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Michigan's defense can't be much better than it was last season. In one area, it can take a giant leap.
"We’ll be better if we can get turnovers," Jim Harbaugh said Tuesday on 97.1 The Ticket.
While the Wolverines finished fifth in the country last season in total defense, they were tied for 66th in takeaways. That included 14 picks, which was tied for 22nd, and just four fumbles recoveries, which was tied for 119th. And mind you, Michigan played more games than most every team in the country. So the emphasis under second-year coordinator Jesse Minter is more pressure leading to more turnovers.
Then the Wolverines, who were tied for 18th last season in sacks, can really muzzle their opponents.
"We have to create more fumbles and jump on mistakes, we have to get more tipped balls. And if we get a tipped ball or an overthrow, then we gotta have it," said Harbaugh. "Being able to turn the ball over, put the offense in position to have a short field, that would be a huge improvement, and it’s been a big emphasis for us."
Minter, a former defensive backs coach for the Ravens under John Harbaugh, took over last season for Mike Macdonald, who had returned to the Ravens to run their defense. Harbaugh said Minter did a lot more than just add a few wrinkles to Macdonald's defense; he made some "pretty big" changes that will carry over into this season.
While Harbaugh declined to "put a name on" Michigan's defensive identity, he said it has "more of a secondary emphasis" under Minter and defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale.
"Jesse was a secondary coach, and there’s more disguise, there’s more multiplicity in the coverages that has been really good for us," Harbaugh said. "Along with Clink, who’s a secondary expert, that voice is more predominant in a Jesse Minter style of defense.
"And (defensive line coach Mike Elston) is great, too. Mike’s tremendous. We were great in the secondary, we were really good in the front seven. Getting more pressure and more turnovers is the emphasis for our defense."
Heads up if they bring it to life.
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