The Wolverines have been flagged three times for targeting in the four games.
ANN ARBOR — Michigan’s coaches aren’t backing down in their fundamental disagreement with how the targeting penalty is being assessed in college football.
Mike Zordich, after the season opener at Notre Dame, said it’s time for officials to reassess how they enforce it. Jim Harbaugh called into question the notion of intent after linebacker Khaleke Hudson was ejected from a Week 3 win over Southern Methodist.
Now, defensive coordinator Don Brown — the leader of Michigan’s aggressive, man-coverage defense — is expressing concern.
«I’m having a hard time with it,» Brown said this week on «The Jamie and Stoney» show on WXYT-FM (97.1). «I’m glad I’m at the end of (coaching), to be quite honest with you. Because it’s a very difficult fine line.»
The 14th-ranked Wolverines will be without Hudson for the first half on Saturday at Northwestern (4:30 p.m. ET, FOX) after he was ejected for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Nebraska quarterback Andrew Bunch.
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The hit, coming in the fourth quarter of a 56-10 win, was Hudson’s second ejection for targeting in as many games. It was the third against Michigan in four games this season.
«Something that we’re all dealing with,» Brown said. «We’ve gone from no targeting penalties a year ago to all of a sudden it’s a concern for us. You got to take care of your business.»
Brown said Michigan works on hawk tackling twice a week, encouraging its players to lean with their shoulder, not their head. But he admits that apparently hasn’t been effective enough.
«We had a big debate on this in staff,» Brown said. «Things happen like this. You snap your fingers and that play is made, one way or another. Obviously it’s an adjustment we have to go through, but I don’t think it’s an easy adjustment.»
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The Michigan defense went its first nine drives on Saturday without committing a penalty before Josh Ross was flagged in the third quarter for roughing the passer. On Nebraska’s final drive of the game, the Wolverines were flagged three times, including the targeting call against Hudson and a pass-interference penalty against Ambry Thomas.
But if you’re wondering whether the rash of penalties might force Brown to re-asses the style of play he deploys, think again. Michigan’s 63-year-old defensive coordinator isn’t changing for anyone.
«You know how we play the game,» Brown said. «We’re in-your-face, guns-a-blazing, and we’re going to play in your backfield. That’s the whole mantra, whatever that is.
«It certainly is an issue. I think it’s an issue moving forward, and I think you’re going to see this across the country be an issue. And it already is. Not an easy task (to adjust), that’s for sure.»
