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After the 2019 season ended and when previewing the 2020 roster for Michigan football, the secondary had some questions about it, but it wasn’t considered a weakness in the defense. Safety Daxton Hill would be looked at as a starter alongside Brad Hawkins. Cornerback Ambry Thomas would take over as the top corner, and Vincent Gray would see more playing time as the number two option.
Then COVID-19 struck and changed the plans for multiple players around the country. Michigan lost two players in wide receiver Nico Collins and Thomas. With Thomas opting out, Gray would suddenly need to be the top guy at the position and joining him out be Gemon Green, who has never started a game before as a redshirt sophomore. The secondary looked from a unit that could hold its own to one that needs some help.
In the 27-24 loss to Michigan State, the group’s inexperience and weakness were as bright as diamonds. Michigan State quarterback Rocky Lombardi went 17/32 for 323 yards and three touchdowns. 17 completions for 323 yards is an average of 19 yards per pass. Averaging your opponent to 19 yards per pass is inexcusable. It was understandable that the secondary would have some issues, but the group was getting roasted multiple times throughout the game.
Michigan State made some big plays through the air, which was a big reason for defeating the Wolverines. The wide receivers could get separation, and both starting cornerbacks in Gray and Green couldn’t slow them down. MSU wide receiver Ricky White had a monster game with eight catches for 196 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Jalen Nailor helped out with two catches for 68 yards as his 53-yard catch came in huge to lead MSU down the field and take the 14-7 lead.
While things went wrong at multiple positions for the Wolverines, no position struggled more in the loss was the secondary. There were no big plays from the MSU ground game, the longest run for 28 yards, Michigan forced MSU to throw it at them. MSU did just that and more all game long.
The secondary can’t be this big of liability in future games. The front seven wasn’t helping out much either. With no pressure on Lombardi, it gave him plenty of time to find a receiver, and with enough time, covering receivers becomes even harder. If Lombardi had any pressure on him, then maybe a poor pass or two happens, and turnover is created. If pressure happens then, maybe Lombardi doesn’t connect on one of his deep passes.
While it isn’t the defensive lines responsibility for the secondary to cover, how they do can impact the pass defense. Despite the lack of pressure, the pass coverage has to be better even if the defensive line can’t impact the offense. The defense can’t live and die on the defensive line; each unit needs to hold its own.
Going up against Wisconsin, Indiana, and Penn State now look difficult. Going up against Ohio State with this secondary and the receivers of Ohio State, it could be a trilogy of blowouts between the two schools. Michigan having a weakness in the secondary, is like a shark smelling blood in the water for the Ohio State Buckeyes offense. If Michigan can’t try and figure out the issues, the 2020 version of ‘The Game’ could be worse than the previous two.
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