Memo to Rodriguez: Brown and Harrison Are Doing More Harm Than Good

Michigan's defense was supposed to anchor the team this year as Rich Rodriguez implemented his spread offense that continually undergoes growing pains.  Sadly, that hasn't been the case.

The Wolverines have done little to stop their opponents, and although their front seven has been completely dominant, and their inexperienced linebackers have been satisfactory, their secondary has been absolutely horrid.

Michigan's defense would be one of the top in the land if it weren't for two players, Stevie Brown and Brandon Harrison. These two players have been giving up big play after big play throughout the entire season.

In the Utah game, two drives that ended in touchdowns would've been stopped if Stevie Brown would've made a tackle on third and long. Of course, he didn't, and we all know how that game ended.

Today, against Michigan State, Brown continued to show off his poor tackling skills. He missed a tackle when Hoyer thew it to Blair White for a 61-yard TD pass. Then, later in the game, Harrison missed a tackle, as Javon Ringer pranced for a 64-yard TD run.

These big-play mistakes are what are causing Michigan to go 2-6. Someone should've let Rodriguez know when he took the job that Stevie Brown and Brandon Harrison are prone to let up big plays. They did it last year against Wisconsin and have done it continually this year.

Michigan would be advised to try out Charles Stewart and freshman Brandon Smith next game. Stewart, a three-year varsity senior, has very good coverage skills and isn't afraid to hit hard unlike Stevie Brown.

Meanwhile, Brandon Smith was a fantastic, hard-hitting, safety in high school, who has the skills to play right away and just needs to learn to read plays better and what better way to do that then getting him a little experience.

Michigan's season is far from over, and it can be saved if only Michigan would only replace their safeties.

I know there isn't a chance that Michigan is going to do this, but it felt good to write because I am absolutely sick of the big plays that the secondary is letting up, which, in turn, is losing games. Let me know what you think Michigan needs to change to start winning.

One thing Michigan fans can take from this loss was that four-star safety Vladimir Emillien attended this game and also noticed that it was the safeties that allowed those big plays. After the game Emillien said that he could see himself coming to Ann Arbor in August and competing for a starting position.