Defense
Defensive line: D-
After feasting on the Minnesota offensive line last week, Michigan’s defensive line starved against the Spartans. The unit couldn’t get a sack on MSU quarterback Rocky Lombardi, and he seldom faced pressure. Defensive end Kwity Paye had three total tackles and was the only one to pressure Lombardi.
Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson got involved in stopping the run, finishing with seven total tackles. Defensive tackle Carlo Kemp had five total tackles as well. This group is supposedly the best unit on the defense, possibly the team, and the line didn’t play like it, period. This unit needs to be better than yesterday as it can single-handedly change a game’s outcome.
Linebackers: C
The linebacker unit was better than the defensive line, but like the defensive line, it wasn’t as good as it was last week. Cam McGrone left early and didn’t return, leaving him with seven total tackles. His departure was felt in the defense, but his replacement, Adam Shibley, played well, getting seven total tackles and a tackle for loss. The star viper from last game, Michael Barrett, was quiet in the loss with five total tackles and a half a tackle for loss.
One of the two leading tacklers for the Wolverines was Josh Ross, with eight total tackles and a half a tackle for loss. The Wolverines’ front seven did well to stop the Spartans ground game, holding them to 126 yards on 38 carries. Stopping the rushing attack wasn’t the Wolverines’ problem though, it was the passing attack they had issues with.
Cornerback: F
Of all of the defensive units that played in this game, no unit struggled more than the cornerbacks. Lombardi picked them apart left and right, finishing with 323 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Ricky White had a huge game with eight catches for 196 yards and a touchdown. No matter who tried covering him, he got open. Gemon Green was tested early and struggled. He allowed a touchdown, drew multiple penalties and let his man get open consistently, finishing the game with one tackle and two pass deflections.
Now he wasn’t the only cornerback having a bad day; Vincent Gray was as well. Gray finished with four total tackles but was beat on deep passes and didn’t have an answer on how to cover the Spartans receiving corps. Jalen Perry even came in to try and help, and he wasn’t able to do much, finishing with just one total tackle.
Safety: C
Coming back for a full game this week, Daxton Hill finished with seven total tackles as his coverage skills weren’t tested as much, but Hill did well when he was in one-on-one coverage. His counterpart, Brad Hawkins, was the other leading tackler with eight total tackles. The deep passes the Wolverines faced were in man coverage, so the safeties weren’t as involved as the cornerbacks were.
Punting/Kicking: C+
The two units saw an improvement this week, but there is still work to be done. At kicker, Quinn Nordin made his season debut and was 3 for 3 on extra points, and he made the only field goal attempt from 23 yards. The other kicker, Jake Moody, never made a kick attempt, so Nordin might have taken the job back with his performance.
While no punts were blocked this week, the unit still struggled. Will Hart punted four times for 151 yards with just one landing inside the 20-yard line. Brad Robbins also punted four times but for 168 yards, with three landing inside the 20-yard line. There wasn’t a reason both punters saw the field, but with Robbins playing well and Hart having some issues, Robbins might be the better option at punter.
Punt/Kick Return: B
Michigan saw its first punt returns of the season as Jackson had two for 31 yards. One of the two was a play Jackson almost had returned for a touchdown if the punter wasn’t around. When it came to kick returns, Jackson had three for 75 yards, while Corum had one for 13 yards. There was space for Jackson on one return, but he couldn’t turn it into anything.
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