Michigan Wolverines Preview 2022: Offense
More steady than sensational, the Michigan offense led the Big Ten in rushing, led the Big Ten in fewest sacks allowed, led the nation in fewest tackles for loss per game allowed, balanced its way to 443 yards per game, didn’t turn the ball over enough to be a problem, was great on third downs, and was … solid.
Now it has to continue with a new offensive coordinator, actually, two.
Matt Weiss spent last year working with the quarterbacks – and several years before working with the Baltimore Ravens – and Sherrone Moore spent the last few seasons working with the tight ends. The situation for them isn’t quite as rough as it is for the defensive side, but there’s work to do.
The coaching staff is playing the quarterback situation like it has to for the modern age. The job is still technically open for fall camp, knowing that the moment the starter is announced between JJ McCarthy and Cade McNamara, the transfer portal wolves will pounce on the No. 2 guy.
McCarthy has the bigger upside – but he didn’t get a shot this spring with a shoulder problem – McNamara is the reliable option who gets the job done, and throw in the wild cards of spring star Davis Warren and former Texas Tech starter Alan Bowman somewhere in the backup equation. There’s no bad call here – they can all play.
The health of WR Ronnie Bell – who missed most of last year with a knee injury – is a huge deal, but he’s expected to be back along with leading receiver Cornelius Johnson and excellent pass catching TE Erick All. Throw in the explosion of Andrew Anthony and all the other good parts returning, and this is a terrific group of receivers if Bell is back to form.
The offensive line will be fine with a little bit of time. The addition of Olusegun Oluwatimi from Virginia at center settles the front five helped by All-Big Ten guard Zak Zinter is back along with left tackle Ryan Hayes.
20-touchdown back Hassan Haskins is done, but Blake Corum is back after running for 952 yards and 11 scores. He’s the main man, and Donovan Edwards will get more work after finishing third on the team with 174 yards and three scores.
Michigan Wolverines Preview 2022: Defense
It’s not like the Vanderbilt defense set the world on fire last year, but … defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is taking over the same gig with the Wolverines. He’s a rising star who spent years with the Baltimore Ravens, and now he has to reboot the defense that allowed 330 yards just 17 points per game.
Even with Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo, the overall pass rush was just okay. Those two were brilliant, but they accounted for 25 of the team’s 34 sacks. It’s going to be a work in progress to replacing their lost production, starting with end Taylor Upshaw, the leading returning sacker with 2.5 last year.
The interior is a bit easier. The combination of 326-pound all-star Mazi Smith and 275-pound junior Kris Jenkins should be solid.
Several of the top tacklers are gone, but Junior Colson is in the middle at one linebacker job after finishing fourth on the team with 61 stops, and Nikhai Hill-Green will work on the outside coming off a 50-stop season.
The secondary might be missing some big parts, but it’ll be more than fine – there are plenty of options to play around with starting with all-Big Ten caliber DJ Turner and veteran safety RJ Moten.
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