Today is the third story in my series of Big 10 team previews for the 2011 season featuring the Leaders and Legends division. I will be touching on one team from the Big 10 conference in each article, as I break down who is returning, who left, their 2011 schedule and some key reasons to the team’s chances of success this season….Today I will be previewing the Michigan Wolverines from the Legends division.
Michigan Wolverines 2011 Prediction
I have the Wolverines finishing in third place of the Legends division. They will fall behind division-leading Nebraska and the second place Spartans from Michigan State. The Michigan defense is what everyone is talking about this off-season. San Diego’s Brady Hoke takes over as the head coach after Rich-Rod’s failed experiment in Ann Arbor. Hoke was the defensive line coach at Michigan from 1995-2002. Regardless, the Wolverines go from the spread offense to a more balanced attack. Denard “Shoelace” Robinson is one of the most exciting athletes in the country and will make this team a legitimate threat once they figure it out. All in all, the Wolverines will be better than they were last season, but juts not as good as some Michigan fans would hope. Wait ’til next year Michigan, wait ’til next year.
Offense
Denard Robinson was one of the most explosive college football players in the country last season in a spread offense that saw the QB average 328.6 yards per game in total offense (ranked #2 overall in the nation). It may be trickier for Robinson this season having to deal with taking a majority of his snaps from under the center. I feel his running stats will decrease a great deal, but his passing totals should sky rocket in the pro style. Roy Roundtree is another sensational wide receiver who looks to emerge this year nationally. Last season during his sophomore campaign, Roundtree led the team in receptions with 72, to go along with 935 yards. Alongside running back Fitzgerald Toussaint, this trio will try to fool some opponents this season with their new offensive game plan and scheme. Look for Michigan to definitely play spoiler to a few team’s bowl hopes in 2011.
Defense
Defensive tackle Mike Martin returns this season, after compiling 37 tackles for Michigan last season. He will also be used at the defensive end position this season to utilize his 6-foot, 2-inch and 300 pound athletic frame. The Michigan defense allowed 34 rushing touchdowns in 2010, which was good for the most in school history. In fact, the Wolverines allowed just 34 total TD’s from 2005-2007. With the former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Greg Mattison taking over the defense, it won’t be long before the Wolverines will be out on the prowl.
Recruits
Brady Hoke had less than a month to recruit his first class in his Michigan coaching career. He did however, get his hands on one of the best cornerback’s in the nation. Blake Countess should make an immediate impact once he steps onto campus. The All-American will definitely add strength to Michigan’s weakest defensive position, the secondary.
Schedule
September: Western Michigan, Notre Dame, Eastern Michigan, San Diego State
October: Minnesota, @ Northwestern, @ Michigan State, Purdue
November: @ Iowa, @ Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio State
We can clearly see the Wolverines are taking it easy out of the gates with the new coaching regime in place. Their first five games of the season are at home in Ann Arbor. An average unit would go at the very least, 4-1 in the span. I feel Notre Dame should be able to beat them, but every time people pick Notre Dame, they seem to fall flat on their faces. Nevertheless, the month of September should treat the Wolverines kindly. At Northwestern and at Michigan State are the two losses I see for the Wolverines in October. I just don’t like a team having to travel on the road in back-to-back weeks, nevertheless to play their arch rival on the back end of it in East Lansing, Mich. I don’t see Michigan winning more than one game in November. The one win I have for them is at the University of Illinois, and that may be a stretch. Michigan will squeak into a bowl game, but it won’t be easy after a tumultuous November where they will be playing three ranked teams. Even with the new divisions, the schedule makers found a way to have the Wolverines meet up with Ohio State on the last day of the Big 10 season. It really hasn’t been a game in most of the Tressel-era, but that is over…I can see Michigan playing the Buckeyes close for three and half quarters.
