Michigan defense still working to build consistency as Big Ten season begins

"What I think our defensive staff has done more than anything else is just to calm our guys down," coach Rich Rodriguez said. Last week against Eastern Michigan, Michigan's defense surrendered 17 first-half points, allowing the Eagles to establish the run and remain within a touchdown.

Against Notre Dame, the Wolverines allowed 17 points in the second quarter alone before holding the Irish off the scoreboard until the 9:46 mark of the fourth quarter.

Despite the slow defensive starts, Rodriguez isn't overly concerned as the Wolverines, ranked ninth in the Big Ten in total defense, prepare to open the Big Ten season Saturday against unbeaten Indiana.

Rodriguez cites the presence of some first-time starters as a culprit for his team's defensive issues. Freshman Craig Roh has settled into the starting role at outside linebacker. Ryan Van Bergen is playing significantly as a redshirt sophomore as Michigan's starting defensive tackle.

Kevin Leach was forced into a starting role last week at linebacker, making 10 tackles while filling in for Jonas Mouton, who was serving a one-game suspension. With Stevie Brown in a new position and Michigan's defense feeling out first-year defensive coordinator Greg Robinson, the Wolverines are still working on putting together four quarters of solid defensive play.

Despite the early inconsistency, Rodriguez's players believe progress is being made. Last week against Eastern, Michigan's defense spent 40 minutes on the field - nine more minutes than it did against Notre Dame. Michigan is ninth in the Big Ten in time of possession at 27 minutes, 4 seconds per game.

"I think part of it is our conditioning and I think that's led to us being more of a dominant team in the second half," Van Bergen said. "I think a lot of players consider us a first-half time and if we can just keep the game manageable in the first half, the second half, we can compete with anyone."

Against Notre Dame, Michigan surrendered 112 first-half rushing yards. The Irish finished with 154. Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen thew for 336 yards - 190 of which came before halftime when Clausen completed all but five of his 18 pass attempts.

The turnaround was even more noticeable against Eastern Michigan, which ran for 128 yards in the first half before finishing the game with 179. Michigan's defense forced three turnovers and then kept the Eagles scoreless in the second half when the Wolverines broke the game open with three unanswered touchdowns.

If Michigan is to make a run at a Big Ten championship, the Wolverines know defense will play a key factor. While Rodriguez's players are focused on the present, last year's 3-9 season provides incentive for a defense that feels like it has something to prove.

"We still have a chip on our shoulder," junior cornerback Donovan Warren said. "We're just playing the game trying to earn respect. We know teams are going to come after us and are going to play hard when they play against Michigan.

"But as a defense, we want to earn respect on a national level and we want people talking about us...we want to show people we're here."

Jeff Arnold covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2554 or jeffarnold@annarbor.com