2008 Michigan Wolverines


July 2, 2008 | Posted By Larry Cook

Rich Rodriquez takes over the helm at Michigan in place of Lloyd Carr in hopes of bringing with him the same success he had at West Virginia.  The defense is still loaded, so that should ease things a bit in Auburn Hills as this unit will be counted on to carry the Wolverines in ’08.  Let’s see how quickly Rodriquez can get his team to catch on to his spread offense system with our 2008 Michigan Wolverines Football Predictions below.

Offense:

Lloyd Carr welcomed the spread attack in his time at Michigan as much as he would a heart attack.  But Rich Rodriquez views it as the ideal way to give defensive coordinators a headache.  Getting things going at full speed might take a while, considering the personnel losses from last season are substantial.  Michigan’s leading career rusher Mike Hart is gone, and so is leading career passer Chad Henne.  The team’s two top receivers departed, as well as No. 1 overall pick Jake Long at tackle.  Once things looked like they couldn’t get any worse, QB Ryan Mallet transferred to Arkansas and starting lineman Justin Boren left for Ohio State of all places.  Also, the Wolverines missed out on the Nation’s No. 1 recruit in Terrell Pryor as he signed with the Buckeyes as well.

Redshirt freshman Steven Threet will be asked to lead Michigan at quarterback this season after transferring from Georgia Tech.  He’ll be operating behind an inexperienced offensive line and trying to find receivers who are also mostly inexperienced.  One exception is junior Greg Mathews, who caught 37 balls last year.  No single running back can be expected to carry Hart’s load, so the Wolverines will use a committee consisting of Brandon Minor, Kevin Grady and Carlos Brown.  Grady runs with power, Brown is the speed back and Minor brings the best of both worlds.

Defense:

The Wolverines defense will be expected to perform immediately, and spectacular if Michigan is even going to make a bowl game this season.  Middle linebacker Obi Ezeh is one of eight returning starters that is expected to carry the load.  First-year coordinator Scott Shafer will be relying on those veterans to execute his all-out attacking scheme.  Rushing the passer will be key as the Wolverines turn to ends Tim Jamison and Brandon Graham, who combined for 14 sacks last year.

The team returns both starting tackles in Terrance Taylor and Will Johnson.  In the secondary, speedy cornerback Morgan Trent will start for a third season.  Donovan Warren will try to improve on a disappointing freshman campaign.  Junior Steve Brown could quickly become a ball-hawking, play-making free safety.  This secondary finished 8th in the country in passing yards allowed per game at just a 178.8 average. 

Michigan Wolverines Predictions at Info Plays:  5th in the Big Ten

Rodriquez has downplayed expectations for ’08 since he arrived in Ann Arbor.  The Wolverines last six players to the NFL Draft, leaving gaping holes on offense.  Marquee games at Penn State, Notre Dame and Ohio State could bring three headaches.  Also home dates with Michigan State and Wisconsin could send the Wolverines below .500 for the first time in 24 seasons.  Our guess is that Michigan will win at least six games and earn a trip to a bowl game in what has to be considered a success in ’08.

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