UM fans might want to chill on their D being so great. We don't know how bad Florida's offense actually is. It may be dismal.
It's one game, both ways, good and bad.
call me naive, but I'm a big believer in that defense. Don Brown is about as good as it gets. They did what an elite defense should do to a team like Florida.
Both safeties played a lot of minutes last year- especially Kinnel- and they both looked great in run support and in diagnosing the short stuff and blowing that stuff up before there could be YAC. They weren't really tested deep in coverage- but neither had a horrible busted coverage that was noticeable on live tv- so hey at the very least there's that. Last thing you want to see out of the safeties is busted coverages that go for big TD's. There was none of that on that day.
Front 7 looked how I thought it would. LB Mike McCray, DL's Winvoich, Hurst, Mone, and Gary were all very productive last year. All of them looked like better players- which is what you'd expect with another year of S&C and a full year and another off-season in Don Brown's system. Less thinking- more reacting. Gary is still scratching the surface- he'll only get better- which is scary because he's already fricken ridiculously good- he's got the look of a guy who will be a very high NFL draft pick. We knew those guys would bring it- and they did. What surprised me was the play of the back-ups. Carlo Kemp, Lawrence Marshall, and 5* true frosh Aubrey Solomon all looked pretty dang good in the minutes they got. There wasn't a massive drop off when those guys came in and Winovich, Hurst, and Gary came out.
Doesn't get talked about enough- but Greg Mattison is a fricken steal to have as the DL coach. He could be a DC at a lot of other places. He is one of the best DL coaches in the country if not the best. Simply put the guy is just awesome at scouting, recruiting, and developing NFL defensive linemen. Just off the top of my head in his 2nd stint at Michigan since 2011 he's put out Frank Clark (2nd round- would've been 1st if not his off-field crap), Willie Henry (3rd round), Taco Charlton (1st round), Ryan Glasgow (4th round), Chris Wormley (3rd round)- and he's about to put out 4 more DL's into the NFL in Gary, Mone, Hurst, and Winovich.
LB's looked deep and athletic. Devin Bush, Noah Furbush, Devin Gil, and Khaleke Hudson all got a lot of minutes- and they all looked very athletic, active, and moved really well sideline to sideline. Bush looks like a star in the making. So does Khaleke Hudson.
The CB's weren't really tested all that much- but LaVert Hill showed some flashes. He showed really good coverage and made some big plays in run support. David Long was in and out of the line-up with a leg issue. When veteran Brandon Watson filled in for him he held his own. Don't think I saw true frosh Ambry Thomas in there. CB's to me are by far still the biggest unknown and really didn't answer anything for me this game.
Have to think this defense will only get better throughout the season as these guys gain experience.
