'Wood' you believe it?

Defense could have won this game all by itself

John Leroi Out of Bounds

EAST LANSING - They dropped like flies, like 30-pound bricks from the top of Spartan Stadium. You almost had to feel sorry for them.

First it was Todd Schultz who tossed four interceptions and was beaten up all day. Then Bill Burke, who accounted for Michigan State's only points all game, had a shot, but he was sacked twice before even completing a pass for positive yardage. And when he threw the Spartans' fifth interception of the game, he was yanked.

So in came third-stringer Gus Ornstein who lasted one play before he was belted so hard by Michigan linebacker Grady Brooks that one sideline reporter asked, "Is he dead?"

WARREN ZINN/Daily Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson intercepted this Todd Schultz pass in the third quarter with one hand. Woodson got one foot down just in time to stay in bounds.

So Schultz trotted back on to the field, hoping to conserve any pride he had left. And just when the Spartans looked like they actually had an offense, reserve safety DiAllo Johnson picked off Michigan's sixth pass of the game.

Yipes.

The Wolverines took what they wanted when they wanted, leaving no doubt that they have the best defense in the Big Ten and maybe in the nation. Michigan's offense was idling along in first gear. No matter. The defense could have won this game all by itself.

"We were beating them up," said Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson who picked off two Michigan State passes (one of which I would say God had to help him with if I didn't believe that he was God) and caused another.

How good is Michigan's defense? The Spartans had no first downs in the third quarter and by the time Michigan State could move the sticks twice, there was just four minutes left on the clock, and Michigan led 23-7.

The Wolverines still haven't allowed a point in the fourth quarter all season and have allowed just three field goals after halftime.

After Michigan found a way to shut down Sedrick Irvin, the Spartans didn't have a chance. Without Irvin, who caught a touchdown pass from Burke on a fake field goal in the first quarter, Michigan State would have amassed less than 150 yards of total offense.

Schultz couldn't even face the media after facing Michigan's defense. He slipped out of the lockerroom without a trace. It's hard to blame him.

"Our goal was to get Schultz rattled," said Marcus Ray, who intercepted two passes for the second straight game. "We turned our linemen lose and our linebackers lose. If you stop them on first and second down, you have a great chance to make plays - sacks, interceptions, whatever - on third down."

For some reason, it takes this defense a series or two to warm up. But Michigan's defense is simply phenomenal in the second half. The Spartans gained just 83 yards after halftime, and 41 of those came on the last drive of the game. Attribute that to defensive speed and a strong desire to shut out every team they play.

"The defense is playing as good as you want them to play," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said.

Maybe better.

So even with a predictable offense that isn't ever going to put 40 points on the scoreboard, Michigan feels like it has a shot at the Big Ten title, which is a convenient way to say "Rose Bowl" without actually saying it.

If Michigan's defense is good enough to win games all by itself, it's good enough to ... well, you know.

"If our defense keeps playing like this, we can get there," Ray said.

Somebody had to say it.

- John Leroi can be reached via e-mail at jrleroi@umich.edu

10-27-97