The Michigan Wolverines possess one of the nation's top-rated defenses, and the secondary has been elite in every way. With experience, playmaking and versatility, Michigan's secondary has completely suffocated opposing offenses this year.
There isn't much of a weakness in the defensive backfield. The Wolverines lean on shutdown cornerback Jyaire HIll, do-it-all defensive backs Zeke Berry and Smith Snowden, ballhawk safety Chris Bracy , veteran safety Rod Moore and others to keep opposing pass attacks in check.
"They all play so well together. We have guys that are fast and quick, and we have guys that are long and use length," defensive coordinator Jay Hill said. "We have guys with ball skills, and there's a lot of intelligence and experience out there."
Despite falling short in a 13-6 overtime loss to the Indiana Hoosiers last week, Michigan's secondary was up to the task. The Hoosiers mustered a season-low 81 passing yards, as the Wolverines were in smothering coverage across the entire field.
Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover came into the game with 18 touchdowns and zero interceptions, but he was totally neutralized by Michigan's secondary. He threw his first interception of the season and was limited to his worst performance of the season.
Opposing quarterbacks having their worst performance of the season against Michigan has been a common theme. Several quarterbacks have struggled to find much success against the Wolverines due to the secondary's skin-tight coverage.
"I think they've all been humble enough to play together, and they do a good job of fitting into their roles," Hill said. "We can use them in different ways and they're playing at a really high level, especially last week. They were outstanding."
Michigan's secondary is considered to be among the nation's premier defensive units and the statistics show just that . The Wolverines rank sixth in the country in opponent pass yards per game (154.6) and seventh in opponent yards per pass (5.7).
"We have a talented group, and they have done an unbelievable job," safeties coach Tyler Stockton said. "What separates them is their IQ. They have played a lot of football and they understand how the offenses will attack us."
The cornerback room relies on a devastating three-headed rotation of Hill, Berry and Snowden. All three are top-notch in their own right, playing sound coverage to prevent opposing wide receivers from getting open downfield.
Meanwhile, the safety unit is anchored by Moore, Bracy and Curtis, giving the team a versatile and well-rounded group. Moore provides experience and intuition, Bracy brings big-play ability and hard-hitting, and Curtis offers length and speed.
"Since my freshman year to this year, he's always been a leader. He's a culture guy. He knows what Michigan is about," Curtis said of Moore. "He's been on top defenses before and he brings a lot of knowledge to the game."
The Wolverines certainly don't have a lot of vulnerabilities in the secondary, and that's been on full display every week. Michigan has continued to perform at a high level and each defensive back has made their own mark at some point throughout the year.
Hill made one of the biggest plays of the season with a clutch interception to fuel a win over Oklahoma in September, while Moore and Bracy also came down with game-changing interceptions in a comeback win over Penn State this month.
Bracy has been a huge revelation, going from an under-the-radar transfer to one of the Big Ten's best safeties. In his first season at Michigan, Bracy leads the team with three turnovers forced and is second on the team with 43 tackles.
"He's playing at a super high level," Hay Hill said of Bracy. "He's physical, instinctive, and knows where the ball is going, so I can't say enough about what he brought to the program and defense. He's made plays since he stepped on campus."
"He's a damn good player," Stockton said of Bracy. "The best part about him is not only his playmaking ability, but how fast he plays. He flies around. You watch the tape and can see that this kid is special. We just have to keep it going."
Michigan's secondary established itself as one of the best units in all of college football. Due to a blend of elite talent, experience, versatility and a seamless transition to Hill's scheme, the Wolverines have arguably the nation's top defense.
