Michigan Football: Stocked Secondary Solidifies 2012 Defense

What a difference a year makes.

When Brady Hoke stepped onto campus at Ann Arbor last year, he was dealing with an awful secondary.  

With the help of defensive coordinator Greg Mattison’s excellent schemes, the secondary is now the strongest unit on the entire defense.

The staff worked their magic and the secondary was a big reason the defense ended the season ranked sixth in the nation, allowing only 17.4 points per game. In a three-game span early in the season, they allowed a grand total of 10 points.

Unfortunately, they began to really struggle when it mattered most. In their last two games of the year (both wins), the defense allowed eight plays of 20 or more yards, with two of them going for over 40 yards.

Mattison was less than thrilled with this drop-off, but believes the experience will only make the unit stronger in 2012 (via ESPN):

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The learning curve and believing in what is taught and them knowing that this is the kind of defense we're going to play and this is what is expected, all those are kind of gone. I know they hear it all the time from us. Once they know that defense, then they can understand why they should do little subtleties to allow them to play better.

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The vast majority of the unit will be back in action. Jordan Kovacs and J.T. Floyd are rising seniors while safety Thomas Gordon is a rising junior and Blake Countess a rising sophomore. All of them are a year smarter and more experienced. There are no more excuses for not knowing or understanding the complex schemes now in place.

The only seniors to leave were the seldom-used Tony Anderson, Zac Johnson and Jared Van Slyke. Only corner/safety Troy Woolfolk was a major contributor that won’t be returning for the maize and blue.

Combine the stout secondary with a deadly pass rush and speedy linebacking unit and there is little doubt the defense is going to be a catalyst for their success in 2012.

The season can’t come soon enough for the maize and blue.

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