Just curious on Hawk fans think about this coming years matchup. I think they will be solid offensively as they have 2 pretty damn good QB’s that hurt Iowa in the BTCG… I am certain Iowa has this game circled as the Paybacks are a bitch game” from getting embarrassed 😳 on the field last December. Not sure who returns what and where for them but I do know the skill talent and quarterback room are in goods but have a new coordinator (Jesse Minter) and return only three starters. Replacing ends Aidan Hutchinson and David Owhateverhislastnameisspelled are going to be a true SOB trying to replace that elite talent isn’t an easy ft
I say Iowa has a damn night game get Kinnick rocking and rolling and swap scores from last years game to the Hawkeyes
I will give you an informed and (attempted) unbiased opinion...take it fwiw...but it is imformed
The O is expected to be one of the best Michigan has had in awhile. I personally am skeptical.
The optimism starts with the OL. Michigan technically loses two starters but one is being replaced by a grad transfer who was an AA and finished 3rd in the Rimington (a trophy I'm sure you've heard of) at UVA. He would of been drafted in the first 3 rounds but decided to stay in college replacing a former walk-on at OC who was a smart player but not physically gifted. It's on paper a major upgrade. Michigan lost an OT to the draft but the guy who replaces him played a lot including lining up at TE in Jumbo packages. The two guards are returning starters and were freshman last year...both missed parts of the season with injuries but have bulked up (and are no longer first year guys). If the group stays healthy...
Another major point of optimism is the WR group. I honestly think it is being overhyped but understand were the hype is coming from. IMO (educated) this is the deepest group Michigan has ever had (going back to the early 90s) and is full of guys who can make plays. My issue is Michigan doesn't have a true 5 tool guy (besides a true frosh...who is well a true frosh)...just 6 #2 WRs...good problem to have but would rather have a true #1
The RB group is interesting. Corum is a stud but not 25+ carry guy (if you want him to stay healthy). Edwards could be that and more but he was a true frosh last year and needs to prove it. If he does it is a scary combo and if he doesn't ...well he doesn't
Not going to go too much into the QB situation....one is certainly good enough to beat anyone in the B10...the other some think can bring Michigan to the next level but was a true frosh and has a lot to prove
So let's talk D...starting with Hutch and Ojabo aren't there anymore. They changed games. The Michigan D will different...maybe more solid but probably not as dynamic.
Michigan will be better up the middle. Maui Smith (1st year starter last year) is going to be a stud. He has a couple veterans next to him in the interior line that have played a lot (thus veterans) but now just becoming upperclassmen. Plus a RS frosh who was one of the biggest gets of his class (Micbigan beat out Bama for him). At ILB Michigan returns a freshman AA who is a stud and replaced a RS frosh mid season who will be next to him this year (between those two and Ross it was the 3 man rotation in the middle). Both are better athletes than Ross (and if you want to claim I'm a homer...both were higher rated as recruits)...but Ross made plays...TBD
On the edge...Michigan is worse...you don't just replace a top 2 pick and a guy who probably would have been taken in the 1st round if not for an Achilles injury. The question is how much of a drop off? Well Moore was the starter over Ojabo for the first 3rd of the season. He's a very good Ayer and has a more compete game...he's not as explosive as Ojabo though. The guys on the other side are certainly not Hutch but one was billed as that and the other has played a lot of FB.
Where it gets interesting for me is the defensive backfield. 3 guys started at CB for Michigan last year. 2 return including the guy who had a season ending injury. Thus technically two returning starters...though neither reminded me of Charles Woodson ...on the other hand...Michigan has the #1 CB recruit in the country coming in...well an early entry though missing most of spring with an injury...when you talk safety and nickel...well...I don't know..
Imo the Michigan safeties played incredibly smart football last year but didn't do anything spectacular...this group is headlined by a headhunter (a true frosh last year who started the last few games) and some guys who run fast but maybe not box safeties...Michigan is actually hoping one of incoming guys steps up and a former WR can fill the slot
Well...take it fwiw...if it is a night game at Kinnick...throw out all analysis...