The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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14 THE WOLVERINE NOVEMBER 2021 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS NEW DEFENSIVE APPROACH PAYING EARLY DIVIDENDS FOR MICHIGAN FOOTBALL More than halfway through the first season of a complete sche- matic overhaul under first-year coordinator Mike Macdonald, Michigan football's defense m a d e b i g g e r strides than were expected follow- ing a bottoming out in 2020. The Wolverines defense cratered during the pan- d e m i c - a l t e r e d s e a s o n , f i n i s h - ing 87th in total d e fe n s e ( 4 3 4 . 3 y a r d s a l l o w e d per game) and 95th in scoring d e f e n s e ( 3 4 . 5 points allowed per game) in for- m e r c o o r d i n a - tor Don Brown's final campaign. Brown's scheme relied on a lot o f m a n cove r - age on the back end, and when higher-powered offenses would come to play they would get exposed, often badly over his last few seasons on the job. Macdonald came in and started from scratch, installing a system similar to the one he was part of with the Baltimore Ravens. Michigan is playing more two- and three-man fronts, with an emphasis on versatil- ity and disguising its looks better. It has paid dividends so far. They took a huge jump in the 2021 season, ranking 11th in total defense (299.0 yards per game) and second in scoring defense (14.3 points per game) under Macdonald en route to a 7-0 start. Another reason for Michigan's early success compared to 2020 is the rate at which they forced their first seven opponents to turn over the football. The Wolverines forced only three takeaways in six contests last year compared to 10 so far in 2021. The Wolverines still have to perform down the stretch in order to match some of the earlier Jim Harbaugh-led teams. The 2015 defense, which was helmed by D.J. Durkin, finished fourth in the country in total defense and seventh in scoring defense. Brown's first year in Ann Arbor was headlined by tying for first with Alabama in total defense and rank- ing second in total defense. Both teams would finish the season 10-3. Michigan has some major tests on the back end of its 2021 schedule, but the defense is coming into its own and will continue to be tested. Season Total Defense Scoring Defense Final Record 2021 11th* 2nd* ??? 2020 87th 95th 2-4 2019 11th 25th 9-4 2018 2nd 16th 10-3 2017 3rd 13th 8-5 2016 T-1st 2nd 10-3 2015 4th 7th 10-3 * Through seven games — Anthony Broome MICHIGAN'S TOP PERFORMERS Football junior defensive end Aidan Hutchinson: The fourth- year racked up several premier ac- colades at the halfway mark of the season. The 6-6, 265-pounder was named to the midseason All-Amer- ica teams announced by ESPN.com and the Associated Press, and was tabbed as one of 12 semifinalists for the Rotary Lombardi Award, presented annually in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Houston to college football's best offensive or defensive lineman. In addition to outstanding performance and ability, the win- ner of the award "must exemplify the character and discipline of NFL Hall of Fame head coach Vince Lombardi." Women's swimming senior Maggie MacNeil: She won three individual races and helped Michigan to two relay vic- tories in its first-place finish at the SMU Classic Oct. 8-9. The London, Ontario, native swept the freestyle sprints, winning the 50- (21.78) and 100-yard (48.73) events, while also taking first place in the 100-yard back- stroke (51.09), grasping NCAA "B" cuts in all three events. MacNeil finished off the meet as part of the winning 400-yard medley relay (3:30.48, split of 50.88) and 200-yard medley relay (1:37.66, split of 23.57) teams. She was the overall high point scorer for the meet (96). Ice hockey sophomore forward Brendan Brisson: He earned two straight Big Ten First Star of the Week awards, first Oct. 12 and then again Oct. 19. During U-M's open- ing weekend, which included two straight wins over Lake Superior State, Brisson notched five points (three goals and two assists), with all three of his goals com- ing on the power play, including the game-win- ner Oct. 9. The Maize and Blue took down No. 5 Minnesota Duluth and No. 1 Minnesota State the following weekend, with Brisson scoring both game-winning goals and adding one assist. Field hockey senior goalkeeper Anna Spieker: She was named Na- tional Field Hockey Coaches Associ- ation Defensive Player of the Week in recognition of her performance in the team's home weekend sweep against No. 6 Northwestern Oct. 8 and No. 3 Louisville Oct. 10. Spieker recorded a season-high nine saves against the Wildcats and added three more against Louisville while allow- ing just two goals — both on opposing penalty corners. She was also tabbed as the Big Ten's Co- Defensive Player of the Week. — Clayton Sayfie The Michigan Wolverines took a big step forward on the defensive side of the ball in the first half of the 2021 season under new coordinator Mike Macdonald (above). However, there are still tough foes and work to do to get back to the level of the early Jim Harbaugh-era teams. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL