The versatile defensive lineman reveals how a "backs to the wall" mentality and elite edge rushing fueled the Wolverines’ dominant, one-touchdown start to the new season.
Talking with reporters this week, Etta reflected on Michigan's impressive start on defense, where the unit has allowed just a single touchdown through eight quarters. To the outside world, that dominance might come as a shock. To the defensive line room, it was simply the baseline expected outcome.
"When we went out there, it might have been a surprise to a lot of people, but we knew that was our standard," Etta said. "We knew what we could do. We kind of had our backs to the wall in terms of the whole country, so we were like, let us show everybody what we can do."
That mentality was put to the test following a week one victory against Western Michigan that left players knowing they needed to tighten up. The response during practice leading up to Oklahoma was immediate, leading to a vibrant postgame atmosphere following the marquee win.
"Oklahoma, we were lit," Etta laughed when asked about the postgame mood differences. "Western Michigan, I think we knew that we had to tighten up. We were all happy to be 1 and 0, but we knew it was time to look in the mirror with some things, and we did that."
A major factor in that defensive success stems from the relentless edge rushers leading the front. Etta singled out teammates John Henry Daley and Dom Nichols for their unhinged work ethic, praising their ability to reset the line of scrimmage and push the rest of the unit daily.
"I think we got two of the best edges in the country," Etta said. "They just line up with that mindset to kill. They are never like, oh, we got to get through practice. After practice, they are running gassers, sprinting. Hanging with those guys, I just feel like a better player."
That elite pressure off the edge has allowed Michigan to create havoc while rushing only three defenders at times, dropping extra personnel into coverage to suffocate opposing passing lanes. For Etta, that flexibility makes the defense nearly impossible to break.
As a rising leader on the team, Etta admits that stepping into a vocal role took time after arriving in Ann Arbor. Now, seeing the entire roster bought in from top to bottom, he believes the sky is the limit for where this defense can go.
"There is no such thing as up and down," Etta said. "You either take something as a lesson or you move on. You got to step on the field and believe."
