The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/589596
Lewis are disconcerted to learn redshirt junior Jeremy Clark, a safety transplant in fall camp, and junior Channing Strib- ling are disruptive, too, with seven com- bined passes defended. Safety play has been solid overall, but junior Delano Hill will want one huge mistake back — a missed assignment that led to a 74-yard touchdown pass against MSU. U-M's secondary has allowed only three pass completions of 30 yards or more this year and had stymied the Green and White when it mattered most in the four th quar ter, doing enough to beat Michigan State before a punting blunder. Redshirt freshman Jabrill Peppers, playing safety, nickel, corner and dime linebacker, has been the defense's most important player, making everyone around him better. Best Players: DB Jabrill Peppers and CB Jourdan Lewis Most Improved: CB Channing Stribling On The Rise: CB Jeremy Clark Impact Freshman: Peppers Offensive Line: C+ Reason For The Grade: Michigan's of- fensive line surrendered 25 sacks and 70 tackles for loss in 12 games a year ago, averages of 2.1 and 5.8 per game, respectively. In seven games this year, U-M was allowing 1.6 QB takedowns and 5.3 tackles for loss per contest after a poor game against Michigan State in which the Maize and Blue surrendered nine tackles for loss and three sacks. In the ground game, the Wolverines have increased their per-game average by almost 20 yards, from 162.8 to 181.4, According to ProFootballFocus.com, junior Jourdan Lewis has been the best corner- back in college football this season. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN