Michigan Football: Strong Schedule Will Slow Wolverines' Progress

After a monumental campaign under Brady Hoke last season, Denard Robinson and the Michigan Wolverines head into the upcoming season with high expectations.

There are concerns about the starters they lost, but the real obstacle will prove to be their schedule.

Hoke and the Wolverines have already made a good deal of adjustments, including moving Brennen Beyer from linebacker to weakside defensive end, Craig Roh to strongside defensive end, Jibreel Black to the interior and Ricky Barnum from guard to center. The adjustments, combined with Robinson, shouldn't see the Wolverines drop much, if at all.

However, they do have a frightening schedule next season, and that may be too much to overcome to reach a BCS bowl.

Next season, the Wolverines face such teams as Alabama (Sept. 1), Notre Dame (Sept. 22), Michigan State (Oct. 20), Nebraska (Oct. 27) and, of course, Ohio State (Nov. 24).

In that sense, expecting Michigan to go 11-2 again and win the Sugar Bowl may be too hopeful. The Wolverines could play even better this season and end up with a worse record because of their schedule. They are going to have to play nothing short of excellent football to have a shot at meeting their sky-high expectations.

Hoke has already done a tremendous job building up the Wolverines, and they should be good for years to come, but this doesn't look like the season where Michigan will turn heads. In the end, this season may be all about developing for the future.

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