Early Look at Next Year: The D-line looks like a problem spot
Turning the page on this awful end to the year:
An under discussed aspect of the Harbaugh era has been the number on misses in d-line recruiting, particularly in the interior. In the last two games, a lack of a consistent pass rush killed us. This was particularly acute from Kemp, Mone, Marshall and Dwumfour.
With the Solomon transfer (and Hudson who should have stayed at D tackle dammit), we're looking at:
Dwumfour
Kemp
Jeter
Myers, I guess
Paea possibly moves back
And lots of snaps for Mazi and Hinton.
This seems like a problem. Thoughts?
December 30th, 2018 at 11:54 AM ^
Defense has slid late in the season. The whole damn thing is a major concern. The Harbaugh effect is taking its toll on the entire team.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:02 PM ^
sad to admit but yes
December 30th, 2018 at 1:43 PM ^
The Harbaugh effect. Sadly this seems to be the case on some level if the reports from insiders are to be believed. Mr. Yost had a very poignant post on the player injury thread back a couple weeks ago that called out exactly what the internal issue(s) is that the staff needs to change. It's clear there's some internal strife, I can only hope Harbaugh takes a look at it all and adjusts, otherwise UM will probably never get over the hump and continue to be a little bit better Iowa of the B1G east.
December 30th, 2018 at 2:55 PM ^
Thanks for linking that post. I hadn't seen it.
December 30th, 2018 at 11:56 AM ^
This defense is a sham. If i were long and hill, I'd be leaving early just to get the fuck out of this horrible scheme. In any real defense, these 2 would hands down be the best corners in the country. But no, they get put in position every game to get exposed and thus hurting their stock. There's no pressure from the line, and without Bush, there's no speed. And tyler Friday will be starting at osu next year and probably have 8 sacks against Michigan.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:02 PM ^
The defense will exist but probably not good enough to win games by itself.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:08 PM ^
The defense isn’t going to be very good next year. People here have been out and out spoiled by our defenses going back to even some of the Hoke years. Anyone who watched us get handled at the line of scrimmage our last three games knows we’re in for a rough go next year. We’re losing our best two front 7 players and two DT. That’s not even mentioning the fact Bush is the best LB we’ve had in 20+ years.
Our offense is going to have to hang 40+ in order to beat the big boys. And I can’t even complain because that’s what 99% of schools have to do. That’s basically what OSU had to do this year. Our best shot at success next year is being what OSU was this year.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:21 PM ^
Agree with Bush, he will hurt us more than the dline. He made so many plays with his speed. He covered solid when asked, his blitzes ruined blocking schemes with his speed and freed up dlinemen. He broke up running plays even if he whiffed on the tackle.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:26 PM ^
The entire defense is a concern--this isn't limited to the DL.
Our LBs looked utterly lost and were complete non-factors. Our safety play continues to be quite mediocre, to put it mildly. Dax can't arrive on campus soon enough.
December 30th, 2018 at 2:56 PM ^
Dax isn't going to coach himself. Our players don't look clueless for no reason.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:41 PM ^
Probably not as big of a problem as LB will be if we continue to play Devin Gil.
December 30th, 2018 at 1:17 PM ^
There are several problems spots: O-line, Safety, LB, D-line. RB needs an upgrade, TE’s miss blocks and drop balls at critical times. QB misses throws. WR’s drop TD’s. If both corners come back we are ok there. Punter faded as the season went on. Moody is a house kicker. I was hoping to see a bunch of younger players yesterday, but even when getting blown out they left in the upper classmen. Would have like to have seen Anthony and McGrone, Kelly-Powell, Mayfield, etc.
December 30th, 2018 at 1:25 PM ^
The defense will be worse next year. A smart staff would counter this by scoring a lot with their 2 good WRs but this staff is led by Jim Harbaugh so....
December 30th, 2018 at 2:06 PM ^
I’m sure we will mix in a 3-4, 3-3-5 schemes having a stud Safety in Dax and Hinton will help the DL as a ready to play Freshman. I see exotic blitzes out of the 3 down linemen schemes and what seems to be one of the best guaranteed to get home/pressure at least- delayed blitz. I just hope Brown installs an aggressive cover2 so the corners can be aggressive on slants/short routes with over top Safety help Deep. The few times we ran zone we got torched covering grass while wr’s got wide open (seems like we NEVER practice Zone concepts looking at how our team plays zone).
Go Blue
December 30th, 2018 at 3:17 PM ^
I'm quite sure we won't because we are awful at the 3-3-5 and we aren't a 3-4 defense. We are a cover 1 man defense. It ain't changing.
December 30th, 2018 at 6:33 PM ^
Yes, we will probably not be able to have a defense based strictly on QB pressure and sacks.
Welcome to how most of the rest of college football lives. And yet they manage.
Poor us. We may have to change our defensive scheme, and we may have to count on our offense to win some games.
Just like most of the rest of college football.