Despite severely struggling offensively and stumbling to a 3-2 record to start this season, the Michigan Wolverines are exceptional on the defensive side of the field and currently rank among the highest-rated defenses in the nation.
Michigan leads the Big Ten and is second in the country in total defense with just 241.4 yards allowed per game, and 3.9 yards allowed per play. It doesn't get much better than that, as the Wolverines have been as stout as it comes.
"We're playing really well on defense," head coach Kyle Whittingham told the media on Monday. "I think we're third in the country in total defense right now, and with the strain and the stress that has been put on them, that's pretty darn good."
It only makes it more impressive that Michigan's defense has continuously had their backs against the wall because of the struggles by the offense. Even with that said, the Wolverines have continued to scratch and claw and get stops.
Specifically, Michigan has been elite at defending the pass, ranking fifth in the country with only 146.8 passing yards allowed per game and sixth in the nation with 5.7 yards allowed per pass this season. Both those figures lead the Big Ten.
In his first season at Michigan, defensive coordinator Jay Hill has the unit performing at a high level and operating like the Big Ten's best defense. There's no doubt Whittingham made the right decision to bring Hill to Michigan.
"Jay Hill and myself go way back," Whittingham said. "As soon as I got the head coaching job, he immediately became one of the first hires that I made and he has done a very terrific job for us in that capacity. He has such a bright future."
"Coach Hill is really smart. He's able to motivate us to the best of our abilities and you see those results on the field," defensive end Benny Patterson III told the media on Tuesday. "We're always going to come in every week and work hard regardless."
The defensive line came into this season with extremely lofty expectations, and they have certainly lived up to the hype. Through five games, they have recorded 12 sacks and have given up just 2.8 yards per carry (12th in the nation).
Most of the attention goes to defensive ends John Henry Daley (team-high three sacks) and Dom Nichols, but the depth of the defensive line is really what makes the unit so special and such a headache for opposing offenses.
"We're a really close-knit group," Patterson said. "We continue to try and play our best brand of football. We have a room full of guys that can go out and make plays. We want to continue to put that on display and we take pride in it."
There's definitely no drop off in the secondary, as cornerbacks Jyaire Hill and Zeke Berry, and safeties Rod Moore and Chris Bracy are filled with experience, physicality and versatility — creating one of the nation's top defensive backfields.
Coming into this season, the linebacker unit was expected to be the weakest link of the defense, but that hasn't been the case. Troy Bowles (team-best 40 tackles), Nathaniel Staehling and Chase Taylor have all made a consistent impact.
"We disguise very well as a defense. We don't show what we're in as a defense and Jay Hill does a great job of that," Taylor said. "We also have guys that can play everywhere, make plays and step up whenever they need to."
Hill has become a master at disguising his defenses pre-snap and not allowing opposing offenses to know exactly what's coming there way. That, along with a slew of talent, has been key to Michigan's defensive success this season.
Michigan's defense would be getting more national recognition if it wasn't for the offensive ineptitude, but the unit remains focused on continuing to dominate and leading the team to a win over the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday.
"I expect us to be tough, physical and full speed," Taylor said. "And get a win."
