Channeling my inner Paul Heyman, the Michigan Wolverines are the reigning, defending, and undisputed national champions! The University of Michigan hasn't lost a regular season game since October 2021 and hasn't lost in the Big House with fans in attendance since 2019.
Fresh off a 15-0 season and three straight Big Ten championships, Michigan State is on the verge of its biggest program high of the modern era. But with several coaching and personnel changes this offseason, the page has suddenly been turned and all eyes are on an uncertain future.
The University of Michigan has added a new head coach, offensive coordinator/play caller, defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator, running backs coach, tight ends coach, offensive line coach, tight ends coach, defensive line coach, linebackers coach, secondary coach, and strength coach. and the new head of conditioning. The Wolverines also need to replace nine starters and the entire offensive line, including the best running back and quarterback in program history.
Despite the many new faces, there's still a mood of optimism at Schembechler Hall, and just as quickly as the national media eliminated the Wolverines as a 2024 championship favorite, Team 145 had everyone wrong. In order to prove that, he is doing his best to win.
To do that, the team needs to start finding answers to several questions. These are six of the biggest questions that could ultimately prove the difference between success and failure this season.
Who will be the starting quarterback?
The most important and influential positions in all sports must be prioritized. According to new offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell, “The pecking order going into the spring is who's the oldest,” he said. “If we're in the same grade, we'll go in alphabetical order by last name. That's how we deal with the first day. We'll re-evaluate on the second day.”
Ladies and gentlemen, Michigan State's current depth chart: Jack Tuttle, Davis Warren, Alex Orsi, Jayden Denegal, Jaydyn Davis. Campaign groups have already been formed, but let's consider each option in a nutshell.
Tuttle: He's the most experienced veteran in the group, but is his ceiling high enough for a team with a national championship-caliber defense?
Warren: A developing passer who has shown equal parts ability and frustration.
Orji: He is a generational athlete who can either home run or strike out depending on his development as a passer.
Denegal: A big, composed pocket passer, he could be the dark horse of the group, but will need more reps to fully understand his abilities and limitations.
Davis: Although he's a total unknown, he has a high school pedigree that has fans excited about his potential.
Transfers may be added, but they will be the first players to have a chance to separate from the pack in the spring. Whoever is the starter, they know they will be supported by dynamic outside weapons and potential All-American running back Donovan Edwards. But who will defend this attack and pave the way?
What is the situation on the offensive line?
The Wolverines lost all five starters from last year's offensive line and one more. LaDarius Henderson, Trevor Keegan, Drake Nugent, Zach Ginter, Carsen Barnhart and Trente Jones all left for the NFL. So, who will start this year? This is what I think the starters will look like before the first spring practice.
LT – Miles Hinton/Jeff Persi
LG – Giovanni El Hadi
C – Greg Crippen
RG – Josh Priebe
RT – Connor Jones/Andrew Gentry
Unless a transfer or Raheem Anderson shakes things up, the interior group looks mostly established, but questions remain at both tackle positions. According to John Jansen, all signs point to Myles Hinton moving to left tackle, where he will be in direct competition with Jeff Persi, who has one game start in his career (Rutgers 2022 ).
Everything about right tackle is speculative, but the ECHO suggests Connor Jones and Andrew Gentry could be the frontrunners. The battle at quarterback will drive clicks, but the battle on the offensive line is just as important to Team 145's ambitions considering Sherone Moore's personality. Speaking of Moore…
How will the team's dynamics change under head coach Sherone Moore?
Not only was Moore handed the keys to his Ferrari and told to keep it between the lines, he was also handed Max Verstappen's Red Bull and expected to keep it at the front of the grid. He has already shown the ability to handle high-pressure situations, but how will he handle his day-to-day responsibilities? Was it the day-to-day recruiting struggles that forced the greatest coach in college football history to step down two months ago? What is your practice schedule? What is the overall game plan? Is he still going to participate in play calling?
All of these questions won't be properly answered until the fall, but fans will be able to start reading between the lines in the spring.
What will the balance of plays and calls look like under coach Kirk Campbell?
Campbell will be the primary play-caller in 2024 while maintaining his offensive side. In Campbell's only other game as offensive coordinator, the 2023 season opener vs. East Carolina, he had a great performance, with a perfect balance of 31 pass calls; I kept it. Run.
That balance is definitely Campbell's goal, but not every opponent will be East Carolina. I feel sorry for the Pirates, but every play-caller has a tendency and there are players who are dependable in the game, and it remains to be seen what will happen with the Campbells. We won't see much success in this regard in the spring either, but keep an eye on the game against Texas in the second quarter.
The first quarter will likely be filled with scripted plays, and Campbell knows the plays are likely to be successful and plans to prepare in advance. The second quarter will inevitably require some adjustments, and against a higher-level opponent, these play calls will be the first glimpse of who Campbell truly is as a field play-caller.
Fortunately, Campbell will be supported by an elite defense that will have a new general in its place.
How will the defense change under Wink Martindale?
At this point, fans are well aware that new defensive coordinator Wink Martindale is the OG of the defensive system Michigan has been using since 2021. But fans also know how aggressive Martindale has been historically and wonder how that will translate to the University of Michigan.
When asked about adapting his game to the college ranks, Martindale replied:
“I think every year is different. I'm not going to tell Ryan Day or Sarke (Steve Sarkisian) what we're going to do. I believe these guys are going to play at a high level. I'm more aggressive than Jesse (Minter), and the proof is in the pudding with Jesse and Mike (McDonald). If I can get to the quarterback rush three, I'll rush the three. That's the way football is played. -People are also adapting to us, so we'll have to see how that changes.”
It's refreshing to know the defense will be more diverse than Don Brown's relentless engaging eight, but what will the strategy look like in close games? Will Wink be able to effectively fill in for him in the event of a short notice? Will he be able to suppress his natural desire to blitz in a situation that requires patience?
Michigan's defense is loaded with talent, but coupled with Martindale's decision-making, one key position could determine the success of the entire unit.
Who will be CB #2?
This exact question was asked last year, when Amorrion Walker was considered the likely candidate to start opposite Will Johnson. But after Walker was humiliated at the hands of Peyton O'Leary in the spring game, Michigan added transfer Josh Wallace and the rest is history.
With Wallace leaving for the NFL and Walker going to Ole Miss, the competition for the No. 2 cornerback spot is heating up again. The Wolverines have a lot of talent at this position, but it's completely unproven.
Soon-to-be sophomores DJ Waller and Gyre Hill have been talked about, with Jayden McBurroughs moving to the outside and Rod Moore potentially taking over at nickel.
This fountain does not produce definitive answers, but it does provide powerful suggestions. Even if none of the names mentioned stand out, expect the University of Michigan to hit the portal again to add at least some competition and experience to the room heading into the fall. This is a need that must be addressed or this Achilles heel could ruin a potentially good defense.
