Michigan is fresh off its traditional end of season treat, back to back losses to Ohio State and USC. It has long been speculated that Lloyd Carr has massive gambling debts and can only repay them by continually losing the last two games of every season. Either that or he’s just a shitty coach, no one is really sure.
The 2006 season looked bright with an 11-0 start including a complete dismantling of Charlie Weis’ Fighting Irish; Michigan fans had hope. It wasn’t long before a matchup of two unbeaten titans, two powerhouses, two great rivals came to pass. Surely this would be the game that put us over the top, that ended the misery, that brought us forward into a new era of dominance! Unfortunately we’d forgotten one thing, one team was coached by Lloyd Carr, and the other by Jim Tressel. Also, Ohio State happened to have this guy named Troy Smith, but I’m doing my best to forget he ever existed. (This should be easy as long as I don’t watch the CFL)
All in all it was a very strong season considering Michigan had been 7-5 the year before, but losing to Ohio State (again) and in a Bowl Game (again) made it a largely forgettable year. Some signs of a bright future did present themselves, an attacking defense that crushed everyone… Except Ohio State. And USC. More talented young players on offense…who were often injured or booted off the team… The emergence of Alan Branch as an unstoppable rampaging monster…who promptly left for the NFL. And the arrival of much talked about 5* recruit Ronald Joh….oh he went to USC. Certainly it was a season of good and bad, delight and soul crushing disappointment, essentially the true Michigan football experience.
Team: Michigan Wolverines
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Stadium: Michigan Stadium (The Big House) - Capacity 107,501+
Coach: Lloyd “Lllloyd” Carr
2006 Record/Finish: 11-2, Lost in Rose Bowl
2007 H2DN Prediction: 13-0 National Champions 11-2, Lose in Bowl Game
Top Returners: QB Chad Henne, RB Michael Hart, OT Jake Long, WR Mario Manningham
Biggest Losses: LB David Harris, CB Leon Hall, DE Lamarr Woodley, DT Alan Branch
ESPN Incessant Talking Point: EXPLOSIVE OFFENSE. As you can see by looking at the top returners and biggest losses, Michigan is bringing a lot back on offense. With Chad Henne throwing to Mario Manningham and Adrian Arrington, a running game powered by Mike Hart, and a strong offensive line, this should be a powerful and nearly unstoppable offense. Unfortunately, ESPN has forgotten one key problem, Michigan’s head coach is Lloyd Carr, regardless of the amount of talent at his disposal we can look forward to HB Zone ISO’s with no lead blocker on 3rd and 1, runs up the middle on 2nd and 9, and a vast array of two tight end sets. With Mike DeBord backing him up at Offensive Coordinator expect the Wolverines to install a late 1800’s style power game.
Key Offseason Event: Tired of being upstaged by the debauchery in Columbus, Michigan players decided to violate as many laws as possible. Starting TE Carson Butler and special teamer Kris Richards were kicked off the team for beating up someone for no reason. (I strongly defended Butler at the time, and not surprisingly he was cleared of all charges) Meanwhile, Adrian Arrington is on some form of double triple secret not so secret but don’t tell anyone probation, and Mario Manningham was involved in a traffic stop that found pain pills and the reefer. Losing Butler is a big loss due to the aforementioned love of Dual TE sets, and if Arrington does end up being booted off it would be a massive blow to the Michigan attack.
Additional Notes: In the 2006 season Michigan was led by a powerful defense, and a shaky secondary exposed by quick and talented passing games. That won’t be the case in 2007, because we’ll have a less powerful defense and an even shakier secondary. With Leon Hall gone true freshman Donovan Warren will be asked to step in, the defensive line and linebackers should still be very strong, but defending the pass will remain a massive concern, as Michigan fans shudder every time Johnny Sears flails helplessly as wide receivers blaze past him.
Things look good on the other side of the ball, with the big three of Henne, Hart, and Manningham all returning, with secondary options such as Adrian Arrington and Greg Mathews, and a offensive line bolstered by the return of Jake Long and the loss of Reuben Riley their can be no excuses.
Special Teams could be a question mark, no one has established themselves at kicker during spring practice, and no one seems to know who will be taking these duties this season. Punter on the other hand is locked down by Michigan legend Zoltan Mesko. Mesko, who shares his name with an infamous Hungarian Nazi, is perhaps the greatest punter of all time, or at the very least the first named Zoltan.
The coaching staff remains the same, boring and predictable on offense, young and exciting on defense. In his final year, and with loads of talent at his disposal, will Lloyd Carr open up a free flowing pass happy attacking game? No. But, the talent on the field should be enough to make this a very dangerous offensive team regardless, the defense will remain strong against the run, while remaining horrible against the pass, this shouldn’t be much of a concern against the average Big 10 team, but another humiliating bowl loss is almost a foregone conclusion. Surely, with Troy Smith, Ted Ginn, and countless other Buckeyes gone, this is the year our noble champions beat Ohio State, right? Right? Please?
Fun Fact: It has been widely reported that Lloyd Carr will retire after this season. Expect two to three days of celebration before Mike DeBord is named the new head coach as Jim Tressel laughs, and laughs….and laughs.
