Michigan defense falters again in Peach Bowl loss

Nearly three weeks ago, reflecting shortly after Michigan’s 62-39 drubbing against Ohio State, fifth-year senior defensive end Chase Winovich described his team’s performance as a “mirage.”

“What we've built here and what we'll continue to build is a powerhouse,” he said Dec. 11. “That's the Michigan I’m leaving.”

The 62 points allowed that day by the previously top-ranked defense in the country were the most allowed in regulation in program history.

On Saturday afternoon, perhaps humbled by a 41-15 loss to Florida in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and another poor defensive showing, Winovich struck a softer tone.

“At the end of the day, they seemed like they had us,” Winovich said. “They knew what we were in and how to manipulate it. Hats off to (Florida) coach (Dan) Mullen and their coaching staff.”

The Gators had their way Saturday, notching 427 total yards against a once-vaunted Wolverines defense. Florida found particular success on the ground, running for 257 yards on 40 carries and three touchdowns — each scored by a different player. Quarterback Feleipe Franks ran for their first touchdown on a 21-yard scamper late in the second quarter, grabbing a 13-10 lead Florida would never relinquish.

Running backs Lamical Perine and Jordan Scarlett each added touchdowns in the third quarter to widen the gap. Perine then offered the exclamation point in the fourth quarter, gashing the Michigan defense for a 53-yard touchdown on third-and-20, turning a comfortable win into a blowout.

Senior linebacker Jordan Glasgow said his team was aware of Florida’s rushing prowess; the Gators entered the game averaging over 200 yards per game on the ground.

“Looking at film, we knew their running backs did a good job in terms of breaking tackles and breaking big plays. Usually, we don’t allow that kind of stuff to happen, but that was pretty much the defining factor,” Glasgow said. “… Defensively, we can’t allow for missed tackles and for opportunities like that to be wasted.”

Michigan’s defense, once considered among the best in the country, now ends its season with a whimper. After allowing only 149 points in its first 11 games, the Wolverines allowed 103 in the final two. And for the third consecutive season, Michigan heads into the offseason having lost its final two games.

Some players acknowledged the letdown from the loss to the Buckeyes carried over into the bowl period — mentally and emotionally. The Wolverines went into that season finale with a chance to play for a Big Ten title with a win, and subsequently left it demoralized. Others pushed back on that notion.

“There’s a million things that didn’t go right,” Winovich said of Saturday’s loss. “To blame it on one thing does everything else injustice. (Ohio State) definitely played a role, though. If you just look at it in the context of the whole season and just how high we were on ourselves and how confident we were going into that game, to do a 180 on that and just feel the opposite way, it’s tough to come back from.”

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh offered little further explanation.

“Defensively, it was really the same story,” Harbaugh said. “We didn't play as well. Had some — had missed calls, adjustments. We left a couple receivers wide open, some things that we don't normally do.”

Beyond that, Harbaugh simply added, “I thought they were ready.”