Michigan football's Don Brown has waited for Penn State all year

Some of this is becoming old hat for Don Brown. 

Through eight games this season, Michigan football's defensive coordinator has the No. 1-ranked defense again. He finished last season No. 3. In 2016 it was No. 1. Brown's last year at Boston College in 2015? No. 1. 

His latest display was a total thrashing of rival Michigan State, holding the Spartans to just 94 yards of total offense on a paltry 1.8 yards per play. 

"There's no better coach I've ever coached with than Don Brown. In my opinion, he is one of the all-time great football coaches in the history of the game," Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said during his radio show Monday night. "Everything he touches turns to gold." 

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For Brown, things are going well. 

But he's reached a point in the season that has been on his mind for a full 12 months. Last October, U-M went into Happy Valley and had no answers. Saquon Barkley ran all over the place. Trace McSorley took whatever he wanted.

Penn State's offense put up 502 yards, the most any Brown-coached defense had allowed in nearly three years, as the Wolverines lost, 42-13. Michigan (7-1, 5-0 Big Ten) has a bye this week. Its next game comes Nov. 3 at home vs. Penn State (3:45 p.m., ESPN). 

Brown hasn't forgotten last year. 

"I wake up every morning and I think about (that game)," Brown said Monday night. "Honest." 

Penn State's offense isn't the same as it was a year ago, as Barkley is having a breakout season as a rookie for the New York Giants, tight end Mike Gesicki is with the Miami Dolphins and receiver DaeSean Hamilton is with the Denver Broncos. 

McSorley is still around and the Nittany Lions, who ripped up Michigan with run-pass options and a unique spread mix put together by former offensive coordinator (and current Mississippi State head coach) Joe Moorhead. Penn State running back Miles Sanders averages 6.5 yards per carry. 

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But regardless of who's still there and who isn't, Penn State has Brown's full attention. 

"They handed it to us last year. I did a poor job against them. Obviously, the players feel the same way. We've got two weeks of preparation to put our best foot forward and I feel good about us doing that," he said. "You always want to have all your pieces, techniques and fundamentals at your disposal. I'm not sure I provided that to our players (last year) and I told them that. We didn't play our best game (that day), no question. 

"So we want to make sure we understand what's in front of us, both run and pass and we understand the formations they give us. ... Then we have to identify and play fast. That's what we're looking to do." 

This season, Michigan hasn't allowed more than 319 yards in a single game. The Wolverines held MSU to zero third-down conversions on 12 tries and quarterback Brian Lewerke went 5 of 25 passing. 

Quarterbacks are completing 47.5 percent of their throws. Michigan's allowing just 97.1 rushing yards. 

In East Lansing, everything worked. 

Brown said U-M planned to use its base defense in early downs and shift to its "speed group" for every third down situation. He said that plan never changed throughout 60 minutes against MSU, as the Wolverines were able to take away everything on the ground and through the air. 

"When we turn that level up from practice to game, we found that level that is sometimes rarified air. We've been close on a couple of occasions," Brown said. "Nebraska, I thought, could've been one of those kinds of days where we could have been under 100 yards. We messed it up at the end a little bit. But we played 60 minutes on Saturday. 

"A very physical football game." 

As is often the case, Brown poured most of the credit on his athletes. 

He applauded defensive ends Josh Uche and Kwity Paye for their improved play, said Bryan Mone had his best game in three years. He gave credit to Michigan's secondary, once again ranked No. 1 nationally. 

Chase Winovich had three more hurries at defensive end. "Chase is Chase," Brown said. "Which is complete madness." 

U-M's defensive leader, Devin Bush Jr., continues to be the straw that stirs everything for Brown's group. 

In terms of awareness, execution and passion. 

"(Winovich) and my middle linebacker, Devin Bush Jr., they were fired up this weekend," Brown said with a smile. "They were ready to go. It was 'get out of the way and let the fellas chase.' So that's what we did. 

"I spend a lot of time with (Bush). He sits right next to me when we come off the field (during games). He's always to the right, Khaleke Hudson's to the left and Chase is always across the way looking at me, screaming most of the time. It's an unbelievable group to coach." 

Contact Nick Baumgardner: nbaumgardn@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.

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