Coach: Lloyd Carr
66-20-0, 7 years
2001 Record: 8-4
MIAMI OH WON 31-13
at Washington LOST 18-23
WESTERN MICHIGAN WON 38-21
ILLINOIS WON 45-20
at Penn State WON 20-0
PURDUE WON 24-10
at Iowa WON 32-26
at Michigan State LOST 24-26
MINNESOTA WON 31-10
at Wisconsin WON 20-17
OHIO STATE LOST 20-26
CITRUS BOWL
Tennessee LOST 17-45


2001 Final Rankings
AP-20, Coaches-20, BCS-UR

Fullback or Tailback? The answer doesn't matter as B.J. Askew is Mr. Versatile.
2002 Outlook

First impression: the Big Ten doesn't have that title contender again, which bodes well for Michigan. One of the best receivers in the conference, Big Marquise Walker, is gone. But from there the charts do not look too shabby. Roughly 15 returning starters should give coaches something to work with and has earned the Wolverines the right to be a preseason Big Ten favorite once again. The biggest question coming into 2001 was the OL. The biggest answer coming out of 2001 was the OL as they performed way above expectations. This should make for a better situation heading into next fall, as the experience factor won't be so slim. B.J. Askew is the most versatile athlete on the team at fullback or tailback, depending on what game needs are, but he needs to get a half step faster for his running game to be that reliable staple. Losing speedster Kelly Baraka at running back is a huge development as he was really the prime candidate to be the next great tailback in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines should be quite solid up front defensively as all four starters are back. Other than replacing Walker at receiver, the biggest question mark will be at linebacker and improving the pass coverage. Basically, when you look at the number of Michigan player personnel in the NFL you have to wonder where the titles are. Big Blue fans should avoid looking at the first five games to start next season. Whew, for that matter the whole season. There just is not much room for a letdown, which could spell major disaster in the long run. A shot at the conference title and another New Year's Day bowl in Florida could be obtainable. The work is cut and dry for Michigan. Look for the defense to be the big key, in particular up front. The offense has some issues.

Projected 2002 record: 8-5

The dismissal of RB Kelly Baraka is a big issue for the Wolverines. As a result, Chris Perry and David Underwood will battle for the starting position throughout the summer.
MICHIGAN
*POWER RATINGS
Offense
Defense
QB - 3.5 DL - 5
RB - 3 LB - 4
WR - 3 DB - 3.5
OL - 3.5 ..
RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: John Navarre, 207-385-13, 2435 Yards, 19 TD's

Rushing: B.J. Askew, 199 att., 902 yds., 10 TD's

Receiving: B.J. Askew, 26 rec., 236 yds., 2 TD's

Scoring: B.J. Askew, 12 TD's, 72 pts.;

Punting: Adam Finley, 4 punts, 43.3 avg.

Kicking: none

Tackles: Victor Hobson, 80 tot., 60 solo

Sacks: Dan Rumishek, 7 sacks

Interceptions: Marlin Jackson, 3 for 0 yards

Kickoff returns: Marlin Jackson, 6 ret., 20.0 avg.

Punt returns: Julius Curry, 19 ret., 11.2 avg.

 

MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
OFFENSE - 6
----RETURNING STARTERS----
DEFENSE - 8
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: Marquise Walker-WR, Walter Cross-TB, Bill Seymour-TE, Shawn Thompson-TE, Jonathan Goodwin-OG, Ben Mast-OG, Kurt Anderson-C, Hayden Epstein-K/P
DEFENSE: Jake Frysinger-DT, Larry Foote-ILB, Eric Brackins-ILB, Todd Howard-CB
2002 OFFENSE

By Angelique S. Chengelis / The Detroit News

     Carr has said only that there will be significant changes in the offense when the "Terry Malone offense" is unveiled in Michigan Stadium on Aug. 31 against Washington. What those changes might be, no one is saying, but they are surely designed to improve upon last year's performance. Michigan averaged 359.2 yards of offense, ninth in the Big Ten.
     The quarterbacks -- John Navarre and Spencer Brinton -- did talk a little about the "Malone offense" following Saturday's final spring scrimmage. The playbook is no bigger, Navarre said, but there are "a lot of different looks -- some new things." What new things? "We're going to take advantage of things the defense gives us," said Navarre, last year's starter. "At times last year, we didn't do that." Just who will be running the new show is a big question entering the fall. The safest bet is Navarre, who has dropped 12 pounds from his 6-foot-6 frame to 224. His confidence after last season, in which he threw 11 interceptions the final six games, was never in need of repair. Brinton has provided competition, though. The left-hander, a transfer from San Diego State after a two-year Mormon mission, throws hard but is relatively untested in game situations. Jermaine Gonzales returned to quarterback at the end of spring practice after a brief experiment at receiver.
     Michigan never really did establish a solid running game last season, and averaged 143 yards, eighth in the Big Ten. Depth at tailback has improved for the fall, and Carr anticipates a stronger rush offense. B.J. Askew, the leading rusher a year ago, has been moved back to fullback because of his versatility as a rusher, receiver and blocker. Chris Perry will be the starter at tailback, but sophomore David Underwood is capable of giving the Wolverines much-needed variety. Star studded recruit Kelly Baraka has been dismissed from the team, leaving a huge concern. Tim Bracken, who was expected to be the starter a year ago, is still recovering from a broken leg. He was held out of spring practice. "If we can stay healthy, our backfield situation is much better," Carr said. "We've got enough depth there. We should get through a season."
     With receiver Marquise Walker and his 1,143 receiving yards gone, it is uncertain who will emerge this fall. Much is expected of veterans Ronald Bellamy, Calvin Bell and Tyrece Butler. But sophomore Braylon Edwards and redshirt freshman Tim Massaquoi had strong springs and will push for playing time this fall.
     On the line, Courtney Morgan, who made one start at right tackle last season, worked at center during the spring before switching to left tackle the final two practices. Morgan, a junior, and redshirt freshman Adam Stenavich will compete for the job. Tony Pape, the starter at left tackle last season, will start at right tackle.
David Baas, a redshirt sophomore, is expected to start at left guard, and Matt Lentz, a redshirt freshman, could be the starter at right guard. Dave Pearson, who moved from the defensive line during bowl practices, will compete with Andy Christopfel for the starting job at center. "In the next two years, we're going to have a great offensive line," Carr said. "It could be 24 months from now, or it could be in 12 months. I really like the makeup of this young group of linemen."
  
   With Hayden Epstein, who handled all the kicking, gone, the Wolverines are still relatively unsettled in the kicking game. Philip Brabbs probably will handle the place-kicking; Luke Perl and Troy Nienberg are also candidates. Nienberg might be used on field goals 20 yards and in. On kickoff returns, Carr plans to try several players, including Jackson, Bell, and Brandon Williams. Julius Curry is expected to resume punt-return duties in the fall, along with his brother, Markus. Carr said the brothers have a "knack" for returning the ball.

 

MICHIGAN 2002 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters in Bold
OFFENSE
QB John Navarre-Jr Spencer Brinton-Jr
FB B.J. Askew-Sr Kevin Dudley-So
TB Chris Perry-Jr David Underwood-So
WR Tyrece Butler-Jr Braylon Edwards-So
WR Ronald Bellamy-Sr Calvin Bell-Jr
TE Bennie Joppru-Sr Phil Brackins-Jr
OT Courtney Morgan-Jr Adam Stenavich-Fr
OG David Baas-So Joe Denay-Sr
C Andy Christopfel-So Dave Pearson-Jr
OG Dave Petruziello-Sr Matt Lentz-Fr
OT Tony Pape-Jr Demeterius Solomon-Sr
K Phil Brabbs-Jr Troy Nienberg-Jr

 

2002 DEFENSE

By Angelique S. Chengelis / The Detroit News

     There is no secret that the Wolverines' defense will benefit from depth and experience in the front four and secondary. With losses of starting inside linebackers Larry Foote and Eric Brackins, the linebacking corps might have some catching up to do. But Carr likes what he sees from a defense that led the Big Ten last season, yielding an average 316.4 yards. Where was that defense against Tennessee, which gained 503 yards? The Wolverines hope that was just a lapse. "Defensively, we're ahead of our offense (after spring practice)," Carr said. "We're going to have a good defense."
     The front four returns Dan Rumishek and Shantee Orr at the ends, and Norman Heuer and Shawn Lazarus at the tackles. The four accounted for 20 sacks.
"In that front, you've got a lot of guys who are tough, who can move and who can hurt you," Carr said.
     Victor Hobson is the only returner at linebacker, but Carr likes redshirt freshmen Scott McClintock and Lawrence Reid, Zach Kaufman and Carl Diggs, so there is depth.
     For a change, the Wolverines have depth in the secondary. Marlin Jackson, who missed spring practice because of ligament damage in his wrist, and Markus Curry should be the starting cornerbacks. Julius Curry, a starter at strong safety who missed much of last season with nerve damage in his shoulder and then missed spring practice because of shoulder surgery, will be a starter if healthy. But Charles Drake had a superb spring and probably will start. Cato June has been the starter at free safety. The player to watch will be redshirt freshman Ernest Shazor, who at 6-4, 215 pounds is one of the biggest safeties U-M has had in recent years. Carr called Shazor a fabulous talent and said he will see time at receiver in the two-minute offense.
     Adam Finley seemed the likely punter this fall, but former backup quarterback Andy Mignery has been working on his punting since last fall and will compete for the job.

MICHIGAN 2002 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters in Bold
DEFENSE
DE Dan Rumishek-Sr Larry Stevens-Jr
DT Norman Heuer-Jr Grant Bowman-Jr
DT Shawn Lazarus-Sr Pat Massey-Fr
DE Shantee Orr-Jr Alain Kashama-Jr
OLB Victor Hobson-Sr John Spytek-Jr
ILB Scott McClintock-Fr Zach Kaufman-Jr
ILB Carl Diggs-Jr Lawrence Reid-Fr
CB Marlin Jackson-So Jeremy LeSueur-Jr
CB Markus Curry-So Brandon Williams-Sr
SS Charles Drake-Sr Julius Curry-Sr
FS Cato June-Sr Ernest Shazor-Fr
P Adam Finley-So ..
..
A common theme for 2002: the Michigan defensive front putting opponents on their back, as displayed by Victor Hobson.