2011 College Football Preview: Michigan Wolverines Analysis and Projections

The Michigan Wolverines had one of the best offenses in all of college football, led by arguably the nation's most electrifying player, quarterback Denard Robinson, but wound up with a 7-6 record and tied for seventh in the Big Ten. They also lost six of their final eight games; their defense finished near the bottom of the NCAA in every statistical category. 

Robinson rushed for 1,702 yards (the second most among all Football Bowl Subdivision players) and 14 touchdowns. He also threw for 2,570 yards and 18 touchdowns, but missed action in 10 of Michigan's 13 games due to injury. 

Embattled coach Rich Rodriguez could not withstand the hurricane of negativity surrounding the Michigan program after surrendering a combined 137 points in their final three games against Wisconsin, Ohio State and Mississippi State. 

It also took the Wolverines three overtimes and an all-out blitz on a two-point conversion to beat Illinois 67-65 in the highest scoring game in the history of The Big House. 

Despite having to implement new schemes on offense and defense, new head coach Brady Hoke, who led San Diego State to their first bowl game since 1998 last season, refuses to say the Wolverines are rebuilding. 

"I don't think we're rebuilding. Period," Hoke said at the Big Ten's Media Day in Chicago, Illinois. "We're Michigan." 

Those bold words from the Wolverines' new head man and 19 starters returning for the 2011 season has Michigan fans counting down the seconds until the team's season opener against Western Michigan on September 3rd. 

The hype is certainly warranted, but will the Wolverines live up to the rising expectations of a reinvigorated fan base, or is Michigan heading for a major let down in 2011?

Offense

Robinson, who is entering his junior season as the reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, put up monstrous numbers and carried the offensive load for the entire team in Rodriguez's read-option offense in 2010. 

New offensive coordinator Al Borges is looking to implement a pro-style offense, but will utilize Robinson's speed and ability in space in more of a hybrid offense for the next two seasons. 

The Wolverines return four of their five starting offensive linemen from 2010, helping to mask the fact that Michigan does not have a standout running back entering the 2011 campaign. 

Senior Michael Shaw is the leader to win the starting job as of today, but sophomore Stephen Hopkins and freshman Thomas Rawls are expected to produce for the Wolverines out of the backfield. 

The receiving corps is loaded with talent and returns redshirt junior wide receiver Roy Roundtree (who led the Big Ten in receiving yards in conference games last season) and a host of other potential playmakers, including seniors Martavious Odoms and Junior Hemingway. 

Overall, the Wolverine offense will have a much different look to it this season, but will be just as successful as it was a year ago. 

Robinson ran a style similar to the new one being implemented by Borges in high school and the coaching staff still plans to let him run the ball a lot, but less than last year under Rodriguez's spread offense.

The offense will be tailored to fit Robinson's strengths and put him in a position to utilize all of his talents and remain healthier than he did in 2010.

Defense

All of the talk about Michigan's defense has been nothing but negative over the past three seasons, but that will change this season with nine starters returning and new defensive coordinator Greg Mattison bringing back the 4-3 scheme Wolverine fans were accustomed to seeing until the Rodriguez era. 

Senior nose guard Mike Martin struggled much of last season due to a lingering ankle injury and having to face constant double and triple teams playing on a three-man defensive front. 

Martin will be a force in 2011 and one of the best defensive tackles in the country alongside senior Ryan Van Bergen and junior defensive end Craig Roh. 

Redshirt junior Kenny Demens began to emerge as the Wolverines' top linebacker near the end of the 2010 season. He has continued to make large strides in his progression during summer practices. 

Safety Cam Gordon moved to linebacker during the offseason and has solidified himself a spot in the starting lineup along with J.B. Fitzgerald. Redshirt freshman Jake Ryan also emerged as a solid outside linebacker during the spring and could see a lot of game action this season. 

Michigan's top two cornerbacks, Troy Woolfolk and J.T. Floyd, will bolster the Wolverines secondary after missing almost all of last season with ankle injuries. Safety Marvin Robinson has big play potential at free safety and Jordan Kovacs will be another consistent performer on the opposite side of the secondary.

Prediction

Michigan's success will once again depend on the performance of Robinson, but an improved defense and a power running game will take some of the weight off his shoulders. 

The Wolverines will struggle against the better defenses in the Big Ten and will not be able to win a defensive battle, which will hold them back in their toughest games of the season. 

The schedule sets up well for Michigan early in the season with five-consecutive home games to open their 2011 campaign. 

The Wolverines should have no problems dispatching Mid-American Conference foes Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan in non-conference play, however San Diego State will provide a tough test and the atmosphere of the first night game in the history of The Big House will be enough to sneak past Notre Dame to start the season 4-0. 

Look for a blowout in Michigan's Big Ten opener against Minnesota followed by their first road trip of the season to Northwestern. 

Do not expect Michigan to be able to slow down Northwestern's high-powered offense led by star quarterback Dan Persa, or Michigan State's tandem of running backs and efficient play-action passing game. 

The homecoming game against Purdue will provide Michigan with an opportunity to bounce back and roll into road games against Iowa and Illinois with some positive momentum. 

Look for the Wolverines to be 8-2 heading into highly anticipated tilts with Nebraska and Ohio State, but do not expect Michigan to win either of those games to close the season. 

Brady Hoke is the right man for Michigan and will once again make winning Big Ten championships a regular habit, but (although he refuses to admit it) the Wolverines need a year or two of rebuilding.

How Many Games Will Michigan Win in 2011?

Projected Record: 8-4 (4-4 Big Ten, Fourth-Place Legends Division)

9/3 - Western Michigan - Win

9/10 - Notre Dame - Win

9/17 - Eastern Michigan - Win

9/24 - San Diego State - Win

10/1 - Minnesota - Win

10/8 - @ Northwestern - Loss

10/15 - @ Michigan State - Loss

10/29 - Purdue - Win

11/5 - @ Iowa - Win

11/12 - @ Illinois - Win

11/19 - Nebraska - Loss

11/26 - Ohio State - Loss

Zach Dirlam is a Big Ten Columnist for the new website Sports at Work. Check out his blog, Dirlam’s Dirty Dugout Sports Blog, which features this story along with other articles and video reports on the major sports. You can also follow his blog on Twitter, which will provide you with the latest updates about what will be posted on the blog!