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I thought they were average against the run.  The linebackers, especially Baker, have had repeated problems filling gaps and picking up coverages.  They have at times looked exceptional, so I can't say they will get bent by Wisconsin, but I'm not confident.  I just see Fumagali running wide open repeatedly and the QB will always be looking at him.

I was incredibly happy with their run defense- which was exceptional- eliminating explosive plays and limiting them to 100 yards, net.  Good luck dong that against Wisconsin though.
The coaches clearly DID simplify the defense after Iowa.  As is the OSU  M.O this season, they did a great job of covering WRs, but not so much the tight ends and backs out of the backfield. The Michigan WRs got almost nothing in this game, and when they did they were well covered (like McDoom's catch late.  Great throw, excellent coverage by Arnette)
So now we have Fumigali.  Shit.

Schiano style of defense is bend, don't break. Don't think he's ever been known as a guy who blitzes a lot and creates havoc. His defenses have emphasized getting pressure with 4 and creating turnovers. Brown's on the other hand is ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK. Both styles have their plus and minuses. At the end of the day it all comes down to personnel and how you use that personnel. I thought Schiano did a better job of that than Brown.

Brown's defenses can live in the backfield and create negative plays but they are also prone to give up the explosive play. When you leave your safeties and LB's in man coverage that often- bad things can happen. I love his style of defense if you have a Malik Hooker or Minkah Fitzpatrick at safety- safeties that can really cover. Mettellus and Kinnel kinda struggle in man though.

Brown doesn't have a Peppers or Delano Hill this year- a 1st and 3rd round NFL draft pick- yet he's still calling defenses like he does. No offense to Mettelus and Kinnel- but they probably aren't ever going to be drafted and if they are it will be very late. And to me it is completely inexcusable to ever put Mike McCray in man coverage on anybody. He's an excellent run defender and blitzer because of his size and instincts but he is not fluid or quick twitch- he's 6'4, 240- not a guy you want in space. Plus- when you play that much man to man- QB's that can run are going to have A TON of space to run on scrambles. JT and Haskins burned them on scrambles.

I thought Brown did a great job mixing his looks up early playing more zone but after awhile he went back to what he likes and that was a lot of straight man and blitzes- and that's when Ohio State really started to gash his defense. Brown to me is too much of a..."this is the defense I play, we're playing it, regardless of personnel". IF he had a Jaylon Smith at OLB instead of Mike McCray and a Malik Hooker instead of Mettelus- yeah fine- that'd be one thing. Play that style. But he doesn't. That's my only knock on his style. Because he plays SO much man- requires players with high level of ability in man coverage at OLB and S and CB- and CB's that can really play man well are rare- but Safeties and OLB's that can really play man to man- those are downright impossible to find. Unicorns. There are maybe only a handful out there in the entire country every recruiting class.

great post MDOT.  true as true can be..

thanks!
yeah, if you'll notice the thing on Brown is the stats do get a little bit skewed because he can just flat out overwhelm the teams that are less talented. When he plays the teams with equal or better talent and he doesn't adjust- that's when his defenses give up more big plays. That's ALWAYS going to happen though. When you play better teams you are going to give up more yards/big plays/points.
Of course having a shit-tastic QB to "compliment" the defense is going to make Brown's job that much harder. Offense/defense work hand in hand. If Harbaugh can get his shit together and bring a respectable compliment to Brown's defense- that will help out the defense a lot.
This is all nitpicky- because Michigan is extremely lucky to have Brown and he is one of the VERY top DC's in CFB. OSU is lucky to have Schiano as well, because he is one of the VERY top top DC's in CFB. Feel bad for him because how the UT fan base trashed his character- but it worked out for OSU. They get to keep one of the top DC's in CFB.

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/film-study/2017/11/88565/film-study-how-ohio-state-made-came-back-to-handle-a-very-good-michigan-defense

Good read on the topic.  The only thing that I do not understand is why they continued to run to the right on every first down play in the second half, and I believe it was literally almost every first down play in the second half.  If there was something there, I sure was not seeing it, only the M defense stuffing the run and us wasting a down.  Makes sense why JT seemed to be holding the ball forever, not that he has not done that his entire career, and also shows a big weakness in his game that a lot of defensive coordinators have exploited and made him go from Heisman Type Hero to Zero.  Be very interested to see how Wisconsin plays it.