The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/230001
FINAL ANALYSIS The Defense Mostly Performed Well This Season, But Must Make Big Gains To Reach Dominant Level BY THE STAFF OF THE WOLVERINE Note: This article takes a look at the play of U-M's defense in 2013, position group by position group. Next month, we will cover the offense. W hile the offense was a constant source of frustration for the Wolverines this year, the defense showed steady improvement over the course of the season. However, in the final two games of the fall, much of the good the defense had shown was undone. First by Iowa, which totaled 407 yards of offense, and then to an even greater extent by Ohio State; the Buckeyes accumulated 526 yards of offense, including 393 rushing, and six touchdowns. By the end of the season, the defense was average, surrendering 400 yards or more in five games, with a pair of 500-yard afternoons. Heading into the bowl season, the Maize and Blue ranked 38th in the nation in total defense (367.4 yards allowed per game), 63rd in scoring de- fense (26.5 points yielded per game), 60th in passing yards allowed (228.0), 28th in rushing yards allowed (139.4), 33rd in pass efficiency defense, 88th in red-zone defense, and on and on. U-M's best metric was sitting 26th in fourth-down defense, allowing foes to convert just 40.0 percent.