Michigan’s defense starts strong, depth shows cracks late 

Twice on Saturday, the No. 17 Michigan football team had the benefit of two extra defenders on the field — the uprights. 

After the Wolverines halted Arkansas State’s first drive of the game on third down, the Red Wolves opted to kick a 42-yard field goal. The ball clanged off the right upright, taking Arkansas State’s offense off the field with nothing to show for their drive. Then, it happened again as the first quarter wound down, this time with a 38-yard attempt bouncing off the left upright.

Michigan’s defense wasn’t perfect, but with some help from the uprights, it made enough stops to maintain control of the game. The Wolverines’ top two defensive units found a rhythm, holding the Red Wolves to just three points in the first half.

“I just thought they all did their job,” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said. “They did exactly what they were coached to do. They weren’t trying to press to make plays. They just made them. Coverage was sticky. Run lanes were shut down. Everything was gapped out. (Arkansas State) made a couple plays here and there, but they really did a really good job and just played our style of ball.”

Following the Red Wolves’ first failed field-goal attempt, the Wolverines trotted off the field with no harm done, despite making some crucial errors on the drive. On third-and-8, Michigan left receiver Corey Rucker wide open just above the line to gain, and he converted. Even worse, on third-and-20, the Wolverines made the stop, but an unnecessary roughness penalty near the sideline on edge rusher Derrick Moore subsequently extended the drive.

Even with the mistakes, Michigan kept Arkansas State out of the red zone. And by forcing a long field goal, the Wolverines opened the door for the uprights to help them out.

“We got to start a lot faster, not those first two third downs they got,” junior defensive tackle Kenneth Grant said. “But I mean, just momentum. We got to settle our pads and play up to par.”

As Michigan found its groove, the Red Wolves struggled to make headway. In six first-half drives, the Wolverines forced three three-and-outs and three field goal attempts, effectively blocking off the end zone. On one of those third downs, Grant batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage. On another, junior linebacker Ernest Hausmann flew in for a sack to get his unit off the field.

Michigan’s defense continued to overpower Arkansas State in the third quarter. The Wolverines forced a punt on one drive and Makari Paige intercepted a pass in the end zone on the other to keep Arkansas State at just three points.

With a comfortable lead in the fourth quarter, Michigan put in its backups, and the train quickly went off the rails. The Red Wolves scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, souring what was otherwise a solid defensive display.

“Our strengths are we’re pretty good defense, we’re really gelling together the ones and twos,” Grant said. “But I say our weakness right now is you got to get those threes going, just playing up to our caliber of football. Those last two scores were not Michigan football, so we gotta get on those guys and get into them and just get better.”

Getting beat on 24-yard and 22-yard touchdown passes late in the game, the Wolverines’ defensive depth was a low point. But their starters and initial players off the bench were a high point — with a little help from the uprights.

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