Michigan Wolverines Football: What They Must Do To Become Powerful Once Again

It's no secret that Michigan football has been dismal for the past two seasons, winning only eight games after going 8-4 in 2007.

While I am known as an OSU FC and the Buckeyes and Wolverines have had a century-long rivalry brewing, these schools share a grudging respect to one another.

But lately, the rivalry has become extremely one-sided, especially in the two matchups under Rich Rodriguez, where the Buckeyes have outscored 63-17 in the two games.

After being so illustrious and elite for decades, the fall that Michigan has taken is utterly shocking. But the damage is not irreversible by any means.

The first rule of war is to know thy enemy, and few know about the struggles of Michigan football as Ohio State, with some fans reveling in their fall.

But we are here to talk about how the winningest program in Division I football can turn themselves around in some simple steps.

1.) Follow the Nebraska Model - Find a defensive mastermind to coach

While in 2008 the problem with Michigan was their offense, it was much improved in 2009.

But the Wolverines defense was not that much better in Rodriguez's second year despite the switch to a 3-4 scheme under defensive coordinator Greg Robinson.

The defense will switch once again to the 3-3-5 Rodriguez ran at West Virginia for 2010, but it will be short one impact player after stud freshman S Demar Dorsey was denied admission to Michigan.

The Big Ten has been a defensive, physical league for a long time, and no one exemplifies this more than its newest member who went under a scenario similar to Michigan: Nebraska.

Nebraska football experienced an offensive renaissance under Bill Callahan, at the sacrifice of defense, which was consistently terrible.

When they hired Bo Pelini, the Blackshirts returned to their old glory on defense, as the Huskers were one second away from winning the Big 12 title in 2009.

Michigan should look to follow that model if possible, and from a school with recent defensive stars such as LaMarr Woodley and Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson, that turnaround could be as quick as Nebraska.

2.) Find a QB and stick with him for the whole season

Don't forget, Michigan started 4-0 in 2009, but only won one game the rest of the way.

Many Michigan fans felt that Tate Forcier was a potential Heisman candidate after a big comeback win against Notre Dame.

But when he started losing, Rodriguez compounded him with added pressure instead of focusing on maintaining his confidence, a problem that pushed them into a season-ending five-game losing streak.

The QB position is one of the most important in sports, and Michigan needs to find their guy and not only stick with him, but develop him.

Michigan has played five QBs in two seasons and is likely to play another in blue-chip freshman Devin Gardner.

By contrast, former coach Lloyd Carr started Chad Henne for all four seasons from 2004-2007.

While Michigan needs to still know who the right guy under center is, the important part is for the coaches and players to all put their faith in one guy.

The belief that one guy can be the guy and right leader on the field can unite a team and make them better as a result.

Henne could do that.

Rodriguez needs to find one that can if he wants to keep his job.

3.) Beat Ohio State 

As tough as it is for most Ohio State fans to admit, they want Michigan to be better because it not only makes the Big Ten look better (pre- and post-expansion), but it adds more spice to The Game.

By November 27, the next installment of the rivalry, it will have been almost 2,500 days since Michigan last beat Ohio State.

That was back on November 22, 2003 when John Navarre and Chris Perry led Michigan to victory over the defending national champion Buckeyes.

Since then, Michigan has never again defeated Jim Tressel. By contrast, all the other Big Ten teams besides Indiana and Michigan State have beaten the Buckeyes.

If Michigan is ready to return to glory, they need to defeat their archrivals to not only put themselves back into the national spotlight, but to reignite the rivalry and help restore their prestige.

Ohio State did that in 2001 when they beat Michigan in their first season under Tressel. They would later win the national title in the 2002 season, and play for two more titles in this decade.

So for Michigan, the objective is simple: beat your rivals, and you will be great once again.

Now by no means is this an overnight fix, but all of this added up can put Michigan football back on the level of the elites like OSU, Florida, Alabama, and Texas.

And if indeed they can be great in the new Big Ten, they can challenge for a BCS spot and try to claim their first national title since 1998.