ANN ARBOUR, Michigan: Over the previous three seasons, Michigan football’s defence has only let up 74 points to Ohio State, keeping elite offences and players who are ready for the pros below their typical scoring outputs and winning three rivalry games.
Jesse Minter, the defensive coordinator, talked about the strategy the Wolverines have put in place to win The Game on Wednesday afternoon.
Every time you travel, you make an assessment. Mike [Macdonald] started it, and now I try to continue it. However, whenever you visit somewhere, you evaluate: What is it that prevents this place from achieving its potential? Specifically, it was that match. There were numerous victories, great accomplishments, and a tonne of excellent defence. You know, the best defence inthe nation, the top five — but is it prepared to defeat the team you know you must defeat, the team you will face in the season finale each year?
It was this during my interview here: How are we going to defeat Ohio State? How will we defeat Michigan State, by the way? because we had just suffered a defeat at the hands of Michigan State.
This is something you work on each and every day. All year long, you work on it. All of our drills, our physicality, everything—I even believe that our offence has components built in to help us be prepared for the kind of game you see in training camp and spring ball. That being said, it’s a year-round matter and of great significance. You’re already planning your next move and figuring out the solutions you need even after finishing The Game. perhaps for a few items you demonstrated. The guys here have truly embraced the year-round nature of the process, which has helped us succeed the last few times we’ve played them.
Michigan held the Buckeyes to 24 points on Saturday. And it did so, among other things, by producing two interceptions and displaying coverages to Marvin Harrison Jr. that he claimed to have never seen before.
He is undoubtedly among the best college receivers of the past fifteen to twenty years, as well as one of the best prospects for the NFL Draught at that position in a very long time. Excellent skill set and mobility,” Minters assist. They can line him up in so many different spots, so I believe you need to have a lot of answers. And we also have complete faith in our guys. Thus, Will would sometimes target him one-on-one, and Mike would occasionally him one-on-one. However, we really wanted to try to limit his potential to ruin the game.
“When I look back and watch, the game between them and Penn State was fairly evenly matched, and his offence made all the difference in the outcome. Even though he still caused some damage to us—there are a few plays we wish he had returned—being able to contain him and prevent him from completely ruining the game was undoubtedly a key component of the strategy.
The Wolverines and that defence are headed to Lucas Oil Stadium for Saturday’s Big Ten Championship Game against Iowa.
