Michigan's defense was very good against Iowa, but a couple of bad bounces, at least one bad penalty and a questionable call on the final play of the game made all the positives seem nonexistent.
Michigan's defense was very solid against Iowa, which put U-M in a position to win the game and allowed the offense to continue to grow. The Wolverines held the lead for much of the game and didn't give much up to the Hawkeyes until it mattered most. All in all, Jay Hill's unit remains special at times, but some untimely errors ultimately cost Michigan the game on Saturday afternoon. The stat sheet doesn't tell the same story as the final score, so this one definitely needs to be dissected.
Using a tool like Pro Football Focus allows us to see what happened on a player-by-player basis and gives some insight as to how the game really went. It's not gospel, but there are some things that just don't show up in the box score that can tell another part of the story.
Top Three Defensive Performers (25 snap minimum)
1. CB Zeke Berry - 74.1
After missing Week 3, Berry returned to the lineup and logged 32 snaps, 25 of which were in coverage. He played 27 of his snaps lined up as the outside cornerback with four in the slot and one down in the box. He was targeted seven times, allowing just three receptions for 15 total yards. Unfortunately, he's going to be remembered in this game for committing a late hit penalty that gave Iowa 15 yards and a first down when it should've been 4th and 12 on the final drive of the game.
2. Edge Dom Nichols - 72.2
Nichols played 47 snaps, which is a real testament to him as he was very clearly not 100%. He came out a couple of times due to a nagging injury but managed to finish with the second-highest grade on defense per PFF. He posted a team-best 81.8 pass-rush grade, but slipped a bit as he did miss a tackle on the day. Overall, he routinely looks like Michigan's best defender on the field and the grades are supporting that.
3. S Chris Bracy - 72.1
The Memphis transfer continues to be a staple in Jay Hill's defense. Against Iowa, he logged 54 total snaps, two of which were designed blitzes. On those blitzes, he finished with a 91.6 pass-rush grade. Those plays stand out on tape and were considered hurries. Bracy did miss a tackle and he also dropped what would've been the game-sealing pick late in the fourth quarter.
Interesting Notes
Linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng actually had the highest grade of any defense player at 79.9, but played just 10 snaps, making him ineligible for the list above. Still, that's a promising grade for another one of Michigan's unproven linebackers. "Wu", as he's known by his teammates, flashes a lot of athleticism when he's out there and is likely earning more reps with tape like Saturday's.
The defense did accumulate seven missed tackles, which Kyle Whittingham will not like seeing on tape. Dom Nichols, Chris Bracy, Nathaniel Staehling, Enow Etta and Mason Curtis all missed one tackle on the day, while cornerback Jyaire Hill was marked down for two misses.
