Toll Free: 1-888-759-2665Backup: 1-888-740-1958 

Michigan Wolverines Preview

The Michigan Wolverines start yet another era heading into the 2011 season and hope to perform better against the lines maker, posting a 3-10 ATS mark last year.  Former San Diego State coach Brady Hoke takes over for the departed Rich Rodriguez in Ann Arbor.

Michigan’s offensive unit was one of the more exciting in the nation due to the talents of junior quarterback Denard Robinson.  The Wolverines finished the year first in the Big Ten by averaging 488.7 yards per game. 

Robinson set the school single-season record for total offense and finished second nationally in gaining 328.6 yards per game.  He will be making a major adjustment during camp, moving from a spread offense to a more pro-style set. 

With the change in offensive philosophy, the unit will rely more on a talented group of receivers, as nine of the top 10 pass catchers from a year ago return.  The most notable name of the bunch is junior Roy Roundtree, who caught 72 passes for 935 yards and seven touchdowns last year.

Due to offensive coordinator Al Borges’ bringing back a more power-style offense, the line will have to make the biggest adjustment, as it was use to a shotgun-style attack under Rodriguez. 

The entire season really hinges on the other side of the ball, as the defense ranked 108th and 110th in scoring and total offense respectively.  Michigan’s offense managed to score 32.8 points a game last year, but wasn’t enough due to allowing opponents to score 35.2.

Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison enters his first year leading the group and has already moved from a 3-3-5 defense to a 4-3 scheme that will allow zone-blitz packages.  He will instantly gain respect from his players due to his previous stint with the Baltimore Ravens.

The most talented part of the stop unit will be the defensive line, led by All-Big Ten second-team senior Mike Martin.  He will control the opposing team’s running game by swallowing up offensive linemen in he run game.

Playing behind the front four will be a solid linebacking core, but not one that’s tremendously exciting.  The leader of the group is junior Kenny Demens, who finished 2010 with 82 tackles after taking over the starting spot midway through the season. 

Defending the pass was the biggest weakness for a porous unit all around, but the return of cornerbacks Troy Woolfolk and J.T. Floyd has given the coaching staff a sense of stability. 

The place-kicking situation is up in the air following a 2010 season that saw two players go a combined 4-for-14 in field goal situations.  Sophomore punter Will Hagerup is a weapon, averaging 43.6 yards a punt and placing 11 inside the 20.

The Wolverines are in a state of transition and must get things sorted out quickly with a Week 2 meeting with Notre Dame in the Big House.  It’s not out of the question that Michigan starts Big Ten play with a 3-1 record.