| The troubling rend of defense under Don Brown at Michigan finally reached it's breaking point in 2020. The Wolverines had fallen from 2nd in the nation in total defense in Brown's first season of 2016, but then fell to 6th, 8th, 10th, and then 56th last year. Only Illinois surrendered more points per game in the Big Ten than the Wolverines, and had Michigan not dodged the Ohio State game, it may have been them at the bottom. To replace him, Harbaugh hired co-coordinators, but after one was poached to be the head coach at Buffalo, the job fell solely on 34 year old Mike Macdonald, who spent the last 4 years as a position coach for John Harbaugh in Baltimore. He certainly has no shortage of talent to work with, primarily thanks to Aidan Hutchinson turning down the NFL to return to Ann Arbor. It would be helpful if Daxton Hill could find his pre-pandemic form. The 5* recruit lived up to every bit of the billing as a freshman in 2019, but last year, he was invisible. He wasn't a liability, he just was rarely doing anything of note. Considering how much Michigan's cornerbacks struggled, Macdonald has committed to using Hill as a weapon all over the formation. They won't have the luxury of figuring things out, because, for their other woes, the Western Michigan offense will actually be one of the best the Wolverines face all season. The Broncos are the rare MAC team that lost a 2nd round pick, and shouldn't miss a beat. Kaleb Eleby might not be the pro prospect that Nevada's Carson Strong is, but I think Eleby might be the best Group of 5 college quarterback out there. He had 18 touchdowns a year ago, with just 2 picks, and finished 2nd in the nation in ypa, behind only Mac Jones. Jaylen Hall and Skyy Moore both averaged over 65 yards receiving, as the second and third options; they have three running backs to use. Michigan State transfer La'Darius Jefferson is the workhorse, and led the team in rushing, but is probably the team's third best back. The problem is the defense...which let up over 34 ppg last year...playing only MAC opponents. Michigan's offense may lack the star power we've seen in Ann Arbor, but they were plenty efficient last year, particularly with Cade McNamera replacing Joe Milton midseason, and being unspectacular, but playing winning football. McNamera held off incoming 5* freshman J.J. McCarthy to retain the starting job, and I think the Wolverines are in the best shape at quarterback that they've been since Jake Rudock. The remaining skill position players worry me a little going forward, but not against this defense. The Broncos will push Michigan's defense all afternoon, but Michigan should respond by scoring at will themselves. |
