Michigan football defensive line ate against UNLV
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Coming into Saturday’s game the Michigan Wolverines defense did not record a sack, that all changed against the Rebels.
The Michigan defense sacked quarterback Doug Brumfield five times in the first half alone. Derrick Moore was the first player to register a sack as the speedy defensive end came off the edge and got to Brumfield in the backfield. Kenneth Grant and Jaylen Harrell led the team with 1.5 sacks while Kris Jenkins and Mason Graham each had 0.5 sack each.
The Rebels are known for their ‘go-go’ uptempo offense under new head coach Barry Odom, the former Missouri head coach. On Saturday, that engine stalled out as UNLV only had 229 all-purpose yards against Michigan. The Rebels were kept out of the red zone for most of the game, they were able to score a touchdown in the dying minutes of regulation. Besides giving up a touchdown late in the game with the backup defense on the field, the Wolverines forced UNLV offense off the field as they only converted three times on third down.
So what was the difference today? One answer: Kenneth Grant.
UNLV did not have an answer for the 339-pound sophomore who played very physical in the trenches, opening up the gaps for teammates to run through while applying pressure on the quarterback.
“This week UNLV, They were holding the ball a little more too, have a mobile quarterback,” Grant said. “He was on the move a lot. So we made all the all the sacks and the hustle sacks.”
Brumfield may have been a more mobile quarterback this week but that was because his offensive line was collapsing and was forced out of the pocket.
“We didn’t execute as good last week and left a couple plays out there,” Harrell said. “So that was that. And then this week, it was a mobile quarterback. We got back there maybe rather than hold on to the ball. So had to get back there as quickly as possible.”
The Wolverines had a couple of things go their way and it was the perfect recipe for Michigan to cause all kinds of problems for the offensive line of UNLV. One of those problems: UNLV was held to just 61 rushing yards on 31 attempts. That is only two yards per carry for the entire game.
Now as the season goes on the Wolverines will face better running backs and the task will be tougher going forward. But Saturday’s performance should boost some confidence for the Wolverines’ defensive line.
