When Michigan introduced Jim Harbaugh as its new coach last December, a reporter asked whether he was OK being compared to the Messiah. Yes, expectations have reached biblical proportions in Ann Arbor— but even Captain Comeback can’t offer instant salvation with questions at QB and a D with no pass rush.
Offense
How the Wolverines beat you: In his four years helming Stanford, Harbaugh pounded opponents into submission with a power run game and a bevy of big backs. (The Cardinal averaged 216 ypg on the ground and ran the ball 60.7 percent of the time in ’09 and ’10— even with gunslinger Andrew Luck.) That blueprint should suit his personnel just fine at Michigan, which boasts its own repertoire of plus-sized RBs. Junior Derrick Green (234 pounds) is healthy after breaking his clavicle midway through ’14, and USC transfer Ty Isaac (240 pounds) is eligible after sitting out last fall. Even with C Jack Miller forgoing his senior year, the O-line returns four starters, which will only help the Wolverines build on a solid foundation from ’14, at least in short yardage: With three yards or less to go, UM logged a first down or TD on 66.7 percent of carries (No. 44 in the FBS).
How you beat the Wolverines: Turnovers doomed Michigan in 2014 (26, No. 98 in the FBS), and with a green starter at QB, this year’s squad could fall victim to the cough-up again. It’s a reality that pass game coordinator Jedd Fisch is readying for: He’s looking for a game manager, more than a playmaker, under center. “Don’t turn it over, and complete passes,” he says. “That’s what we’re trying to drill into them.”
Defense
How the Wolverines beat you: This spring, secondary coach Greg Jackson compared sophomore DB Jabrill Peppers to two-time Pro Bowler Rodney Harrison. That’s high praise for an athlete with one career start to his name. But Peppers—the nation’s second-ranked recruit in ’14—was primed for early impact last year before leg injuries ended his campaign. His return to the field upgrades a secondary that was sturdy (11.3 ypc allowed, No. 37 in the FBS; 30 pass plays of 20-plus yards, No. 18) but short on explosive playmakers. “He doesn’t even play like a freshman,” Jackson says. “Everybody looks up to him when he’s out there.”
How you beat the Wolverines: New defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin, one of the nation’s most sought-after assistants after his stint as DC/interim head coach at Florida, inherits a front seven that had trouble seeking the QB. The Wolverines lose their top two sackers, DEs Brennen Beyer and Frank Clark (10 sacks combined), as well as their top three tacklers for loss (Beyer, Clark and LB Jake Ryan: 35). Durkin plans to add a three-man front to this year’s playbook to generate more pass rush from the linebackers, but he’ll still need senior DE Mario Ojemudia, junior DE Taco Charlton and junior DE Henry Poggi to emerge on the line.