Michigan defense is working to turn a key 'weakness' into a strength

Michigan Wolverines football made the jump from “good” in head coach Jim Harbaugh‘s first several seasons to “great” in 2021 and 2022, winning back-to-back Big Ten titles. Now, the Maize and Blue are looking to launch from “great” to “elite,” with winning the national championship in Houston Jan. 8, 2024 being the ultimate goal.

Michigan ranked sixth nationally in total defense, seventh in scoring defense, seventh against the rush and 20th against the pass in 2022. The Wolverines ended the season on a sour note in the College Football Playoff, though, allowing 51 points in a 51-45 loss to TCU. Michigan was a play away from making the national title game and taking on Georgia, which beat Ohio State in the Peach Bowl.

The margins at this level, especially when attempting to make the climb to “elite,” are razor thin. But the Wolverines are intent on improving and being better prepared to take advantage of the next opportunity to win the program’s first national title since 1997.

Pass rush is an area Michigan is working to improve. Senior defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, a likely captain and perhaps the team’s best defensive player, said the line, especially, is “obsessing” over it.

Michigan ranked 32nd in the country with a 34.9-percent pressure rate and 33rd with 2.64 sacks per contest last season. Against its toughest two opponents, Ohio State and TCU, though, the Wolverines only registered 2 combined sacks. The Horned Frogs ended Michigan’s season by making timely throws, some when the Wolverines had to blitz because they didn’t get enough heat on quarterback Max Duggan with only four rushers.

When asked if the pass rush could be the missing piece to Michigan winning the national championship, Jenkins said, “Yes, sir.”

“That’s one of the weaknesses that we identified about ourselves in the room,” the Michigan defensive lineman explained. “We were able to establish ourselves as one of the main running threats in college football, and we wanted to really emphasize making the quarterback really fear us this year on pass rush. That’s also been our emphasis.

“We want to turn our weaknesses into our strengths, continue to chisel away at our strengths, as well, so we continue to dominate in every aspect of the game. We think we’re moving in the right direction right now, so we’re going to continue to trend upward from here. We still got work to do.”

Michigan EDGE Mike Morris — who was named 2022 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year — was injured at the end of the season, playing at less than 100 percent. He and the other edge rushers accounted for 19.5 of the team’s 37 sacks. Linebackers and defensive backs notched 11, leaving only 6.5 for the interior defensive line, including 2 sacks from Jenkins.

Jenkins, who says he’s up to 300 pounds after playing at 285 at the end of last season, believes Michigan has the ingredients to pick it up in that regard.

“You’re going to be seeing a lot of [sophomore] Mason Graham, [graduate] Cam Goode, absolutely a lot from [junior] Rayshaun Benny — he’s a beast and he comes off the ball quick. As well as most of the guys across the board. [Sophomore] Kenneth Grant, I could list them.

“They all bring their unique traits on pass rush, so y’all are going to love it. They’re gonna fly around.”

Michigan defensive line coach Mike Elston is in his second year on the staff and has had a huge impact on the group, helping them reach their goals and holding them to a high standard.

“He’s definitely influenced us to be not only a dominant defensive line, but also a technically sound defensive line,” Jenkins explained. “He’s really improved our football I.Q., really understanding not just what our job is but why we do our job and how we can do our job better in certain situations and how it’ll impact the team. As that comes, really focusing on our run techniques, our run-stopping techniques, as well as our pass rushing techniques.

“He really picks away at the minute details to make sure we’re successful at dominating out there on the field. His obsession he has with perfecting our technique and our ability, you can really see that play out. It’s had a huge affect on us, as well as him being one of the funniest and one of the most loving coaches on the team. A wonderful addition. Really glad to have him.”

More praise for Michigan EDGE Braiden McGregor

Michigan senior EDGE Braiden McGregor may be a part of the solution, as well. He recorded 16 tackles, 4.5 for loss and 2 sacks last season, and his teammates have said he’s make a big jump this offseason.

“He’s absolutely chiseled out, he’s bulked up, he’s added a lot more muscle,” Jenkins said of his classmate. “As we’ve said across the team, he’s becoming a ‘freak.’ You’re all gonna see a lot from him this year. He’s really becoming a monster on the field and off the field.”

McGregor recently called Jenkins a “monster” himself. Jenkins has been the subject of a lot of spring ball buzz, and he appreciates his Michigan teammates giving him love.

“It means a lot, especially with the type of team, the type of guys we got on this team,” Jenkins said. “Everybody coming in every day with a great attitude, ready to dominate in everything that they do.

“We got a lot of freaks across the board, a lot of monsters on this team, so to be considered as one, it’s an honor, and I want to continue to embody that in everything that I do.”