Michigan Football: Winners and Losers of the Spring Game

Thanks to solid defense and a pair of Thomas Rawls touchdown scampers, we saw a 17-0 shutout by the Blue squad.

Denard Robinson did not see a ton of snaps, which allowed Devin Gardner and redshirt freshman Russell Bellomy to develop.

The defense played well, albeit Brady Hoke would prefer some improvement in time for that tilt with the Tide at Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

Recapping the spring game from the Wolverines, here are your winners and losers from the 17-0 victory by the Blue team.

Winner: Thomas Rawls

Fitzgerald Toussaint is the starter, of course, and he looked good as always, but Thomas Rawls had a pair of trips to paydirt.

There were only two touchdowns on the day, and Rawls owned both of them. He hit the hole well, running behind a solid offensive line that gashed the defensive line more times than not in the battle of the trenches.

This is great news for the Wolverines, because the more talent Denard Robinson has in his backfield, the more it will allow him to stay fresh throughout the season.

Loser: Defensive Line

Can we put a question mark around everybody but Craig Roh?

By no means is the defensive line abysmal or lacking in talent, but they need to find a group of guys to replace their defensive leader.

That leader, of course, was Mike Martin, and the likes of Jibreel Black and Will Campbell are the two that must be able to be relentless.

In time, they should be fine. But they were gashed several times, which allowed Toussaint and Rawls to run roughshod, and we know Alabama will be tough to go up against in the opener.

The entire coaching staff has stated that they need to be more physical, and that is a must , especially knowing that the best offensive line in college football will attempt to impose their will on the Wolverines on Sept. 1.

Winner: Gerald Robinson

The receivers had their opportunities today, and Gerald Robinson (ankle) looked good right out of the gates. He did tweak his ankle a tad, but overall, the kid made the catches he had to.

Robinson is expected to see significant time with Daryl Stonum (dismissal) and Junior Hemingway (graduated) both no longer on the team.

Roy Roundtree is their star at the moment, with Jeremy Gallon providing a ton of firework capability as well. If Robinson can add another dimension to this passing game for Denard Robinson, the offense will rank among the best in the Big Ten.

Loser: Center Position

In case you missed the Sugar Bowl's opening drive for the Wolverines, it was tough to watch. Well, at times, the same could be stated for Michigan's offense during the spring game.

Losing Rimington Trophy-winner David Molk at center is nearly mission impossible at the moment.

No need to completely fret, but the three bobbled and fumbled snaps did not make Brady Hoke pleased. Those are minor adjustments for now, but they will became major issues if they do not get resolved sooner than later.

The Wolverines' 2012 schedule does not start off soft, with both Alabama and Notre Dame both in the first month. Sure, the Tide represent much more of a challenge than the Irish do, but Alabama has the talent to knock the confidence and depth off of Michigan if they are not prepared.

Winner: Brandin Hawthorne

Hit stick much?

Brandin Hawthorne and the group of linebackers that Michigan will be throwing out there in 2012 could be special. They may be the best in the Big Ten, perhaps, with several guys wreaking havoc.

We saw Jake Ryan burst on the scene in last year's spring game, but Ryan is a stud and then some. He can line up on the line (went up against Taylor Lewan), and he can drop back in coverage as well.

Throw in Kenny Demens as well, who some look at as the most complete guy of the bunch. And there is Mike Jones and Cameron Gordon, who should also see significant playing time.

The battle should be intense to see who starts, but the depth behind the starters will not give much (if any) of a decrease in production.

In just 20 weeks, we will be kicking off the season, as the Michigan Wolverines will attempt to win their first Big Ten title since 2004. A preseason top 10 ranking is likely, and another trip to Pasadena (2006) could be in their sights if they continue to improve on both lines of scrimmage.

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