Michigan Football: 10 Benchmarks for Spring Success

Spring football is quickly approaching, although fans may not be as excited as usual because of Michigan basketball and March Madness.

Yes, I am one of those people who is more invested in the basketball program right now. Regardless, I still cannot wait for spring practice to arrive.

Here is a look at 10 benchmarks that will hopefully be met.

Improve Denard's Passing

Simply put, Denard Robinson's passing needs to get better.

There is no way that Michigan wins 11 games again if Denard throws the ball the way he did last year.

If he could get back to his 2010 form, this offense would be much more dynamic.

We know that it will be a major emphasis this spring, as Al Borges is determined to make everything about Denard's passing game better, from his throwing motion to footwork and anything in between.

We'll see how much he has improved by the way he throws in the spring game.

Keep Devin Gardner Happy

Whether Gardner is a realistic threat to transfer or not, nobody seems to know.

However, it is crucial that he doesn't, as the team needs this guy around.

Yes, Shane Morris will arrive in 2013, but we can't realistically expect him to start as a true freshman. Starting Gardner as a senior in 2013 would be a much better option.

Gardner is a great athlete, and it was good to see Borges take advantage of that a little bit in 2011.

Whether it means lining him up in the backfield with Denard or using him as a decoy, Gardner needs to play some type of role in this offense and not sit on the bench.

We'll certainly see a package or two that includes both Denard and Gardner in the spring game.

Establish a Capable Backup to Fitz Toussaint

The Wolverines would be in a tough spot if Toussaint were to go down with injury in 2012, and they'd be well served to establish a capable backup as soon as possible.

There is no question that Thomas Rawls is the leading candidate is to back up Toussaint. We thought we'd see Rawls play a bigger role in 2011 before he went down with an injury.

He will be a true sophomore in 2012, and should play some kind of role in this offense, likely spelling Toussaint at times.

This kid has all the potential in the world, and could take over once Toussaint graduates.

Rawls will be one of the most intriguing guys to keep an eye on in the spring game.

Get Jerald Robinson Going

Jerald Robinson is arguably the key to Michigan's passing game, yet he has never caught a pass in his career.

This kid seems to be bursting with potential, but just hasn't put it all together yet. Now is the year for him to do that, as talent at receiver seems to be lacking.

I think Robinson is the most intriguing player to watch this spring.

Find a Starting Tight End

Kevin Koger has basically been manning the tight end spot for the past four years, and now Michigan must find a new one.

The options look bleak though. Brandon Moore has never lived up to his potential, and not much is expected of Ricardo Miller.

Plus, true freshmen A.J. Williams and Devin Funchess won't arrive until fall. It's a shame that Chris Barnett left, as he could definitely fill that role.

Not much is expected out of either tight end this spring, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see one of the two true freshman win the job in the fall.

Find a New Center

This one will not be easy. David Molk was one of the team's most important players over the last few years, and his presence on and off the field will be badly missed.

And we saw how Rocko Khoury performed in the Sugar Bowl, so who knows how much can be expected out of him?

A lot of people think Jack Miller will win the job, but he will only be a redshirt freshman and has never played a snap in his life.

The most likely candidate at this point seems to be Ricky Barnum.

Now a senior, we will see if Barnum is able to make the transition from guard to center.

Rebuild the Defensive Line

Mike Martin, Ryan Van Bergen and Will Heininger will all be missed, and the defensive line will look completely different in 2012.

Craig Roh will likely start, even though his job could be in jeopardy.

Will Campbell will also likely start, and will at least hopefully be adequate.

After those two, who knows? Will Quinton Washington start at tackle, or will Jibreel Black start alongside Campbell?

Has young Frank Clark impressed enough yet to win a starting job? The answer seems to be yes.

What role will Ondre Pipkins play when he arrives in the fall?

The defensive line is one of the most important units to keep an eye on this spring.

Make Sure the Secondary Regains Their Confidence

As hard as it is to admit, Michigan's secondary was downright awful in their final two games against Ohio and Virginia Tech.

This is especially concerning, as neither of those teams had a great passing attack.

Blake Countess and Thomas Gordon both had awful games and will need to bounce back this spring. Countess is still a young guy and probably just needs some reassuring. Gordon, on the other hand, could see his starting safety spot in jeopardy.

The main reason he'll probably keep the job is Michigan's lack of depth at the position.

With seniors J.T. Floyd and Jordan Kovacs starting in 2012, the group should be fine.

Make Sure Will Hagerup Can Handle the Punting Duties

Will Hagerup was absolutely awful at times last year, and needs to start punting much better.

If not, Matt Wile will take his job.

Most of Hagerup's problems throughout his career have seemed to be in his head, and that is a fixable problem.

He has shown glimpses of what he can do, as he has the potential to be a Zoltan Mesko-like punter.

He must show improvement early though, because the coaches may not be as patient with him this year.

Find New Leaders and Captains to Replace the Departed Ones

Last year's seniors—David Molk, Mike Martin, Ryan Van Bergen, Kevin Koger, and Junior Hemingway—were some of the most important people in Michigan's program during their careers, and they are all now gone.

New captains and leaders will have to be found. Fortunately, Team 133 is loaded with great seniors.

Denard Robinson and Jordan Kovacs will both likely be captains in their senior years, as they mean as much as anybody to this team.

Other important senior captain candidates include Craig Roh, J.T. Floyd, Patrick Omameh, Roy Roundtree and Kenny Demens.

Vincent Smith may not play as big a role in 2012, but he will also be a very important senior.

It will be tough to outdo the impact of Team 132's seniors, but this 2012 group has the potential to do so.