Michigan Football: Why Wolverines Need Blake Countess, Secondary More Than Ever

Blake Countess accepted responsibility this past season, during the offseason and during camp. And on Monday, the redshirt junior continued owning the mistakes of Michigan’s secondary, some of which he's committed over the years.

The 5’10”, 180-pound defensive back isn't satisfied about recent events. He believes that he's part of a special position group, and he believes that the group can and will deliver when push comes to shove. 

“No doubt about it," Countess said. "We’re a group that’s growing, just like the rest of the team. We definitely have the talent do it; it’s just about getting better every week and proving it [on the field]. But absolutely—my confidence in my secondary has not waivered at all.”

With growing uncertainty on offense—particularly how it’ll accumulate points and who will be the quarterback—the Wolverines secondary must provide better pass coverage to complement coordinator Greg Mattison’s superb run-grinding defense. Giving up any kind of points, even a single touchdown pass, could result in another loss. 

Countess and his counterparts are the ones who have to tighten their belts. 

Stories with Numbers

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In 2013, Michigan had the No. 13-ranked total defense in FBS football. It allowed 28 offensive touchdowns and 4.93 total yards per play—or about a half-yard more than Michigan State’s defense, which was widely recognized as the best in the nation.

Part of the Wolverines’ success on defense was due to their secondary, which finished No. 2 in the Big Ten with 17 interceptions. However, they gave up 40 or more points thrice a year ago, and they could do the same in 2014. But the key theme here is consistency: The defense has it, despite hiccups. It showed that in 2013, and if Team 135 is to truly reclaim its stake in the Big Ten, it’ll have to do so during the eight remaining games of 2014—starting Saturday against Minnesota. 

Look at the numbers thus far: Michigan gives up 4.12 yards per play. That's padded by the three-game stretch of allowing 1.83 per rushing attempt. But it’s still among the lowest averages in all of college football. Considering that Mattison’s defense has seen 248 plays, nearly 50 more than No. 1-ranked (total D) Stanford, the numbers shine through a little more.

Forget opponents and the fact that Michigan’s four games into the season. The stats are the stats. Take them for what they’re worth. This defense is producing with a secondary that’s contributed two interceptions on the year.

Imagine what a slight increase would do for the overall flow. With an ounce or two more effort from Countess and the rest, the likelihood of winning would increase. College football has shown us enough teams to win league titles and bowl games with very little offense.

Who’s to say the 2014 Wolverines can’t be one of those teams?  

Overcoming Hurdles

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The Wolverines have yet to get a full dose of Jabrill Peppers, a 6’1”, 205-pound super frosh who’s supposed to be the next greatest thing in life. He will be when he’s fully restored. Since getting dinged on the ankle in Week 1 versus Appalachian State, Peppers has seen limited action in limited roles.

He hasn’t wowed anyone yet.

The former 5-star “ATH” was one of the apples of the 2014 recruiting class. But he’s still a true freshman. He’s started games, so that says something. Mattison has propped Peppers numerous times. He likes what he sees in the Jersey kid. That endorsement means something, too.

It's safe to assume that the secondary will be better once Peppers gets on track. 

Raymon Taylor and Jarrod Wilson have had injuries, too. The losses can't be blamed on the bruises of a few, but they're not helping the situation. 

Progression

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The defensive backs are a strength of this team. Well, maybe saying “will be” is more accurate. Nevertheless, there aren’t many reasons not to like what Michigan has at corner and safety: Channing Stribling, Taylor, Dymonte Thomas, Jeremy Clark and Reon Dawson, to name a few, give Michigan incredible depth at the position.

Improvement has been a real thing, not a concocted story sewn by coaches and relayed by media types. Wins will be more frequent when the defensive backfield gets it together.

But right now, losing is losing. No one is saying otherwise. However, there are some positives, and Jourdan Lewis is one of them. His play on Utah running back Bubba Poole saved his school a ton of embarrassment. Imagine the endless chatter about Michigan surrendering a 90-yard touchdown, at home, to a nonconference opponent.

The jokes would be plentiful. 

But Lewis didn’t let that happen. He came from out of nowhere before stopping Poole about 25 yards shy of the end zone. Effort is there. Players aren’t calling it quits. Lewis’ play was proof, and it certainly serves as a battle cry for the DBs.

“Absolutely,” Countess said, adding that the play would “go down in history” at Michigan. “The big play happened because of a miscommunication. But the good thing about that play was that we have guys that are getting to the ball. Jourdan came as a back-side corner and ran that guy down and saved a touchdown.

"They only got three points out of that drive. When we get that miscommunication corrected, then that big play won’t happen.”

Michigan doesn’t have time to live and learn. At this point, it’s win or cease to exist in the big-boy landscape. The Wolverines have split their first four this season and barely hang by a thread. They need their secondary to make a donation.

They need Countess, who has slipped more times than he should have thus far, to be the all-conference corner he's capable of being. He was on the Jim Thorpe preseason watch list. He's not an Average Joe corner. 

They need them now, or they'll risk wasting the best team coach Brady Hoke's had in Ann Arbor. 

Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and references to were obtained firsthand by the writer.