Michigan notoriously brought back just one starter off of its 2016 defense that finished first in the nation for total defense, among other categories, in fifth-year senior linebacker Mike McCray. There was plenty of other talent on the roster, but not much of it was proven between the white lines of a college field.
However, head coach Jim Harbaugh has called the unit the fastest he's coached and the numbers indicate the defense has been even better than last season's veteran-laden unit in the first two games of the season. The Wolverines, through the first pair of contests — including a win over a Florida squad that entered the season ranked 17th nationally, although it was not at full strength due to suspensions — had allowed just 79 rushing yards and 392 yards total. That comes out to averages of 39.5 yards per game on the ground to rank third nationally and 196.0 total yards per game to rank ninth in the land, per CFBstats.com.
A U-M defense hasn't started a season in such stingy fashion since 2006, when the stop squad finished the year ranked No. 1 in rushing defense (43.4 yards allowed per game) and No. 10 in total defense (268.3 yards allowed per game). After wins over Vanderbilt and Central Michigan, that unit had allowed just 58 yards on the ground and 375 total, and the suffocating act continued all year en route to an 11-2 record and top-10 finish in the national polls behind the MVP efforts of linebacker David Harris.
In the first two games since the start of 2007, Michigan has allowed 200 yards or less in just one contest before doing so in both opportunities this year. The lone other occurrence also happened under Harbaugh, against Oregon State in 2015 (59 yards rushing and 138 total yards surrendered).
Although Michigan's points allowed technically checks in at No. 31 nationally with 15.5 points per game, the defense has actually given up just 17 points (the other 14 came after a pair of pick-sixes in the season opener). That clip of 8.5 points allowed per tilt would tie for eighth nationally.
A strong start doesn't guarantee anything — the 2008 defense that limited Utah and Miami (Ohio) to 83 combined rushing yards in the first two contests finished the year 50th in rushing yards allowed per game (136.92). However, it also allowed quite a bit of damage through the air to those inferior opponents, giving up 593 total yards in the first two contests, which should have been an indicator of what was to come in that miserable 3-9 campaign.
Regardless, the Michigan defense is off to its best start in 11 years.
In game three of that 2006 campaign, the unit showed it was for real when it went on the road and limited No. 2 Notre Dame to 245 yards of offense and just four on the ground en route to a 47-21 victory.
The Wolverines won't get a statement opportunity like that until much later this fall — the first real opportunity probably doesn't come until an Oct. 21 trip to Penn State and its explosive offense featuring one of the most potent quarterback-running back combinations in the land (though an argument could be made a week earlier at Indiana will provide a test, too).
However, the youthful defense has already made its presence felt in smash-mouth fashion with speed and tenacity. It even scored as many touchdowns as the offense Saturday, running a pair of interceptions back for scores against Cincinnati.
It may be more a month or more before it is truly known what this defense is capable of and how good it is, but they have already accomplished perhaps their most challenging task — after sending nine defenders off to the next level who made their NFL team's opening-day rosters or practice squads, nobody is bemoaning the losses of its all-star stalwarts.
The Wormleys, Peppers and Lewises are now the Garys, Hudsons and Kinnels — but all that's changed are the names and numbers; the results are still impressive, if not better.
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