The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/116680
ating scenarios in which only three defensive backs matched up with wide receivers … a fourth target often guarded by a linebacker. With greater risk, the Wolverines had to play softer in the secondary, and the results were alarming — only seven interceptions and 21 passes broken up. Somehow, Michigan managed to finish fifth nationally in pass defense, yielding only 169.5 yards per game, despite the fact that the Wolverines disrupted only 21.2 percent of their opponents' 132 incompletions. BYU, which ranked 10th nationally in pass defense (179.2 yards), conversely, disrupted 45.7 percent while every other team among the top 10 pass defenses shielded at least 30.2 percent. "It all goes back to if we can become a four-man rush team, because then we can have extra secondary guys," Mattison said. "Now we have Big Ten Sack Totals 2008-12 Rk. Team 2012 1. Nebraska 31 2. Penn State 34* 3. Michigan State 20 4. Wisconsin 30 5. Illinois 21 6. Purdue 22 30 7. Ohio State 8. Northwestern 28 9. Michigan 22 10. Indiana 27 11. Minnesota 26 12. Iowa 13 * Season leader 2011 21 31 44* 25 41 22 23 17 30 18 19 22 2010 31 17 20 23 23 33* 23 16 18 15 8 22 2009 44* 37 35 37 19 32 30 30 22 25 22 31 2008 35* 33 26 23 32 24 27 34 29 30 33 18 Big Ten Single-Season Sack Leaders 2008-12 Rk.Athlete 1. Whitney Mercilus 2. Ryan Kerrigan 3. Ryan Kerrigan 4. O'Brien Schofield Ndamukong Suh Aaron Maybin 7. Adrian Clayborn 8. Denicos Allen 9. Brandon Graham Jammie Kirlew Willie VanDeSteeg Team Illinois Purdue Purdue Wisconsin Nebraska Penn State Iowa Michigan State Michigan Indiana Minnesota * Prior to Nebraska joining the Big Ten Sacks 16 13 12.5 12 12* 12 11.5 11 10.5 10.5 10.5 Year 2011 2009 2010 2009 2009 2008 2009 2011 2009 2008 2008 Total 162 152 145 138 136 133 133 125 121 115 108 106