A quick recap of our defensive position group comparisons.
DT: PUSH (both teams have unknowns here)
DE: MSU
LB: MSU
S: Split, Tbone gives it to his Spartans, Pat to the Wolverines
CB: MSU (with the caveat that the nickel and the depth favor the Wolverines)
2011 Statistics:
Total Defense:
MSU: 6th, 277 yards per game
Michigan: 17th, 322 yards per game
Scoring Defense:
MSU: 10th, 18 ppg
Michigan: 6th, 17 ppg
Returning Starters:
MSU: 8
Michigan: 8
The Better D in 2012?
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| "Your eyes are crazy coach Narduzzi." |
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To me, Michigan State looks like a top 10-20 defense for 2012. I'm nearly as bullish on Michigan as they are likely to be a top 15-25 defense as long as they find production at defensive tackle.
MSU gets the nod in the head to head comparison on defense, but it's a close battle between two very good units.
I think this is pretty fair. I will note at this point I think MSU's biggest edge come from having more in the way of "difference makers" on the defensive side of the ball.
ReplyDeleteGholston needs to be more consistent, but UM doesn't have a guy with his ability to be disruptive when he is playing up to his potential.
Same for a guy like Denicos Allen who is an absolute stud in my opinion. UM's LB corps is solid and compares well to MSU's in terms of roll players, but they don't have a playmaker like that.
I think the same is true in the secondary with Johnny Adams. (Though I will note that while I think he's one of the top corners in the conference I am a little skeptical of this first round draft pick buzz. But corner is a tough spot for the average fan to evaluate)
Trying to stay unbiased here, but I think UM's defense has some real potential. They actually remind me a little bit of MSU's defense going into last season. Replacing some key guys, but they guys behind them have potential. You just don't know for sure if they will maximize it. I could see Demens being all conference. I could see one of their defensive ends developing into a disruptive force. It's just hard to say.
At this point MSU's defense has more proven playmakers, and I think that's what gives them the edge over a UM defense that is really pretty solid too.
I think Jake Ryan has the ability to as disruptive as Gholston. In fact I think they have had very similar careers to this point. Inconsistent seasons in 2011 culminating in a big performance in a bowl victory.
ReplyDeleteHe may have the ability to be as disruptive at some point in his college life. but to this point they are very different. And even last year they were very different. Gholston has 70 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 5 sacks last year versus Ryan's 37 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. The big difference there is the total tackles. Gholston can get to the sidline and extend the Dline better than any defense end in the B1G.
DeleteI would not trade the two straight up.