The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1508023
34 THE WOLVERINE ❱ OCTOBER 2023 BY CHRIS BALAS T he Michigan offense sput- tered in a 31-6 win over Bowling Green Sept. 16, but the defense had it working — for the most part. BGSU quarterback Camden Orth did some good things in the first quarter, completing 8 of 11 passes for 91 yards, including a few on the money. The Falcons had no shot after Orth was injured and scout team quar- terback Hayden Timosciek entered the game — they barely even tried to throw. Regardless, the Michigan defense gets credit for holding them to 2 field goals, even if an overthrown ball on a broken coverage should have gone for six points. And though there was lousy competition in the first three games, the Wolverines did what they were supposed to do de- fensively — stifled weaker opponents. "I'm happy for the shining light that our defense was in this game," coach Jim Harbaugh said Sept. 18 after watching the Sept. 16 Bowling Green game from home, serving the third of his three- game school-imposed suspension. "Tremendous performance. Some of the numbers, it's got to be—I think it is — the No. 1 scoring defense in the country right now. It's not hard to figure out. We've given up 16 points in three games, that's 5.3 points per game. "You dive into it a little bit deeper … 33 possessions, one touchdown, three field goals. That's some good division. You go there, it's .45 per drive. Just phenomenal. Guys being the difference makers, guys stepping up … calling it guardians of vic- tory now. "[Senior tackle] Kris Jenkins, the in- terception he made [to set up a touch- down]. The way [senior edge] Jaylen Harrell is playing. Again, another week where he's the tone-setter that caused a fumble, made tackles, had the rush, had the pressure that led to an interception. Tremendous." Veteran safety Quinten Johnson made a big interception before the half, he added, to keep momentum with the Wol- verines. Johnson "had a rep against their best player, remarkable. One of the best reps that we have ever seen," Harbaugh said. "[Graduate tackle] Cam Goode, 3 tackles, 1 sack. [Junior] Rayshaun Benny … great to see his performance. Three tackles, 1 assist and 1 TFL. Really good." Overall, though, it was the starters that really excelled in the front seven. Bowl- ing Green coach Scot Loeffler called the Michigan defense "arguably the best I've ever seen," saying they have "two first- round NFL Draft picks" up front. Jenkins' interception of a screen pass, his latest big play, was returned to the Bowling Green 2-yard line, led to a 21-6 lead and eased the tension against Loef- fler's team. Sophomores Mason Graham and Ken- neth Grant have been loads in the middle of the defense, and the edges have been very good. Harrell led the team in sacks through three games with 2.5, while the three linebackers — junior Junior Colson, grad Michael Barrett and sophomore Er- DEFENSE WON'T REST Michigan Defenders Dominated As Expected During The Nonconference Slate Senior edge Jaylen Harrell (32) led the Wolverines with 2.5 sacks among his 9 tackles in the first three outings. Head coach Jim Harbaugh called him the "tone-setter" of the defense. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL