Why we’re watching Michigan football’s defensive backs this week

The Michigan Wolverines are 5-0 on the season and looking to make it six in a row to start the year with a trip to Minnesota. The Gophers are 3-2, and are going to want to get Michigan into a bar fight.

Each week this season, we will spotlight a position group to keep an eye on heading into Michigan’s next game. It could depend on a number of factors, whether it is a matchup to exploit, players we would like to see more from, etc.

So this week, we are watching…

The Michigan defensive backs

Gopher QB Athan Kaliakmanis has completed just 58.7 percent of his throws this season with 745 yards, 5 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. He’s also only completed 20 of his 44 attempts of 10-plus air yards. The short and quick game has been where they’ve focused on with his game.

The Gophers have a solid array of pass catchers but have not been able to reach their full potential yet. Tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford is off to a slow start, and wideout Chris Autman-Bell has not played yet this season. Western Michigan transfer Corey Crooms has been good, and Daniel Jackson leads the team with 20 catches and four touchdowns. Elijah Spencer will also move into a large role after Le’Meke Brockington‘s season-ending injury.

The Minnesota passing game is not a strength, but it also features guys who can make plays. Michigan’s secondary has its fair share of injuries and rust with guys like Will Johnson and Rod Moore returning from injury, and a lot of young pieces back there. Those guys will still be on notice and must ensure that an inconsistent attack does not get going.

Playing through pain has been an early-season trademark for Johnson, Moore and the Michigan secondary. Guys are on the mend and on the up-and-up, but Saturday night in primetime is going to be a shot to take that next step as both a team and in recovery.

“There’s so many times that we have guys that are working through something,” head coach Jim Harbaugh said this week. “That’s football. It’s rare, it’s lucky when you come out of a game as healthy as we did coming out of this game. You can rest assured there’s somebody, multiple guys that are working through something. Guys defy human capacity to play sometimes. Definitely almost superhero, superhuman in that way. They get the treatment, they get the rehab, they find a pad that protects them. The ability to cut that time of whatever it would be for a normal person, football players seem to have that ability. Some even more than others.”

Moore specifically is the man to watch. He feels like a piece in the secondary that can help take this Michigan defense to the next level with his ability to read, react and blow up big plays. He is also tremendous in coverage when he’s right, and we are waiting for him to round into form. He has looked a little stiff while being limited early this season.

This time of year, it is all about making stirdes each week to peak in November. Michigan can afford a slow burn development in the secondary, but the sooner guys are back to their former selves, the better.

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