In just a couple seasons, Jim Harbaugh and Don Brown have fallen out of favor with Michigan fans. The head coach has lost his momentum and the defensive coordinator has been increasingly exposed.
Asked Tuesday how he's holding up amid the growing criticism, Brown told the Stoney & Jansen Show that "it's concerning" in regard to Harbaugh.
"I don't think anybody likes criticism. I mean, I'd be lying to you," Brown said. "Sometimes I get a little disappointed – and I've been completely kind of blindsided. (I've) stayed out of the social media circles during the season, no matter what's going on, but it's concerning. I could care less for me, but we have an outstanding head coach who does a tremendous job. I just think he's a perfect head coach.
"So that part of it, and I don't like to see criticism of payers. I just think that's over the top when you're talking about 18 to 22-year-old young men that are just trying to do the best they can for Michigan."
Once Michigan's calling card, Brown's defense hit a new low last weekend against Indiana, a week after Harbaugh hit a new low against Michigan State. The Wolverines gave up 460 yards in their first loss to the Hoosiers since 1987. The secondary has been an obvious weakness.
Brown said what seems like an easy fix has been difficult to execute.
"The thing that's hurting us is fundamentally at times when we come up short, it sounds like it'd be an easy process: wedge and run, get your eyes back. That sounds like an easy deal. But you can't play the ball unless you see the ball, so that's a big piece," Brown said. "Making sure that you're straight in your zone coverages as well, so you can see the quarterback and see the ball out of his hand and respond with great breaks.
"Those are all technical and fundamental issues, and we're working on it on a day-to-day basis. Can't work any harder at it. We've got good players, they'll respond."
In the past, Brown has been known for his penchant for deploying man coverage in the secondary. He dismissed the notion that Michigan has only recently played more zone.
"It's really not true, but that's OK," he said. "We play a good amount of zone. I don't know where all of that comes from, but I like them both, I'll tell you that."
The road ahead doesn't get any easier for Michigan, with No. 13 Wisconsin coming to town Saturday. Brown said last year's blowout loss in Madison will serve as motivation to get things right.
"Oh yeah, it's there, it's part of it, when you're talking about Wisconsin," Brown said. "We've done pretty well when we've played them here, not so well when we've played them there. So we gotta hold serve here and our guys gotta show up ready to play on both sides of the ball, and let's have at it."
