Michigan football: New wrinkle implemented for Wolverines' defense

First-year defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald has stayed true to his plan for the Michigan defense: He doesn’t come into games with a “gigantic menu,” but the looks on the call sheet are certainly different week to week.

“We kind of think of him as a football genius,” freshman linebacker Junior Colson said of Macdonald when speaking with the media Tuesday night. “He’s always making adjustments, always seeing the field. He’s not one of those guys who is hard set on his rules.”

Still, most of the roles for Michigan defenders had been defined and stayed the same — similar, at least — through eight weeks. And then, after Michigan lost to Michigan State Oct. 30, Macdonald and Co. implemented a significant wrinkle the next week against Indiana.

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Against the Hoosiers, sophomore defensive back Daxton Hill, who played at free safety on 39 of his 462 snaps through the first eight contests, saw more time at the position in which he excelled at last season, notching 11 downs at the spot. Hill still played more snaps (22) at the nickel than he did anywhere else, and also added 15 plays in the box and two out wide at cornerback. He led the squad with five solo tackles and had seven stops in total.

Hill enjoyed what he was asked to do, and explained how it helped him get a bit more involved in the defense. The Wolverines had missed run fits and bad angles from the safeties while giving up five rushing touchdowns to the Spartans, another potential reason for why Macdonald made a move.

“I was predominantly at safety last week. That was different for me,” Hill said. “I haven’t played that since last year, so playing that role opened my eyes more. I could see more of the quarterback — where he’s at — and see the whole picture. Usually at nickel, I’m playing more man. I was able to play more freely and do whatever I could.”

Hill was targeted once in coverage but allowed no receptions.

Coupled with some shifted responsibilities for Hill was an increased role for redshirt sophomore linebacker Michael Barrett, who actually played the most snaps (29) at nickel than any other Wolverine in the game. He allowed three receptions for just 36 yards and notched four tackles.

“It’s fun playing with him,” Hill said of Barrett. “That was his first time really playing [this year], so just being out there, being able to see what he can do.”

Barrett being in the game, head coach Jim Harbaugh explained after the win, allowed the Maize and Blue to stay in the same personnel grouping and not substitute when the opponent doesn’t bring in a new batch of players. Michigan has been burned on multiple occasions this season when trying to sub with the other team hurrying the snap. Barrett’s positional versatility helps with that aspect.

“It kind of allowed us to play with more personnel and keep offenses on their toes, so it was good seeing him play this week,” Hill added.

The changes appeared to work — albeit against one of the worst offenses in the Big Ten — with the Hoosiers being held to 195 total yards and seven points. However, the Wolverines will face a tougher test this coming week.

Michigan plays at Penn State this weekend, and the challenge is stiff for a Wolverine secondary that ranks eighth in the country in yards allowed per game (173.4). The Nittany Lions rack up 277.7 yards per outing through the air (25th in the country) and have attempted the 15th-most passes this season (212).

Headlined by senior wideout Jahan Dotson, who’s accumulated nearly 1,000 receiving yards and has nine touchdowns on the season, the Nittany Lions’ receiving corps poses a big threat.

“He’s a good receiver,” Hill said of Dotson. “Quick, shifty guy.

“All of them are pretty good receivers, so it starts at practice, practicing like it’s a game. The scout team giving us a good look and doing whatever we can to stop their passing game. We know that’s one of the strengths of their offense — the passing game with good receivers. Really want to stop the passing this week.”