In the Michigan football team’s narrow win over Western Michigan, one of the only bright spots in its performance was its defensive line. Holding the Broncos to just four field goals and limited success on the ground, the D-line did its job effectively. But Saturday against No. 11 Oklahoma, the unit elevated to another level.
As a whole, the Wolverines defense effectively quieted a potent Sooners offense. Limiting Oklahoma to only one touchdown despite its 100 net rush yards and 189 net passing yards is no small feat. But thanks to consistent pressure up front, Michigan’s defensive line won the game in the trenches for the Wolverines.
“They’ve got good cover people and guys that can rush the passer,” Sooners coach Brent Venables said. “I think their unit is a really good unit because at all three levels they’ve got really good players, and they’re well coached.”
As a unit, the defense performed skillfully. That production started in the middle of the line with the defensive tackles. Senior defensive tackle Enow Etta had a standout game, muscling his way through Oklahoma’s offensive front. Despite notching just three tackles and only one for a loss, Etta’s presence was felt throughout the line as he refused to give the Sooners offense time to develop plays, consistently providing pressure in the pocket.
Seniors Jonah Lea’ea and Trey Pierce were physical forces alongside Etta on Michigan’s defensive interior. With two tackles each, Pierce and Lea’ea filled out the defensive front, not giving Oklahoma an inch of breathing room.
“As a defensive line, we went out there with the mindset to come in and dominate in the trenches, and we knew that we were going to be more physical, more aggressive, and just get off the ball,” senior defensive end John Henry Daley said. “I felt like we did a great job of that.”
Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer was sacked just twice by the Wolverines. But for the entire 26 minutes that the Sooners offense was on the field, Mateer was under duress. Oklahoma’s offensive line was consistently overpowered by Michigan’s D-line, with the pocket collapsing on Mateer throughout the game and forcing him to scramble often. Mateer was 17-for-33 in pass attempts Saturday, and while some of that was due to solid coverage by the Wolverines’ secondary, a lot can be credited to Michigan’s pass rush.
The Wolverines defensive ends facilitated the pass rush expertly, led by senior John Henry Daley and junior Dom Nichols. While against Western Michigan Nichols dominated the pass rush, this week Daley took over, securing four solo tackles and three for a loss.
On the first drive of the game, the Sooners were attempting to go tempo and got a first down from two short rushes. But just three plays later, Oklahoma’s punt team was on the field after Daley rushed back to Mateer and leveled him for a nine-yard sack. Daley’s sack clearly made an impression on Mateer, who threw back-to-back incomplete passes on the following drive after facing Daley’s pressure.
Despite his immense influence throughout the game though, it wasn’t Daley who had the star moment for Michigan’s defensive ends.
With just over a minute left, the Sooners attempted one last comeback beginning at their own 15-yard line. After a rush up the middle from Mateer and a quick pass, Oklahoma seemed to be gaining some momentum. But three plays later and Mateer was square on his back as sophomore defensive end Nate Marshall sacked Mateer for 10 yards to put the game away.
“The walk-off win with a defensive sack was fantastic,” Daley said. “Nate had a great play, being able to get in there and end the game. He said ‘Hey, when you throw me in the game, we’re going to make some plays,’ and so he’s able to do that. It was a great feeling.”
For the defensive line, the final play in the Wolverines’ win over the Sooners was the cherry on top of a decisive game — a game that was won firmly in the trenches by Michigan’s D-line.
