The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/653976
play a lot of man tight coverages, also play some other things. That's the new piece and the learning piece … when I got to BC they were already 13th in defense. I said, 'Okay, what you were — we're going to be different, with all due respect for those before me.' "I have great respect for them and there are lots of ways to get this job done. Obviously [Harbaugh] gave me a job, so I'm going to do the best I can." A PROVEN RECORD OF SUCCESS Chances are that the unit will be pretty good under its new leader. Brown's defense at Boston College last year finished first nationally in total defense (254.3 yards per game) despite failing to win a conference game, and was second in run defense (82.8) and fourth in scoring defense (15.3). He has earned his reputation as one of the na- tion's top defensive coordinators. Most of the time he did it in the Northeast. Brown had been a "New England guy" all his life, but he didn't think twice when Harbaugh came calling. "I just think having the opportunity to come work for Coach Harbaugh, and obviously Michigan, provides you an opportunity to play at the very, very highest level," he said. "… I just felt like this was an opportunity I did not want to pass up, for sure. "What he's been able to do … I just felt like where else would you want to have the opportunity to be a DC? He's just a solid, fundamental philosophical approach guy. It didn't take long to see that this was the type of environment I felt good about." It's proven to be true with the play- ers, too, Brown added. "This is a great group of guys," he