Previewing Utah’s Opponents: Michigan Wolverines

Everyone knows about new coach Rich Rodriguez, who came over from West Virginia to try and implement his spread offense, but this year could and should be rough for the Wolverines.  The team should still be able to compete for a top three spot in the Big Ten, or worst case, maybe fourth place in the league.

Players did leave the program when Rodriguez came into town through graduation, transferring due to not fitting into the system, and leaving early for the NFL.

 

Offense

Well, this will be interesting.  Michigan lost the school's all-time leading passer in Chad Henne, all-time leading rusher in Mike Hart, and four offensive linemen, including number one overall pick Jake Long.  The offense will be full of new characters, and most are not fully suited for the spread option.

Currently there are three options at quarterback, including Nick Sheridan and Stephen Threet, who transferred from Georgia Tech, and who has a slight lead.  Neither of these quarterbacks is extremely mobile, which is needed in this offense.

The wild card in this race is true freshman Justin Feagin, who is the player that Rodriguez wants.  While in high school, Feagin rushed for 1,313 yards and 25 touchdowns and passed for 1,420 yards and 19 scores.

Rodriguez has no problems playing true freshmen—while at West Virginia he played Pat White as a true freshman.  A two-quarterback system could be used at times this year to be able to play to the quarterback strengths.

At running back, they are trying to replace Mike Hart, who was the team's all-time leading rusher.  The running back position seems to be their best, or at least their deepest.

The lead back is junior Brandon Minor, who ran for 385 yards last season in relief of Hart.  Then there is junior Kevin Grady, who was a standout recruit but tore his ACL in 2007 and is an interesting case because of that.

The receivers also lost their top two to the NFL and are left with inexperienced but talented players.  The best wideout returning, Greg Mathews, is a proven one who will start on the outside at the X position.  Mathews started five games last year and is a big receiver, which the Wolverines need.

The spread needs faster, shiftier guys, and Michigan has sophomore Junior Hemingway to fit that type.  He emerged in that spot to start at the outside Z receiver.

The offensive line will be new as well with four new starters, who in the spread need to be mobile with all the pulling the linemen do.  It will be interesting to see how that develops.

 

Defense

The defense will be their strong point and will need to try to carry the team early on.  The defense returns seven starters.  However, they have had recent trouble defending the spread, which is what Utah will run.

The defensive line is the team's best unit with all four starters back.  This includes Tim Jamison and Brandon Graham, who had 14 sacks between them a season ago, and who both have tremendous speed.

Speaking of speed, the Wolverines need that at linebacker and also need to replace 90 tackles.  Against the spread, the linebackers need to be able to cover the field horizontally, which has caused problems in the past.

The defensive backs will be led by spring ball star and new starting free safety Stevie Brown, who was making plays and gives hope to a unit that was thought to be limited in ability.  Senior Brandon Harrison is taking over the other safety spot after getting promoted from the nickel package.

The secondary should be solid, but facing three and four sets could thin out the talent Michigan has.

 

Early Prediction

As of this past week, Michigan is giving 4.5 in Vegas for this game against Utah.  This really could go either way.  I do not want to sound like a Ute homer and pick them, but the Utes have a real good chance and could win.

This is a pick ’em game, but the edge has to be with Michigan because they are at home.  Don't forget last year though—they lost to App. State, who runs a spread that is not as good as Utah’s.