Michigan Wolverines Football: 10 Ways Michigan Will Be Different in 2011

The 2011 Michigan football team likely won't even resemble the Wolverines teams of the past three years. This isn't only because of the new offensive or defensive schemes they're running, but also because of the little things, such as fundamentals and discipline.

New coaches are bringing in a new attitude, one that hasn't necessarily been present the past three years. This new attitude will be present this season and is one of the many new positive changes that the Michigan program will endure this fall.

10. Fan Support

Some of the boosters and supporters of the Michigan program did not back Rich Rodriguez the minute he was hired, and no matter how well he did, they never would. This caused separation and turmoil throughout the fanbase, former players and staff included.

Since Brady Hoke is a "Michigan Man" and belongs in Ann Arbor, the fanbase is once again united and it will show this fall. There will be no more embarrassing moments in which people are calling for his firing or wishing him to fail, as there has been in recent years.

Brady Hoke belongs at Michigan, and that's something every Wolverines fan can agree upon.

9. Home-Field Advantage

Lately, the Big House hasn't been a stadium that opposing teams have feared. Michigan has lost way too many games at home over the past few years, and it has to end.

The Big House needs to become a place that opponents fear again. Brady Hoke knows that you have to take care of business at home to be a championship team.

With the recent renovations that it underwent, and with brand new scoreboards being installed this season, Michigan Stadium just keeps getting bigger and better.

It won't be long before opponents dread playing here again.

8. Adjustments

Rich Rodriguez did not make adjustments well in his time at Michigan. This was most notable in 2008, when he did not adjust to his offensive personnel, continually playing overwhelmed Steven Threet and Nick Sheridan at quarterback. Rodriguez did not adjust well during games either.

Brady Hoke will do the opposite. He will adjust to the personnel he has, doing whatever it is that will allow them to be successful.

For example, Denard Robinson will obviously be under center most of the time this year, but he will still have plenty of designed runs and zone-read plays.

Hoke will adjust during games as well. If something isn't working or needs to be changed, he will do what it takes to win. Michigan will now look better in the second halves of games, as it will constantly be adjusting to whatever the opposition is doing.

7. Off the Field

The way players act off the field will be better than ever before. Brady Hoke isn't joking around when he talks about this, as we've already seen what happened to Darryl Stonum.

Hoke will begin to recruit the kind of kids that won't be getting into any trouble off the field. These kids will be great in the community and will truly become great "Michigan Men."

6. Respect

Michigan will respect every opponent it plays, but more importantly, opponents will respect Michigan. No team is going to overlook the Wolverines or talk trash about them, because they won't give opponents a reason to.

Much of the media has bashed Michigan over the past few years about the way it has played, among other things. That will come to an end as well.

Both opponents and the media will respect Michigan because it will play hard on the field and do everything right off it.

5. Fundamentals

Under Brady Hoke, Michigan will be fundamentally sound in every aspect of the game. There were so many things that were missing under Rodriguez fundamentally, but Hoke will stress the basics immensely.

The biggest improvements will be on defense. Guys will tackle with better form and not play out of position. Fundamentals on special teams will improve as well.

You won't see any drive-killing penalties, either. Michigan will be fundamentally sound in everything it does.

4. Toughness

Michigan wasn't as tough as it could've been the last three years, but that toughness will be back this year. You have to be tough physically in the Big Ten if you expect to win.

Obviously, the defense will be a lot tougher on opponents, but certain parts of the offense will be as well. The offensive line will be an experienced group of veterans, and you will see them play with a certain level of toughness that hasn't been seen here in a while.

3. Attitude

Michigan needs that swagger back that it used to have. It needs to feel like it's going to win every single game it plays, regardless of the opponent.

Brady Hoke will instill a winning attitude into these players' minds, and it will certainly pay off. Although it's unlikely that they'll win every game they play this year, the Wolverines will eventually get to the point where they are favored in almost all of their games.

Before you can win, you have to believe you can win, and that is what Hoke is teaching these players.

2. Physicality

You have to play with a certain level of physicality in the Big Ten, and Michigan hadn't been doing that lately. This is the first thing Hoke will teach these kids.

There's no doubt that being physical is No. 1 on his priority list, and he won't accept anything less. Both the offensive and defensive lines will have to play at a physicality level that they've never even come close to.

Every single player on the field will have to play at that kind of level or they won't be seeing the field much. Once Michigan gets in the habit of doing this weekly, it will be tough to beat.

1. Winning

This year, the biggest difference we will see in Michigan's team is how they compete and win games.  They haven't been doing that enough lately, but this year will be different.

Hoke doesn't want to lose one game on their schedule, and he has to make the players believe they can win every single game as well.

Once Michigan beats a few good teams early on, they will start playing with a swagger, and believe that they will win every game they play.