Michigan Football: 11 Reasons Why the Wolverines Should Be Preseason Top 25

For four weeks during the 2010 season, Michigan was ranked in the top 25. They reached the pinnacle at No. 18 (Associated Press) before they faced Michigan State on October 9, 2010.

From then on, the Wolverines lost five of their remaining seven games, proving they couldn't compete with the more physical Big 10 teams.

For 2011, bleacherreport.com 's Amy Daughters has Michigan placed at No. 25, while nationalchamps.net has picked Michigan at No. 33. Another pre-season poll conducted by sportingnews.com lists the Wolverines in the 40th spot.

But there's no question the team that takes the field September 3, 2011 with Western Michigan is better than the one Michigan State took behind the woodshed last fall.

Here are 11 reasons why the Wolverines are better, and that they should be part of the pre-season top-25:  

Senior Leadership

Last year's team featured only four senior starters (Steve Schilling and Perry Dorrestein on offense, and James Mouton and James Rogers on defense).

Players normally get stronger, bigger and often smarter as they move up from their freshman to senior seasons.

Size, of course is just what Michigan needs to compete at a higher level, especially in the Big 10.

Watch seniors Troy Woolfolk, Ryan Van Bergen, Mike Martin,  David Molk, Mark Huyge, Kevin Koger, John McColgan and Junior Hemingway all have their best seasons yet.  

Improved Defense

There's absolutely no way Michigan's 2011 defense could possibly resemble last season's. Sure, many of the faces are the same but by the time the season starts, new defensive coordinator Greg Mattison will instill the necessary confidence needed to make a difference. 

First of all, Mattison has abandoned the 3-3-5 alignment, something that caused communication problems between the players, in addition to a rift between ex-defensive coordinator Greg Robinson and ex-head coach Rich Rodriguez.

Michigan will stick to a more conventional 4-3 scheme, occasionally moving into the 3-4. Mattison, whose Baltimore Ravens' defenses were among National Football League's best, will be at home in Ann Arbor, since he spent five years as a Wolverine assistant from 1992 through 1996.  

Defensive Newcomers

The major buzz around spring practice concerned the play of redshirt freshman linebacker Jake Ryan and early-enrollee Greg Brown

Ryan, one of those players with unlimited football IQ, and Brown, are both expected to challenge for starting roles.

Three talented and athletic safeties, Marvin Robinson, Carvin Johnson and Josh Furman, will battle incumbent Jordan Kovacs for two safety spots.

Big Will Campbell, a five-star prospect from Detroit, never has reached the potential some folks expected. For his junior year, Greg Mattison has basically assigned Campbell the starting defensive tackle slot, in hopes that he doesn't fall flat on his face.          

Denard Robinson

Before Brady Hoke met the press for the first time, he was busy conducting his first order of business. That, of course, was making sure Robinson wasn't on the first train out of Ann Arbor.

All Robinson did as a first year starter was finish sixth in the Heisman Trophy balloting, win the Chicago Tribune Big 10 MVP award, and set the Big 10 all-time total offense record (4,272 yards). He also passed for 2,570 yards and led the Big 10 in rushing with 1,702 yards.. 

But the second half of the season wasn't the first, so Hoke and offensive coordinator Al Borges, are trying to transfer Michigan into more of a power offense for a pair of reasons. One, to be more competitive in the Big 10, and two, to keep Robinson healthy all season.

Devin Gardner, who at 6'4" is more of a pure pocket-passer, will get much more playing time than a year ago, giving Robinson some much need rest.    

Favorable Schedule

Not only do the Wolverines play eight of their 12 games at home, they'll meet all of their toughest opponents at the Big House, with the exception of Michigan State.

Notre Dame, Purdue, Nebraska and Ohio State will give Michigan trouble at home. But even if the Wolverines drop half of those, then lose to Michigan State and Iowa on the road, Michigan would finish 8-4.

A record like that should get the 2013 recruiting class off to a good start.     

Place Third-and-Short in McColgan's Hands.

It's been quite a while since Michigan actually had a fullback who carried the ball. John McColgan, who's about to enter his senior year, has yet to have a rushing attempt.

Yes, he did catch a two-yard pass for a touchdown, but he's primarily been used as a bench warmer.

In offensive coordinator Al Borges' pro-style offense, expect McColgan and power-back Stephen Hopkins to produce a two-pronged attack in short yardage situations.

Of course, we can't rule out Denard Robinson making a couple of fakes, then throwing the home-run ball to Roy Roundtree, Martavious Odoms or Junior Hemingway. The 2011 season might get exciting.   

Returning Starters

Michigan has 10 starters returning on both offense and defense.

The good thing is that so many starters are back from an offensive unit that finished eighth in the nation with 488.69 yards-per-game. Only Steve Schilling, Perry Dorrestein and Tate Forcier have departed. Sure, the naysayers complain that the new system will hinder Robinson's effectiveness both as a runner and passer.

But don't look for a wholesale change in the offense overnight. You see a lot more of the San Diego State offense at Michigan before you'll see much of Wisconsin's. 

About the defense, the bad thing is that so many players are returning from a unit that gave up over 35 points-per-game.

All kidding aside, Michigan's defense should be much improved by the addition of this group of freshmen and redshirt freshmen: linebackers Jake Ryan, Antonio Poole, Kellen Jones and Desmond Morgan; defensive ends Chris Rock, Brennen Beyer and Jordan Paskorz; defensive tackles Richard Ash,and Kenny Wilkins; safety Josh Furman and cornerbacks Blake Countess, Greg Brown, Raymon Taylor, Tamani Carter and Delonte Hollowell. 

Throw in all of the newcomers and an added year of weight lifting to the returning players and mix in a defensive coordinator who's been successful at every level. Michigan's defense undoubtedly has a recipe for improvement.     

Thomas Rawls and Justice Hayes to Compete

By now, many of us are familiar with the rivalry between running backs Thomas Rawls and Justice Hayes. The two incoming freshmen plan on seizing playing time from the plethora of running backs on the Michigan roster.  

Rawls and Hayes, a pair of competing pals from the Flint/Saginaw corridor, both see themselves in the Michigan lineup before long. 

“We both inspire each other,” Hayes told mlive.com. “(Rawls is) going to be a great teammate. I can’t wait until we both step on campus and compete."

At 5'10" and 215 pounds, Rawls looks to be a slightly smaller version of the talented Michigan back Anthony Thomas. The 5'10", 180-pound Hayes has been compared to the great Barry Sanders, but that might be a bit of a stretch. Sanders, who won the 1988 Heisman for Oklahoma State, played 10 years for the NFL Detroit Lions and retired as the league's third-leading ground gainer. Pound-for-pound, Sanders is known as the best running back of all time.     

Mike Martin

Mike Martin is finally going to show off his athletic ability. After a stellar high school football career where he was also an accomplished wrestler, shot-putter and discus-thrower, Martin has played most of his career at nose tackle, registering 108 tackles and 6.5 sacks.

In today's game, nose-tackles often get double-teamed and sometimes simply disappear.

Mattison, who has already recognized Martin's special abilities, has other plans for the 6'2", 299-pound senior. If you keep your eye on Martin, you're going to see him playing different positions along the front. This will free him up to possibly double his career sack production.      

Field Goals, Anyone?

Michigan connected on a dismal four of 14 field goals in 2010. 

Fortunately, a freshman kicker decided to follow Brady Hoke from San Diego to Ann Arbor.

Matt Wile, who's expected to easily win the field goal job, was also an easy sell by the Wolverines since he will become the fifth generation of Wiles to attend Michigan.

Matt, who competed in the U.S. Army All-American game, connected on 19 of 25 attempts in his final two high school seasons, the longest being from 49 yards out. 

Healthy Cornerbacks

In the fall of 2010, the Wolverines knew they were thin at cornerback. After Troy Woolfolk suffered leg injuries in August, Michigan was down to five able-bodied defenders. James Rogers and J.T Floyd would be the starters, while true freshmen Courtney Avery and Cullen Christian would be the backups. Junior Tony Anderson would be there when needed.

Floyd hurt an ankle during practice before the Illinois game and missed the last five games, allowing Avery to step into a starting spot.

It looks like Woolfolk and Floyd will be the season opening starters.  Avery, Anderson and early-enrollee Greg Brown will provide the depth at first. Unfortunately, Cullen Christian transferred to Pittsburgh during the off-season.

Four more freshman cornerbacks will be ready for the beginning of training camp in mid-August.

Blake Countess, Ramon Taylor, Tamani Carter and Delonte Hollowell are all highly-regarded and conceivably earn some playing time this fall.

What a difference a year makes. The cornerback situation seems to be in good hands for 2011.