The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1484283
DECEMBER 2022 THE WOLVERINE 11 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Jim Harbaugh's 'Sneaking Suspicion' Was Right By Clayton Sayfie Head coach Jim Harbaugh said before the season that he had a "sneaking suspicion" the defense could be better than last year's outstanding group. And through nine games, we'd say Harbaugh was right. The Wolverines don't have the stars like edge rushers Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo and defensive back Daxton Hill, but the sum of the 2022 group is greater than the parts (and that's not knocking the talent). It starts with the "run wall" that Harbaugh touts so often. Coordinator Jesse Minter's outfit was the No. 1 rush defense in the nation through nine games, allowing just 72.4 yards per contest, and held four of five opponents to less than 50 yards on the ground from Oct. 1 to Nov. 5. A year ago, 11 of 14 teams gained 100 or more rushing yards against the Maize and Blue. Despite losing Hutchinson and Ojabo, the pass rush has been just as good or better, with 29 sacks through nine games compared to 34 in 14 outings a year ago. The Maize and Blue have given up more than 20 points just once (in a 34-27 win over Maryland) and are allowing just 12.1 points per game on average. There are tougher tests ahead, but this group appears to be more polished than last year's defense. This Defense Looks Outstanding — But There's One Final Exam By Chris Balas The "defense by committee" has been outstanding this year. Insiders told us there was "1990s-type depth" on both sides of the ball, and though head coach Jim Harbaugh ad- mitted there might not be the star power they had last year with Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo, he thought the sum of the parts could be just as good, if not better. So far, he's been right. The U-M defense is at or near the top of several categories nationally and has been outstanding against both the run and the pass. The caveat? The schedule has been much easier. Iowa was the toughest road game, and the Hawkeyes have one of the worst offenses in the country. The nonconference schedule was ridiculously easy and padded the stats. The only decent offense they faced, Maryland, put up 27 points. This is not to detract from what they've accomplished. All credit to co-defensive coordinators Jesse Minter and Steve Clinkscale, their staff and players. But the final exam that will determine whether this defense is better than last year's will take place Nov. 26 in Columbus, at Ohio State. If this defensive crew gets the job done there against a high-powered OSU offense, we'll give them the nod. Last year's team held the Buckeyes to 27 points … let's see if this group can hold up, too. POINT ❙ COUNTERPOINT IS THIS MICHIGAN DEFENSE BETTER THAN THE 2021 UNIT? 1969 MICHIGAN vs OHIO STATE GAME Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan ON DVD!! One of the greatest upsets in the history of college football – The defending National Champion and undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes vs the 7-2 Michigan Wolverines under a new head coach! This was one of OSU coach Woody Hayes' finest teams. Ohio State had won 22 games in a row and had not lost a game at Ann Arbor in ten years! Some sportswriters were calling the Buckeyes the greatest college team of all time and had installed Ohio State as 17-point favorites –— at Michigan Stadium! But, by the end of the day, a sky-high Michigan team led by first year head coach Bo Schembechler, had totally outplayed Ohio State in front of an all-time NCAA record crowd of 103,588, had tied for the Big Ten Title and was heading to the Rose Bowl! The original network tapes have been digitally restored by Rare Sportsfilms for outstanding color and picture sharpness and now this historic classic is available for the first time on DVD! Bill Flemming and Lee Grosscup call the action! This entire TV broadcast, plus the pre-game show, includes all the original commercials and also features pre-game and halftime performances by both the Ohio State and University of Michigan Marching Bands! Pre-game interviews feature Jack Tatum of Ohio State and Jim Mandich of Michigan, as well as Buckeye coach Woody Hayes! Players in action you will see throughout the game include quarterback Don Moorhead, Billy Taylor, Marty Huff, Thom Darden, Dan Dierdorf, Glenn Doughty, Garvie Craw and Barry Pierson of Michigan. For Ohio State you'll see quarterback Rex Kern, Jim Otis, Mike Sensibaugh, Leo Hayden, Jan White, Jim Stillwagon, Larry Zelina, Stan White and many others! This game marked the beginning of the famous "Woody vs Bo Ten-Year War", and is one of the most significant games in the history of Michigan-Ohio State football! Running Time: 3 Hours, 20 Minutes $29.95 FREE SHIPPING! "RARE SPORTSFILMS W" 1126 Tennyson Lane, Naperville, IL 60540 1-630-527-8890