How Can the Michigan Wolverines' Defense Slow Down the Texas Longhorns' Offense?

The stage is set for the Michigan Wolverines to take on just their seventh SEC opponent at home this weekend when the Texas Longhorns march into Ann Arbor.

Texas enters this game as the number-three team in the country, fresh off of a 52-0 stomping of Colorado State in Week 1. Now all eyes turn up north to this top-10 showdown between these two.

There's not a lot of optimism about the Wolverines' chances in this game. Currently, Texas is a full touchdown favorite over Michigan as questions about Michigan's offense abound.

I've already talked about the offense , so now, it's only fair to discuss the defense. This unit will be the most important group on the field in the entire game. How can Michigan's defense slow down Texas long enough to keep themselves in the game?

Stay Aggressive

While this is almost a moot point with Wink Martindale as defensive coordinator, this is a game he should lean into his strengths with.

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers is not a quarterback who excels under pressure. He prefers taking quick checkdowns, throwing in rhythm, and taking advantage of the looks Steve Sarkisian schemes up for him.

When he is under duress, Ewers' timing falls apart and he starts pressing and makes mistakes. His one interception last week came when he had to step up and throw off-platform, and this has been a frequent problem throughout his career.

Martindale is a master of drawing up creative pressures and blitzers. I'm not sure Texas's offensive line is quite ready to handle the talent of Michigan's defensive line, especially when they can pin their ears back and rush the quarterback.

If Michigan can stay aggressive and keep Ewers out of sorts, they've got a chance to stay in this game.

Force Texas Into Mistakes

Texas is going to hit explosive plays in this game. They're simply too well-coached and too talented to not come up with multiple big plays a game this season.

Michigan can't focus on "just limiting explosives". While that might work for a drive or two, Texas can quickly adapt and focus on death by a thousand paper cuts, especially if Michigan's offense stalls repeatedly.

Instead, the Wolverines should focus on taking away the short gains. Texas's run game struggled to get going against Colorado State, no doubt caused by turnover up front and multiple injuries at running back. While we can't expect them to be bad at running the ball, the run game is an easy matchup for Michigan's defense. Michigan's front seven is simply too good to let Texas run over them, and they should play accordingly.

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In the passing game, limiting yards after the catch and quickly rallying to the football will be musts in this game. As stated above, Ewers loves to pepper targets underneath and they favor those quick passes to targets out in space.  I've said throughout the week that Michigan's defense might not be as talented as last year's group, but it's certainly faster . It might just be the fastest group in the country this season.

If they can turn those early down passes from six or seven-yard gains to just two or three-yard gains, they can start to put the pressure on Texas's offense. I don't like Texas's odds against Michigan's talented defensive line on obvious passing situations.

They have to tackle better, however. Michigan missed eight tackles last week, something that cannot happen again against Texas.

Make Plays On the Ball

I hate how cliche this one sounds, but Michigan has to be able to make the plays that come their way on defense.

In both of Texas's losses last season, Texas turned the ball over multiple times in both. Against Oklahoma, Ewers threw two picks and fumbled once. Against Washington, Texas fumbled four times and recovered just two of them. Washington was able to score off of one of those fumbles.

Will Johnson will be critical for this, as we all know how talented a playmaker he is. However, Jyaire Hill, Zeke Berry, and Aamir Hall also forced their own incompletions, with Berry joining Johnson with an interception.

The Wolverines have to be able to capitalize on turnover opportunities. A dropped interception or recovered fumble could be the difference in this game.

Ultimately, this game will come down to Michigan's offense sustaining enough to keep the Wolverines in this game. Michigan's defense can pitch a pretty perfect game, but if Michigan's offense can't score any points or play ball control well enough, it only takes one mistake to create a loss.

However, the Wolverines are relying on this group to lead them to a win. Their defense will have to be the unit which the entire game hinges on. They have to stop Texas from scoring too many points, else the game will be out of reach entirely.