Michigan Football: 10 New Year's Resolutions for the Wolverines

Normal New Year's resolutions pertain to last-minute recruiting needs or changes needed during spring practice or the beginning of fall camp.

But for the Michigan Wolverines, this year is different. They happen to play a bowl game on Jan. 3 and can actually apply a few of these resolutions right away.

Let's first see how the Wolverines might improve their Sugar Bowl effort against Virginia Tech, then discover what will help in the final weeks of recruiting and into the upcoming season.

Key dates for the Wolverines in 2012 are National Signing Day (February 1), the spring game (April 14) and the season opener (September 1) with Alabama at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Defensive Reserves Must Step Up

As if containing Virginia Tech's stellar running back David Wilson wouldn't be tough enough, Michigan will be doing it with a depleted defensive line.

Reserve defensive end Nathan Brink has already been scratched from the lineup, and now starting tackle Will Heininger has been hobbled with a sprained foot.

Listed by coach Brady Hoke as questionable, Heininger is still positive. "You never want to get hurt," Heininger said. "Optimistically, we have great trainers. I'm hoping to get back. It's definitely getting better every day. I'll just keep working and hope for the best."

Reserve linemen Will Campbell, Quinton Washington and Jabreel Black will see plenty of Wilson, who rushed for 1,627 yards, nine touchdowns and a 6.1-per-carry average.  

Beat the Hokies at Their Own Game

Over the past several years, Virginia Tech has been blessed with outstanding special teams play.  During Frank Beamer's 25 seasons as head coach, the Hokies have blocked 63 punts, 38 field goals and 27 extra points.

The Hokies, unfortunately, will be short a pair of placekickers for next Tuesday's Sugar Bowl. Regular kicker Cody Journell was suspended after an arrest last week, and backup kicker Tyler Weiss was recently sent home for missing curfew. Senior kickoff specialist Justin Myer, who hasn't made a field goal since high school, will likely take over. 

Myer will obviously be under extra pressure, but the Wolverines are not exactly a kick-blocking juggernaut. Reserve safety Josh Furman's blocked punt against Nebraska was the team's only block this season. 

Robinson Will Dazzle NFL Scouts, Announce He's Staying at Michigan

Denard Robinson will prove his doubters wrong by turning in his best performance of the season in the Sugar Bowl.

At the same time, the junior quarterback will impress the NFL scouts with pinpoint passing from the pocket and on the run.

After the Wolverines' impressive win, Robinson will announce to the press that he'll be back for his senior year.

Wrestle a Few Recruits Away from Ohio State Before Signing Day

At last glance, Urban Meyer has already pulled off some recruiting magic. A pair of potential Michigan commits, Adolphus Washington and Bri'onte Dunn, are now back in Meyer's camp.

Michigan could return the favor by snagging offensive linemen Jordan Diamond and Alex Kozan, both who are potential Buckeyes.

Diamond played his high school ball with Michigan freshman lineman Chris Bryant, which is always a plus when it comes to recruiting.  "I'm trying to get him," Bryant told scout.com. "I'm about to go to the store and get him more Michigan gear. He is going to be a Wolverine also."

Kozan has already visited Michigan and Ohio State but isn't in a huge hurry to make a decision. Both Diamond and Kozan will be playing in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl January 3 in Phoenix.      

Find a New Center at Spring Practice

When Michigan and Virginia Tech suit up in New Orleans, David Molk will be playing his final game as Michigan's center. A 2011 Rimington Award winner and consensus All-American, Molk has started the last 25 straight games as Michigan's center.

Finding his replacement will be no easy task, since he's commanded the bulk of playing time. 

Expected to step up are rarely-used backup Rocko Khoury, true freshman Jack Miller and guard Ricky Barnum.

The Wolverines already have six lineman commits for 2012, but none are true centers.

Of the three, Miller has the most natural talent for the position and will most likely win the job at spring practice. Barnum will start at one of the guard slots.

Settle on a Punter

Will Hagerup had a great freshman season as Michigan's punter in 2011, averaging 43.6 yards a punt.

However, he fell into disfavor at the outset of this season and was suspended for the opening four games due to breaking team rules.

Freshman Matt Wile, who had already won the kickoff job, filled in admirably, posting a 41.1 average. 

Hagerup came back but struggled in the final eight games, posting only a 36.8-yard-punting average.

"We’ll see who punts in the bowl game," Coach Hoke told AnnArbor.com. 

Wile has also been pressing Brendan Gibbons for the field goal kicking job but Gibbons has improved dramatically over 2011. So far this season, the redshirt sophomore has connected on 10 of 14 attempts with only one blocked. 

Regardless of what happens at the Sugar Bowl, competition at the kicking positions will be fierce in the spring.

Give the Backup Quarterback More Playing Time

During the 2011 season, Devin Gardner has completed 11 passes in 23 attempts with one touchdown and one interception.

That sounds more like one game's effort than a whole season of work.

While it's doubtful Denard Robinson forgoes his senior year, both Gardner and Russell Bellomy need more playing time next fall.

In the few instances Gardner played this season, he often looked lost.

It was a good thing Robinson wasn't lost for an extended period of time this season. Things could have turned south in a hurry.   

Develop Some Outstanding Cornerbacks

Michigan faced several outstanding receivers during the 2011 season: Western Michigan's Jordan White, Notre Dame's Michael Floyd, MSU's Keshawn Martin and B.J. Cunningham and, of course, Ohio's DeVier Posey.

If Michigan had an Achilles' heel this season, it was pass defense.

Troy Woolfolk, Courtney Avery, J.T. Floyd and even freshman Blake Countess struggled at times.

Optimistically, the Wolverines should be deeper next season. Raymon Taylor and Delonte Hollowell were able to get some playing time and incoming freshman Terry Richardson might make an early contribution.

Finding a couple true lockdown corners would also help run support, as the Wolverines might be able to play more man coverage.

Look for Josh Furman and incoming freshman Jerrod Wilson to improve the safety depth.  

One area where Michigan did improve tremendously was not allowing the big play. Expect defensive coordinator Greg Mattison to fine-tune what was actually a very good defense in 2011.

The slip-up against Ohio State was hopefully due to the Buckeyes being much improved with all their players back. Quarterback Braxton Miller actually looked like the player Buckeye fans expected him to be.

Convince Notre Dame to Join the Big Ten

The sometimes spiteful relationship between Michigan and Notre Dame dates back to 1879 when a group of Michigan players helped get the Notre Dame program started.

The two schools have enjoyed tremendous athletic and academic success over the years and have carved out one the nation's top non-conference rivalries.

Notre Dame, the small Catholic school with national support, was a contrast to Michigan, the large, public university.

Those perceived differences were just that, as both schools have competed for the same players, students and even faculty.

Probably the biggest beef between the two schools was whether Notre Dame should be a member of the Big Ten.

For years, Notre Dame benefited from its independence and has even more recently after it struck a deal with NBC on a national television contract.

But as conferences grow larger and independents grow fewer, Notre Dame joining a conference would make sense.

Geographically, Notre Dame sits right in the center of the Big Ten. Its two fellow state schools, Indiana and Purdue, are practically next door.

Over the years, Notre Dame has not only lost its national recruiting advantage, but the recently formed Big Ten Network would benefit the Fighting Irish maybe even more than their contract with NBC.

How Notre Dame's independent status would be affected should the NCAA go to a playoff is anyone's guess.

New Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon has already made quite an impression on the Michigan campus. He might be able to pull the right strings.  

Beat the Spartans

The ugliness can be described by the following:

2008: 21-35

2009: 20-26

2010: 17-34

2011: 14-28

Enough. We've all heard plenty about arrogant asses and little brother. It's time Sparty is finally put in his rightful place among the state's hierarchy.

It won't be easy, but Michigan will take advantage of Michigan State's rookie quarterback and sack the Spartans, 31-6.  Proper order will be restored.