Michigan Football Season Preview

The makeup of the 2008 Michigan roster is much different than last years or any recent year for that matter. Michigan fans are going to get to see a variety of freshman get significant playing time this season. We have the spread offense with plenty of small quick players running it. Offensively there are plenty of question marks but there is potential at the skill positions to be productive as the season progresses. As for the defense, they are fast and strong at a variety of positions. The defensive line is the best in the BIG TEN in my mind. So with all that said I am going to give you the projected starting lineup and tell you other players you can expect to see contribute this season.

The major problem this team has is having no proven quarterback. There are two players currently competing for the quarterback position. Two local kids, one from Saline, MI in Nick Sheridan who is a walk-on redshirted sophomore. The other is Steven Threet who is from Adrian, MI. Threet transferred from Georgia Tech and was a highly touted recruit coming out of High School. Threet is a redshirted freshman and is my pick to get most of the snaps this season as the starting quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines. I grew up in a small town called Clinton which is between both Saline and Adrian. I heard a lot about Threet when I was in High School and there is no doubt in my mind he can be a productive quarterback in the Big Ten as he gains more experience.

At the running back position Michigan looks pretty solid with 5 players expected to see action this season. Juniors Carlos Brown and Brandon Minor should get the bulk of the carries as the season starts. Expect to see freshman Sam McGuffie and Michael Shaw get some action as well throughout the year. McGuffie as many have witnessed is the You Tube highlight star.The one outcast in the backfield is redshirted junior Kevin Grady. After being injured last season and not seeing any game action. Grady picked up a DUI this off season and has been in the "doghouse" so to speak with the entire Michigan coaching staff since. So with 5 options in the backfield this season, expect to see a little bit of everyone.

At the wide receiver position there are many options as well as far as who will be starting. Junior Greg Matthews should get the nod because of experience, although Coach Rodriguez likes to have small and quick receivers line up in the slot. With that said, expect to see freshman Martavious Odoms (nicknamed Lil Wayne by his Wolverine teammates) get plenty of touches. Two other freshman will be expected to contribute right away as well in Daryl Stonum and Terrance Robinson. So get ready to learn some new names and let me just tell you these freshman are very quick and elusive.

At the tight end position expect to see redshirted junior Carson Butler get most of the action. Coach Rodriguez also will play another freshman out of Ohio in Kevin Koger and senior Mike Massey at tight end from time to time. As for the offensive line, this is a revamped group with right tackle Stephen Schilling leading the group. The rest of the offensive line is made up of Mark Ortmann, (left tackle) Tim McAvoy (left guard), David Molk (center), and David Moosman (right guard).

Now let's switch sides and go over the defensive squad for the 2008 Michigan Wolverines. They have a very good defensive line with a lot of leadership up front. 320 pound senior defensive tackle Terrance Taylor leads this group. Along with Taylor, fifth year senior Will Johnson is the other defensive tackle. On the defensive end Michigan has Brandon Graham and Tim Jamison. This is a formidable group with a lot of familiar names who should all make some noise in the coming weeks.

As for the linebacking core Obi Ezeh is your middle linebacker, in my mind he is going to have a breakout season in 2008. Michigan's strong side starting linebacker is senior Austin Panter from Athol, Kansas. At weak side linebacker expect to see sophomore Marell Evans from Richmond, Virginia. Also expect to see freshman J.B. Fitzgerald from New Jersey get some playing time.

Let's now move to the secondary which has doomed us in recent bowl games. This season's secondary is pretty solid. Sophomore Donavan Warren stands out in the group. After starting last season as a true freshman, Warren has a year under his belt and his confidence continues to rise. At the other corner position Michigan has Morgan Trent who seems like he has played on the team since they year 2000. Trent brings plenty of experience and will be able to help out the younger players in the secondary throughout the season. At strong safety senior Brandon Harrison will need to help out junior free safety Stevie Brown back there in the secondary.

As far as the special teams unit. Redshirted junior Zoltan Mesko will be Michigan's punter this season. Mesko had a very good season last year and expect to see the same from him in 2008. Fifth year senior K.C. Lopata will handle the kicking duties, he had a good year as well in 2007. The team is deep but young on special teams, that will be shown with inconsistency from time to time.

Check out my next post where I will give you my prediction for wins and losses for the 2008 Michigan Wolverines.