Michigan Stifles Miami (Ohio) with Run Defense, Blitz Combos
9/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Steve Kornacki
There was a lot to like about the way University of Michigan football team's defense played in Saturday's (Sept. 13) 34-10 win over Miami (Ohio).
But two things stood out: stuffing the run and blitzing effectively.
The run defense was and has been superb. The Wolverines held the RedHawks to 33 yards on 24 carries one week after holding Notre Dame to 54 yards rushing.
The combination of run defense and effective pressure on Miami quarterback Andrew Hendrix resulted in holding the RedHawks to 2-of-12 on third down conversions. That pleased Michigan coach Brady Hoke because it stopped drives and got the ball into the hands of his offense.
"The rush, for the second (straight) week, in looking at our defense, we played that very well, the front seven did," said Hoke.
The front line of Frank Clark, Willie Henry, Ryan Glasgow and Brennen Beyer all stood out. Linebackers Joe Bolden and Jake Ryan also should grade out high when Hoke and his assistant coaches study videotape.
"I think it's just playing downhill," said Bolden, who had a team-high seven tackles and broke up one pass that he nearly intercepted. "And our defensive line has done a great job of taking up at least two blockers. Their ability to do that frees up the linebackers a lot."
The defense pitched a shutout in the second half, and allowed 10 points in the first half after Wolverines turnovers allowed Miami to start its scoring drives 21 and 35 yards away from the end zone.
Michigan shut down the ground game, allowing no rush over eight yards.
"It's every single week what we need to do as a defense - stopping that run -- to help our secondary out," said Ryan, who had six tackles and two quarterback hurries. "Every single day we come in to prepare and did a great job this week, and overall we came in with under 200 yards."
Miami was held to 198 yards total offense.
"It's just togetherness," Ryan said. "We came together as a defense. We said last week (a 31-0 loss at Notre Dame) wasn't going to happen again, and it didn't."
Bolden added, "I believe our focus and drive to execute exactly what the game plan was made the difference."
And the timing on the variety of blitzes Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison orchestrated was precise and allowed for constant, effective pressure on Hendrix.
"I think Coach Mattison stressed from day one that in order to be a good defense we were going to have to blitz well," said Bolden. "And holding our disguises, disguising exactly what you are doing is key. And I think today, for the most part, we were able to hold our disguises. And that will really open up holes."
Ryan said of the blitzing success: "It's just preparation and watching film. Maybe one more step and I could've gotten there (for a sack). But it's just preparation."
There was only one sack -- a truly impressive one by Beyer who literally ran down Hendrix -- but there were five quarterback hurries that killed drives as well.
"I think we harassed the quarterback," said Hoke. "I think Brennen Beyer on the one sack really made just a great play, in my opinion, because he finished the play, and how he finished it."
Next up for the Wolverines is Utah (2-0), which has beaten Idaho State, 56-14, and Fresno State, 59-27. The Utes are nearly a point-a-minute team, averaging 57.5 points per 60 minutes.
"(Those) points a game by Utah, that's a lot," Bolden said. "And we're going to go in and get after it this week and really focus on executing the game plan."
Utes quarterback Travis Wilson is 24-for-38 for 446 yards with six touchdown passes and no interceptions.
"We've got to go to work," Hoke said. "Utah is a good football team. They're a tough football team. They've had that mo(mentum) for a long time. I think Kyle (Whittingham), coaching against him in the Mountain West (as the head coach at San Diego State), playing against his teams, they're always a physical group.
"We'll have our hands full."
Cornerback Jourdan Lewis made an interception, providing the Wolverines their only turnover after three games. And that's an area where Hoke will continue to demand improvement.
But Hoke liked what he saw of his defense against Miami, and noted definite progress.
