Michigan Football Defense Prepping for Josh Gattis

Last weekend was yet another impressive showing from Jesse Minter and the No. 1-ranked Michigan football defense, which held No. 10 Penn State to just nine points before a last-minute garbage time touchdown and failed two-point conversion, ultimately leading to a 24-15 victory for the Wolverines. This week, Michigan has a new test: Jim Harbaugh’s former offensive play-caller, Josh Gattis, who is now with Maryland.

Michigan football defense ready for test against Maryland offense

Josh Gattis was with the Michigan football program for three years: 2019 through 2021. After his “speed in space” offense didn’t pan out, Gattis embraced “Harball” football, which saw Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum rush their way to wins over Penn State, Ohio State, and in the Big Ten title game. All said and done, Michigan ended the 2021 season with a  12-2 record, a conference title, and a College Football Playoff berth — though it was Gattis’s final year in Ann Arbor.

After his tenure with Jim Harbaugh and Michigan football, Gattis moved down to the Miami Hurricanes, where he served as the offensive coordinator for one season before getting fired and heading back to Big Ten country. This year, the former Penn State and Michigan football assistant coach accepted yet another Big Ten East position, becoming the OC for Maryland.

Josh Gattis looking for upset win against former team

This week, as the Michigan football defense retakes the field, hoping to improve to 11-0 on the year and claim Michigan’s 1,000th all-time win, Gattis will be facing his former team for the first time since leaving the program back in early 2022. With some talented and experienced weapons, such as quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, the Terrapins are heading into this game with an upset on their minds — especially after last year’s thriller at the Big House, which saw Michigan narrowly win 34-27.

“He (Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa) is an elite playmaker,” Michigan football defensive line coach Mike Elston said on Wednesday. “He’s a challenge for any defense. He’s very talented with his arm, very talented escaping the pocket and keeping plays alive. He makes a lot of big plays on the run, throwing the ball, he makes a lot of plays just running the ball.

“Coach (Josh) Gattis has done an amazing job with him and being creative and doing what he can do. He’s a big challenge for us this week and probably the biggest run threat that we’ve seen this season. Not probably — definitely the biggest run threat.”

Michigan football looking to improve to 11-0, earn 1,000th all-time win

This weekend’s game is set to kick off at noon (ET) in College Park, MD. As I mentioned, this game has massive implications for the Maize and Blue, largely because next weekend will pit No. 2 Ohio State against No. 3 Michigan football at the Big House in a matchup that will determine this year’s conference title and the College Football Playoff race for the Big Ten.

So far, under Jim Harbaugh (since 2015), Michigan football is a perfect 8-0 against the Terps — the last time these two faced off in Maryland was in 2021, which quickly turned into a massive 59-18 victory for the Wolverines.

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