|
QB
Chad Henne |
|
|
2006
Statistics |
Coach:
Lloyd Carr
113-36,
12 years |
2006
Record: 11-2 |
|
VANDERBILT |
WON
27-7 |
CENTRAL
MICHIGAN |
WON
41-17 |
at
Notre Dame |
WON
47-21 |
WISCONSIN |
WON
27-13 |
at
Minnesota |
WON
28-14 |
MICHIGAN
STATE |
WON
31-13 |
at
Penn State |
WON
17-10 |
IOWA |
WON
20-6 |
NORTHWESTERN |
WON
17-3 |
BALL
STATE |
WON
34-26 |
at
Indiana |
WON
34-3 |
at
Ohio State |
LOST
39-42 |
ROSE
BOWL |
Southern
California |
LOST
18-32 |
|
2006
Final Rankings
AP-8, Coaches-9, BCS-3
|
2007
Outlook |
Head
coach Lloyd Carr has two senior Heisman
candidates leading his offense, yet
this may be one of Carr’s toughest
turnarounds - needs at receiver, TE,
FB and DE are sure to test Michigan’s
13-year top general. Just the names
Chad Henne and Mike Hart make defenses
twitch, and the quality depth behind
each – the future of the team’s
offensive production – means
foes can never let up, or else. Henne
will be challenged, though, to have
his final year be as statistically
strong due to new, adjusting faces
possibly meaning limited open targets.
The receivers look like they will
step up, but those two- and three-TE
sets that cause opponents matchup
problems (the same way others use
spread formations) may be put aside.
The defense has to rebound from some
major personnel losses and being tattooed
in their last two games. Turnover
can do wonders for resetting team
moral…the new faces eventually
gel so the new-look team can form
its own distinct identity, different
than those that came before. This
latest version of Michigan’s
gridiron giants, loaded with 13 starting
upperclassmen, can easily erase the
sour taste of being Big Ten runner-ups
for the last three years. The ability
and leadership is there. The Wolverine’s
slate is front- and back-loaded, so
UM has to have all its parts in place
quickly to avoid being stuck with
some quick losses. But when only four
games are away from the Big House
and Wisconsin is the only tough one,
Michigan has the inside track for
a chance at the league title. In a
year that will see new starting QBs
in Columbus, Madison and South Bend,
2007 has to be seen as a golden opportunity
with Henne in command. We will start
them out as the Big Ten’s best
due to him and Hart, though the close
game with Bowling Green last year
says they are no lock for the BCS
until the Buckeyes leave Michigan
Stadium the night of November 17th.
Projected
2007 record: 10-2
|
|
MICHIGAN
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 4.5 |
DL
- 3.5 |
RB
- 4.5 |
LB
- 3.5 |
WR
- 4 |
DB
- 4 |
OL
- 4 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Chad Henne, 203-328-8, 2508 yds.,
22 TD
Rushing: Mike Hart, 318 att.,
1562 yds., 14 TD
Receiving: Adrian Arrington,
40 rec., 544 yds., 8 TD
Scoring: Mike Hart, 14 TD,
1 2-pt. conv., 86 pts.
Punting: Zoltan Mesko, 50 punts,
41.6 avg.
Kicking: None
Tackles: Jamar Adams, 47 tot.,
39 solo
Sacks: Tim Jamison, 5 sacks
Interceptions: Ryan Mundy,
Jamar Adams, Max Pollock, Morgan Trent
- 1 each
Kickoff Returns: Johnny Sears,
5 ret., 17.8 avg., 0 TD
Punt Returns: Greg Mathews,
2 ret., 7.0 avg., 0 TD
|
|
|
WR
Mario Manningham |
|
|
|
|
MICHIGAN
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 6 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 6 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Obi Oluigbo-FB, Steve Breaston-WR, Carl
Tabb-WR, Tyler Ecker-TE, Mark Bihl-C,
Rueben Riley-OT, Carson Butler-TE (dismissed),
Garrett Rivas-K |
DEFENSE:
LaMarr
Woodley-DE, Rondell Biggs-DE, David
Harris-MLB, Prescott Burgess-WLB, Leon
Hall-CB, Ryan Mundy-FS, Alan Branch-DT
(NFL) |
|
|
2007
OFFENSE |
Quarterback
Chad Henne's decision to come back for his
senior year is a major reason UM ranks so
highly. So, why does a guy who led the 64th-ranked
passing attack last year rate as an All-American
to so many. C'mon, he only threw for over
200 yards six times and over 300 once, right?
Henne is just another one of those quiet,
consistent Wolverine QBs (ala Griese, Brady,
Henson, Grbac, Harbaugh, etc.) who runs
this conventional offense with competency
and leadership as needed to maximize wins.
It doesn't hurt that the pro-style hurler
is likely to break the school's marks for
career attempts, completions, yardage and
TDs. This year's No.2 drop-back passing
recruit, Ryan Mallett, got to camp early
and worked as the second-team guy due to
injury to listed backup Jason Forcier. But
what was a full coffer of established receivers
has dwindled - only one of those names is
solidified on the two-deep. Mario Manningham,
in their huge wins against Notre Dame and
Wisconsin, proved that he is now ready for
both the 'go to' and 'deep threat' mantles.
But behind him, the tentative status of
slash-type Antonio Bass (injury) and Adrian
Arrington (discipline) - as well as the
dismissal of top TE Carson Butler - mean
new faces will, like last year, have to
emerge for Henne to have a full array of
targets. Sophs Greg Matthews and LaTerryal
Savoy give the most promise, and the new
class, with No.12 prospect Toney Clemons
and 6'5 Pontiac-native Martell Webb, is
loaded enough so time and development can
ultimately solve this problem. Junior TE
Mike Massey has huge shoes to fill. He is
ready to continue the TE legacy here, but
with Massey out this spring, along with
little behind him, UM using three-TE sets
for distraction (where they can throw to
any of their mismatched bigmen) may end,
changing the playbook and how open the deep
middle is (will Andre Criswell become a
TE or FB…hmmm). Fortunately, running
backs aren't scarce in Ann Arbor. Michael
Hart is good enough to be a first round
draft pick with his explosive power and
speed, but he has to share the workload
with the other immensely capable runners
for the backfield's future to be developed.
How much listed TBs Brandon Minor and/or
Kevin Grady fill the roll of fullback (Minor’s
prep position) remains unclear, though having
either line up there thins defenses out
as they spread themselves to cover the possibilities.
And that spearheads the reason we say coach
Carr has to throw to these other backfield
options more (each had only one catch in
'06). LB Quintin Patilla is the newly listed
fullback (played there in prep) to fill
the depth chart. Reserves along the line
worked with the first team most of the spring
to rest Long and Kraus, but expect the blood
and guts of their bigmen to return in full
force come fall. Athletic Steve Schilling,
last year's No.2 guard prospect, has progressed
well enough to start there, though he saw
reps at tackle in spring ball. The right
tackle spot looks solid in the hands of
ex-TE Mark Ortmann, but the nation's top
center recruit in '06, Justin Boren, will
initially be a work-in-progress compared
to the establishment up front. UM will continue
to run it over 60% of the time, until foes
upset their time-proven formula of running
right at them so receivers can find open
spaces and YAC it up. But if the receivers/TEs
don't emerge, a stacked box will mean defensive
struggles in the Ann Arbor.
|
|
RB
Mike Hart
|
|
|
MICHIGAN
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Chad
Henne-Sr (6-2, 224) |
Ryan
Mallett-Fr (6-6, 247)
Jason Forcier-So (6-2, 218) |
FB |
Quintin
Patilla-Fr (6-1, 234) |
Vince
Helmuth-Fr (6-1, 245) |
TB |
Mike
Hart-Sr (5-9, 196) |
Kevin
Grady-Jr (5-9, 218)
Brandon Minor-So (6-0, 213) |
WR |
Mario
Manningham-Jr (6-0, 186) |
LaTerryal
Savoy-So (6-2, 205) |
WR |
Adrian
Arrington-Sr (6-3, 187) |
Greg
Mathews-So (6-3, 207) |
TE |
Mike
Massey-Jr (6-4, 229) |
Chris
McLaurin-So (6-3, 236) |
OT |
Jake
Long-Sr (6-7, 313) |
Mark
Ortmann-So (6-6, 297) |
OG |
Adam
Kraus-Sr (6-6, 296) |
Justin
Schifano-So (6-4, 298) |
C |
Justin
Boren-So (6-3, 310) |
David
Moosman-So (6-4, 298) |
OG |
Alex
Mitchell-Jr (6-5, 313) |
Jeremy
Ciulla-Jr (6-4, 292) |
OT |
Stephen
Schilling-Fr (6-5, 297) |
Cory
Zirbel-So (6-5, 296) |
K |
Bryan
Wright-So (6-1, 215) |
Zoltan
Mesko-So (6-4, 242) |
|
|
2007
DEFENSE |
A
developed secondary plus senior leadership
amongst the rebuilding front seven will
accelerate the transitions at end and linebacker
so this D can return to top form. It definitely
all starts up front for last year's top
rushing defense that losses both outside
components. Tim Jamison is definitely a
stud rushing from his end, but his ability
to contain in run support has yet to be
fully realized. The country’s top
LB prospect (2006), Detroit’s Brandon
Graham, is that rare combo of genuine speed
and power that has many believing there
will be little drop off on the outside once
depth develops, too. Inside, ex-wrestling
champ (in-state) Terrance Taylor is a solid
building block with super strength to go
with his agility. Will Johnson and James
McKinney give promise that this can be a
superior front that throttles opposing offenses
so the back seven can again concentrate
their efforts, accordingly. The linebacking
corps has All-Big Tenner Shawn Crable leftover
from 2006’s stellar unit, but he is
more of a hybrid end-SLB, so his mobility
and toughness lean more towards run support.
Super sub Chris Graham has been groomed
extensively to take over the weakside, and
his speed (4.4 sec. in the 40 is faster
than Harris was) allows him to drop back
into coverage effectively. Listed currently
as the new MLB, John Thompson has the speed
and power to succeed here; holding off strong
JUCO-transfer Austin Panter will push each
to the needed levels for either/both to
be true UM middle linebacker(s). The shuffle
at corner sees Carlos Brown, a reserve RB,
getting a serious look there. Johnny Sears
looks like the new starter opposite Freshman
All-American Morgan Trent (state indoor
record holder for 60 meters at 6.83 sec.
and 200 at 21.78, though his best is 21.61),
and former track champ Charles Stewart has
bumped back to vie for one of the starts
at safety. Seniors Jamar Adams and Brandent
Englemon seem solid as the starters, so
Stewart will bring his big-play ability
to nickel and dime packages. This is a tight-knit
secondary, already proving through their
national rankings (89th in pass defense,
but 25th for efficiency) that even if Michigan’s
run stoppers up front force foes to pass,
they can hold the fort (with Troy Smith
finally gone, phew). Anomalistic results
in their last two games (both losses) will
make the DBs focus that much more. Tested
throughout the spring by their capable offense
to find holes, this side of the ball just
has to come together to be another formidable,
opportunistic Wolverine defense.
|
|
LB
Shawn Crable
|
|
|
MICHIGAN
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Brandon
Graham-So (6-2, 276) |
Adam
Patterson-So (6-2, 262) |
DT |
Will
Johnson-Jr (6-5, 291) |
John
Ferrara-Fr (6-4, 270) |
DT |
Terrance
Taylor-Jr (6-0, 310) |
James
McKinney-So (6-2, 281) |
DE |
Tim
Jamison-Jr (6-3, 266) |
Greg
Banks-Fr (6-4, 264) |
SLB |
Shawn
Crable-Sr (6-5, 245) |
.. |
MLB |
John
Thompson-Jr (6-1, 230) |
Austin
Panter-Jr (6-3, 231) |
WLB |
Chris
Graham-Sr (5-11, 225) |
Jonas
Mouton-Fr (6-2, 230) |
CB |
Johnny
Sears-So (6-0, 189) |
Carlos
Brown-So (6-0, 202) |
CB |
Morgan
Trent -Jr (6-1, 189) |
Brandon
Harrison-Jr (5-8, 195) |
SS |
Jamar
Adams-Sr (6-2, 212) |
Charles
Stewart-Jr (6-1, 205) |
FS |
Brandent
Englemon-Sr (5-11, 206) |
Stevie
Brown-So (6-0, 208) |
P |
Zoltan
Mesko-So (6-4, 242) |
.. |
|
|
|
2007
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Punter
Zoltan Mesko, who won the MVP at the Ray Guy Kicking
Academy in 2004, does his job well; now, the coverage
teams need to pick it up some so Michigan can
again win those close ones. Bryan Wright has huge
shoes to fill at placekicker; UM’s early
challengers will quickly let us know if he has
the meddle for the start, or if the Wolverines
might be in trouble with the exit of Garrett Rivas.
Safety Stevie Brown brings his track background
to the return game, but moving past ex-high jumper/hurdler
Johnny Sears would mean Michigan has sufficiently
replaced Steve Breaston.
|
|
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