure packages," he said. "To be a really good defense you have to have your players come to you and say, 'Coach, don't blitz. Let us rush.' "That's how it was when I was at Florida and when I was here before at Michigan with guys like Chris Hutchinson. You could see the look in their eye, and they would say, 'Just let us go.' "That's what we have to get back to, and then you can blitz. Right now I think people look at us and say, 'They're going to blitz.'" Mattison is not opposed to bringing blitzes, but in doing so the Maize and Blue must make sacrifices in their coverage, especially the past two years when they called former safety Jordan Kovacs' number, cre-