Michigan’s defense not the oddity it was supposed to be

By Bart Doan  |   Tuesday, April 07, 2009  |  Comments( 3 )

Michigan Wolverines
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With the Wolverines in the epicenter of one of the most important college football spring practices in the history of the program, Michigan fans are waiting with bated breath for any signs of life from the spring game. The most pressing issue for many fans remains one that came with head coach Rich Rodriguez, and that involves the success of the 3-3-5 defense at the Big Ten level.

Rodriguez’s defenses at West Virginia under Ted Casteel were quality. In fact, his last team in Morgantown gave up fewer than 300 yards per game and had the seventh-best points-against average in the nation. That year, the Mountaineers were also fifth in the country in total yards allowed. While the Big East isn't the Big Ten, that is proof the 3-3-5 can succeed at the major college level.

The early returns have not been promising. After hiring blitz-happy Scott Shafer from Stanford to run the 4-3, Rodriguez forced him to switch midseason, which resulted in a bloodletting by Purdue’s injury-riddled offense, a loss for Michigan, and the beginning of the end for Shafer after one season.

Though Shafer’s firing had Michigan fans groaning at the prospect of the 3-3-5 or Shafer‘s pressure-devoid 4-3, new coordinator Greg Robinson has been moonlighting a 3-4 hybrid type of defense during spring practice. The major difference in the two is the amount of pressure at the line of scrimmage. The 3-4 is a two-gap defense while the 4-3 is a one-gap style. The 3-3-5 leaves two gaps at the first two levels and relies on speed in the defensive backfield to come up and make plays. Robinson, though, has been using what Rodriguez refers to as a “spinner." The spinner is a linebacker/safety hybrid who must have the speed to cover and the physical capability to make plays near the line of scrimmage. Early candidates for the position are former starter Stevie Brown and incoming freshman Brandon Hawthorne. Another freshman, Anthony LaLota, has been mentioned, but he needs to add significant weight.

What’s good about this new-look defense is that the players will have had an entire offseason devoted to one scheme. Another positive is the fact that Michigan, in terms of play-calling, appears to be reverting back to its late-'90s form. That form, of course, is to blitz at any and all costs from any and all positions. With a young, speedy, and somewhat undersized defense, bringing a well-timed and confusing blitz may mean the difference in a turnover or a first down allowed.

So, as it stands, the presumptive death of physical, Michigan-style defense may have been exaggerated. In addition, the great fears of the 3-3-5 may never be realized in full. It sounds like Rodriguez and Robinson are going for multi-look formations with the same players having multiple roles instead of a traditional position and assignment. It might work, it might not, but as spring practice beats on, even if it’s only in name, the 3-4 seems to have the Big Blue faithful a lot less worried than they were a year ago.
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About Bart Doan

Bart has been with Realfootball365.com for about six months and thoroughly enjoys writing for the site. He has been featured for his writings on college football in The Sporting News, The Indianapolis Star, Sports Illustrated, and on CBS Sportsline.com. When he's not drowning himself in the...
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