Michigan Football 2012: Extensive Spring Ball Preview for the Wolverines

What a difference a year makes. After unceremoniously dumping Rich Rodriguez and most of his staff, Michigan made an immediate resurgence under Brady Hoke and went 11-2 in 2011, finishing the year off with a victory over Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl.

Now that the slate's been wiped clean all over again, what's on tap for Michigan this year?

Important Dates

The Wolverines started spring football on Saturday, March 17, and the 2012 Mott Spring Football Scrimmage sponsored by PNC Bank is scheduled for Saturday, April 14.

Biggest Question Marks

Defensive line

Mike Martin was one of the best defensive tackles in the country, and his departure is going to be difficult for Michigan to mitigate. Likewise, Ryan Van Bergen made huge strides under the tutelage of Greg Mattison, and he will be missed this season, too.

Michigan's making some moves here, such as switching Craig Roh to a 5-technique as the strong-side DE and challenging senior William Campbell (the large and talented, but underwhelming DT) to be the new leader on the interior. There's still some uncertainty at this point, but at the very least—aside from Brennen Beyer's move to WDE—Michigan's not leaning on freshmen and sophomores here.

Wide receiver

This is clearly Roy Roundtree's year to shine since the senior wideout was moved from split end to flanker this season, and that move should help boost his productivity.

Past that, there isn't a whole lot of experience at WR for the Wolverines, so this spring should see a lot of movement among the two-deeps.

QB Devin Gardner is rumored to be taking snaps at WR, but that's not a confirmed move, and it may just be a way to get both Gardner and Denard Robinson on the field at the same time in spot situations (see: trick plays). Coaches have raved about Jerald Robinson (no relation to Denard), and Jeremy Gallon brings some experience to the table, so those two plus Roundtree might be Michigan's starting three.

But that's not set in stone, and the next three men in line are even more up in the air.

Center

The exterior of Michigan's offensive line is in pretty good shape, but it's nearly impossible to replace what David Molk brought to the table as the leader of the line last year at center.

It also doesn't help that reserve center Rocko Khoury has decided to transfer.

With that, Michigan is pretty much set on shifting starting left guard Ricky Barnum to center, but Barnum didn't set the world on fire at guard, and there isn't a whole lot of depth behind him.

Early Predictions for 2012

Michigan's better-suited for a conference title run this year than it was last season, and that's a scary proposition for a Legends Division that doesn't look a whole lot better than it did in 2011. Nebraska and Michigan State are going to be Michigan's primary rivals for the division crown again this year, and the Wolverines are good enough to beat them both, but games away from home against Alabama, Notre Dame, Nebraska and Ohio State might mean enough losses to put Michigan on the wrong side of a tiebreaker or two.

The two-game stretch against MSU and Nebraska in late October will be key.