Michigan leads nation in fewest first downs allowed per game
October 9th, 2016 at 5:39 PM ^
After last night, our adjusted scoring average is like an absurd 3.6. Clemson is in 2nd I think with like 10.0. The difference between our defense and the 2nd best defense is the same as the difference between the 2nd best defense and the 10th best defense. We have the college equivalent of the Denver Broncos' defense, with hopefully a similar final result.
October 9th, 2016 at 5:47 PM ^
the Durkin to Brown change would be a tougher one and that this D might take some time to get their feet under them. But watching these guys play gives me a ridiculous feeling of zen I've never had watching a Michigan team. I literally feel like no one can drive the ball 80 yards on our first team D.
October 9th, 2016 at 6:01 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 6:04 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 6:37 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 6:59 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 7:41 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 8:53 PM ^
It's pretty clear that Harbaugh is going to play Peppers in all three phases every game where that doesn't interfere with winning. It seems obvious that his goal is to make the case that Peppers is the modern Tom Harmon. (Yes I don't think for a moment that Harmon's name just "popped" into Harbaugh's head during the post game press conference)
Heisman candidate QBs put up a lot of points, but a do everything guy like Peppers, if he has the chance to build the high light reel, can capture the imagination of the fans, the pundits, and the coaches. Harbaugh pretty clearly is going to do what he can to give Peppers that chance.
October 9th, 2016 at 7:01 PM ^
Jabrill is going to the NFL.
Harbaugh should be doing everything he can to encourage Jabrill to enter the draft if he will be a 1st round pick.
You are talking about at minimum, a 4 year, $16 million dollar contract (10th pick, 1st round this year, with just a 2% increase from last years numbers). There is no other job that will pay you that much with an undergraduate degree anywhere.. Let alone the risk of injury negatively effecting your draft status.
Work on finishing your degree in the summer or once you career is over. But this is a brutal sport, make your money and secure your family's future while you can. And no Michigan fan should begrudge Jabrill (or anyone) this opportunity.
October 9th, 2016 at 10:04 PM ^
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October 9th, 2016 at 11:14 PM ^
Peppers will be a junior next year, if he stays.
Amazing to think that he has 2 more years of eligibility.
October 9th, 2016 at 5:52 PM ^
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October 9th, 2016 at 6:06 PM ^
He's the best, at the same time, look what he has to work with. He'll really earn his keep next year. His scheme is perfect when you have a solid CB and an all-time great CB on the edges.
If he can do even close to what he's doing with a couple of true sophomores AND 2 new safeties? Gawd status.
Outside of maybe a true ball hawking CB/FS type, he's literally got the perfect player at every single position for his scheme. No other DC in the country can say that.
Excited to get rested up and see what these guys do the 2nd half, I think they're just scratching the surface. They're finally finding a rhythm and building a chemistry.
This is only the beginning if you ask me. I think this is where they'll turn the corner and have '97 in their sites. But we've got to dominate week after week and that last week of the regular season has to be an absolute beatdown defensively if they want to even be considered with that group.
Hopefully Brown is doing nothing this week except prepraing to play OSU this coming Saturday. Then get back to the regularly scheduled program next week.
October 9th, 2016 at 6:10 PM ^
This is the first time in Brown's career that you could ever use the "Look at the players he's got" argument. He wasn't exactly coasting on loaded rosters at UMass, Maryland, UConn and Boston College.
October 9th, 2016 at 7:07 PM ^
This is the absolute truth. Harbaugh wanted him precisely for what he can do, and proved it with lesser rated players at all of his previous stops.
October 9th, 2016 at 5:57 PM ^
AND in fresh water supplies...
October 9th, 2016 at 5:59 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 6:03 PM ^
Has a team ever been kept to Negative total yards?
October 10th, 2016 at 1:53 AM ^
Looks like the Div. I record is held by Penn State, which held Syracuse to -47 total yards in 1947. A couple of years ago a Div. II team managed a -100 yards total defense game:
http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2014/9/5/6109995/ncaa-football-record-lowest-offense-rushing-eww
As far as Michigan goes (from the Record Book on mgoblue.com):
Michigan held MSU to 10 yards in 1942, but we can't taunt much on this, since MSU held UM to 6 yards in 1951.
October 9th, 2016 at 6:05 PM ^
I believe we also are first in the nation in opposing 3rd down conversion rate.
October 9th, 2016 at 9:00 PM ^
- First in total defense (212.8 YPG)
- First in passing yards allowed (113.7 YPG)
- Third in pass efficiency defense
- First in scoring defense (10.3 PPG)
- First in opponent third down conversion pct (0.122)
October 9th, 2016 at 6:13 PM ^
What is interesting about that number is that it is down from about 16 first downs allowed per game last year, and down from about 20 or so per game back in 2013.
Also, an average of 1.7 3rd down conversions allowed per game? We're first in that as well. Opponent yards per plays is 4.3 and #1 as well.
Full team stats here - LINK
October 9th, 2016 at 6:17 PM ^
I imagine we stretched our lead on 3rd down conversion rate after an 0/16 game
October 9th, 2016 at 6:19 PM ^
My ND friend so pissed we got Brown why they have a Van Gorder dumpster fire.
To hell w Notre Dame...
October 9th, 2016 at 6:21 PM ^
I was worried the Don Brown retooling would be difficult; it is a complex system.
But results show the retooling is ahead of schedule!
October 10th, 2016 at 1:09 AM ^
I think the expected system retooling lag was easier to overcome with the talent he had to work with this year.
So hopefully with the loss to graduation & NFL during the off-season, Brown's typical year #2 improvement will offset the personnel losses. Even better if the new players are just as talented.
October 9th, 2016 at 6:28 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 7:01 PM ^
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October 9th, 2016 at 6:32 PM ^
on the D-line.
We have 2 All-American quality corners...Stribling is really, really good...doesnt get his due respect. His size and length on the outside make him a matchup nightmare. Our traditional linebackers have been much, much better than expected. And of course Peppers is just an insane do everything defender that takes this D to a different level.
Only fear is that we are not deep at corner, so please football god, keep us healthy.
The offense is no joke either as they get better and better as the year goes on...as Harbaugh teams tend to do, especially the quarterback. O-line just needs to keep gelling. If we keep progressing at this rate, we will be right there with Alabama as the best team in the country at year end.
OSU has peaked already. Their young players are incredible, but they have not played a big physical opponent yet (Wisconsin next week) and they will get run down by the end of the year.
I think we beat MSU by 21+ and OSU by 14+. This is a very, very good team with few weaknesses.
October 9th, 2016 at 6:39 PM ^
I think we have a very good team with an incredibly good defense, but like rankings, I will wait until the end of the season, before I make any pronouncements. Having said that, Harbaugh has this team playing up to its potential. I see the season going well if Speight figures things out as we will surely need him to be spot on down the road.
October 9th, 2016 at 6:54 PM ^