Michigan Wolverines
Projected #5 in Legends Division
2010 Record: 7-6 (3-5)
Man, that Rich Rod was bad. Damn, Denard Robinson was good last season.
Two great pieces of news for Wolverine fans: Rodriguez is gone, and Robinson is back! Let the celebration begin in Ann Arbor, because a new sheriff is in town at head coach, and Big Blue has a Heisman candidate at quarterback for the 2011 campaign.
First things first: let us discuss the new head ball coach. Brady Hoke, former defensive coach for Michigan back when they won a share of the national championship in 1997, is taking over a team that is in dire need of getting back to the philosophies and foundations of what has made Michigan such a great program over the years. With this hire, a true "Michigan Man" is now at the helm, and that will only mean good things to come for Wolverine fans. Will that mean a true return to national prominence? I'm not sure yet, but I'll be anxious to see how that goes.
Returning is the aforementioned Heisman candidate in Denard Robinson, who will be transitioning from Rich Rod's spread option attack to a pro-style offense under highly regarded offensive coordinator Al Borges. While I do not doubt that Robinson is a great player because...well, he is, I do doubt this true abilities as a true quarterback. He is a gifted athlete, but a high-grading quarterback he is not. People said last season and said for a few years that Terrelle Pryor wasn't a true quarterback at OSU, but that obviously was proven false after the season Pryor has last year. I don't expect Robinson to follow suit, simply because Pryor had three years to learn in a system that gave him every opportunity to learn and get better. Robinson, however, is coming out of two seasons playing in a system where he was the featured ball carrier. With about 10 carries per game planned for Denard, plus playing in a more passer-friendly system, I do not expect him to get the Heisman pub that he earned last season.
The offense returns several playmakers, including WR Roy Roundtree, the offensive line will be perfectly fine, and the points should still be scored up in Michigan. Can they find a competent running back to use as a feature back? Again, I'm not sure.
The defense now has a proven defensive coordinator, thus ending the era of recruiting undersized MAC caliber players that were plugged in to play in Rich Rod's silly 3-3-5 crap or whatever was ran up there the past few seasons. I don't think the defense will be good this season, but in time it will return to being a highly respectable to very good unit. My evidence? They are on a recruiting tear on that side of the ball so far in 2011.
All in all, I think there are too many question marks with this team to say that they are going to make a run at playing for the Big Ten championship or going to a prestigious Jan. 1st bowl game (or Jan. 2nd, in this case), but that doesn't mean that they won't make a bowl game. I am projecting them to win 7 games once again, with a legitimate shot at winning their bowl game when it's all said and done. My final verdict: 2011 will be a year of elevated expectations. 2012 and beyond will feature a return to winning for the Michigan Wolverines.
The fight song for the year: HAIL to going back to your roots, thank GOD.
Predicted Record: 7-5 (4-4)
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