The drop-back style will only work if the receivers are up to the task, with
nine of the the top 10 pass catchers coming back from last year. Junior Roy
Roundtree is the main returner after catching 72 passes last year.
Overall, the team ranked third in the conference and 25th nationally in scoring 32.8 points a game, but it was the other side of the ball that received most of the attention from critics.
Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison will try and turnaround a stop unit that ranked last in the Big Ten in scoring and total defense, allowing 35.2 points and 450.8 yards respectively. The only major category it didn't rank last in was rush defense, finishing the season 10th.
A return to a 4-3 scheme is expected, as Mattison will draw from his experience of helping the Baltimore Ravens become one of the best defense's in the NFL. The talent isn't exactly there to cause a major turnaround, but the alignment will play to the side's strength at defensive line.
Bettors finished the year with empty pockets when playing this team, as Michigan posted a 3-10 ATS mark and the 'over' was 8-5 over the course of the season.
This program has one of the proudest football traditions in the entire country and the alumni will not stand for another 7-6 season. Some schools are happy with bowl appearances, but Michigan's standards are much higher than a 52-14 loss in the Gator Bowl.
It must also be mentioned that the team did start the year 5-0 before dropping a 34-17 home game to in-state rival Michigan State. That was the first of three consecutive losses, before rebounding with a wild 67-65 win
over Illinois. =