Wisconsin's tight ends a threat to Michigan football team's defense

The Michigan football team has struggled to stop opposing tight ends at times this year, and Graham and the Badgers provide a unique test this weekend.

With defenses geared up to stop John Clay and Wisconsin’s run game, Graham and fellow tight end Lance Kendricks have become dangerous offensive threats.

Graham ranks second on the team with 30 catches and leads Wisconsin with 4 receiving touchdowns. Kendricks has 18 catches, 2 touchdowns and ran for 91 yards earlier this year against Purdue.

“They play sometimes 3 (tight ends) at a time,” Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said. “And they move them around a little bit.

“We know they’re going to come downhill at us, but they do enough movement and trading tight ends and motions and things like that to try to limit what you can do defensively. It’s a concern, and not only that, they’re so big up front and big running backs and we’re a small team, so I’m sure they’re going to come right downhill at us.”

Michigan’s problems defending tight ends have been more about personnel breakdowns than anything. Moeaki beat the Wolverines for gains of 34 and 42 yards on 2 blown assignments, and Quarless’ 60-yard touchdown catch came over top of linebacker Obi Ezeh when safety Jordan Kovacs left his help position.

Tight ends or not, Rich Rodriguez said those plays are unacceptable from his defense.

“It’s been a different thing every time,” Rodriguez said. “We had a man-to-man on a back the last game and didn’t cover him. Some of those major mistakes, those are the things we can’t afford because we’re not good enough defensively to overcome the smaller mistakes, let alone the major mistakes.”

Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.