Michigan Positional Projections

 Offense

1. The Running Backs Vs. The Gopher Linebackers - Michigan has one of the top backfield rotations in the nation coming into 2020. They could be capable of doing just about everything out of the backfield, whether it's running, receiving, or blocking. That gives the offense a ton of flexibility. That strength becomes even more of an asset when you look across the line and see the lack of production returning in the Minnesota front seven. I've talked about it before already: they have some good-looking bodies to fill in the front six of their primary 4-2-5 scheme but they lose all their best players, including six of their top seven tacklers. The biggest loss of all for them might be that of LB Thomas Barber, who has been a leader in the middle of that defense since 2016. It just seems logical from so many different perspectives to try to feed the ball to the likes of Zach Charbonnet, Chris Evans, and Hassan Haskins in a variety of designed ways. I expect to see a lot of work from them all. We might even see freshman Black Corum a little bit. And if one of them gets really hot they will ride him out. Michigan would benefit from letting them do a lot of dirty work in the short to intermediate areas. Perhaps they can force Minnesota to bring some more defenders up closer to the box in more of a 4-3 or 4-4 and opening up more opportunities downfield. Bold Prediction: The Wolverines will reach 200 rushing yards as a team with (at least) one guy breaking 100. 
2. The Offensive Line Vs. the Gopher Defensive Line - The offensive line might be the single-most important x-factor going into this game. Many folks seem to have doubts about it after losing four of five starters to the NFL. Personally, I kinda like the way it looks. First of all, there are three players entrenched at their positions with previous starting experience already, with at least one of them being a future high draft pick. And the other two guys projected to start among the five are a senior and a grad student. Hardly spring chickens. Overall, the line looks bigger AND more athletic. It just doesn't have the overall experience of the last group and it admittedly took a big hit with the loss of center Cesar Ruiz to the Saints in the first round. However, fifth-year senior and former walk-on Andrew Vastardis could save the day. He doesn't have to do too much. He just needs to make the right calls and hold his ground or hit his targets when he pulls. The rest of the line is big and talented enough to move piles of opponents off the line, and they have all been playing with each other in practice for the last three or four years. Thus, I believe the run-game will benefit and that should play a huge role in how this game against the Gophers plays out. Also, if they can hold off what looks like a somewhat weak pass-rush by Minnesota then Joe Milton will have more time to stand back and look for open guys down-field. He definitely has the arm to hit any target on the field. Prediction: See above. Also, Milton will have the time to find his mark when he needs to but this won't be the huge breakout game for him due to the fact that the backs will hog up the touches. 

Defense

1. Defensive Line Vs. The Gopher Offensive Line - Minnesota returns its entire offensive line from last year's record-setting offense. On the surface that sounds nice. On paper, it doesn't really look all that great. They do have one definite NFL-caliber player in tackle Daniel Faalele, but the rest of the group is mostly just okay. As a unit, they were one of the worst lines in the conference in sacks allowed, ranking 94th in the nation. They also only ran for 4.1 yards per carry with some All-Time Gopher backs toting the ball. Michigan, on the contrary, allowed only 3.2 yards per carry last season while running a three-man front. This year they are expected to run more traditional 4-3 fronts, which will allow ends Aiden Hutchinson and Kwity Paye more freedom to harrass QB Tanner Morgan. That is actually a match-up I really like despite Faalele's potential. I also really like the Carlo Kemp-Christopher Hinton-Donovan Jeter-Jess Speight rotation on the inside. There are a couple backup ends looking for an opportunity to breakout too, so the starters could still be somewhat fresh come fourth quarter if the coaches allow more players reps. Prediction: The D-line will get at least three sacks on the night, thus doing there part in shutting down the passing attack. 
2. The Linebackers Vs. The Gopher Running Backs - Mohamed Ibrahim led the team in rushing back in 2018. He still averaged over five yards per carry in a three-back rotation last year. He could get the ball 15-20 times in this contest, though I don't believe he will find much success. Michigan's two inside 'backers are among the best in the conference and both should get some All-Conference honors at the end of the season. The primary outside linebacker, or "Viper", will be Michael Barrett. I really love his speed (4.5 forty) and potential as a play-maker. He is even a decent kick returner and special teams coverage player, so he should be on the field quite a bit. Ben VanSumeren and David Ojabo will man the fourth linebacker spot, or "Sam", though you won't see those formations as often as we did last year when the team ran a 3-4 most of the season. The biggest concern at linebacker is the depth, though sophomore Anthony Solomon and a pair of freshman bring a lot of promise. If I were Don Brown, I would task the two inside guys with eliminating any threat of a run-game so that the Viper can focus on stopping the Gopher passing attack by dropping into coverage and rushing the passer. The tight ends and backs are not much of a threat receiving so it's possible we will see an extra defensive back utilized to keep a receiver from releasing deep. It might be a good strategy to double up on Rashod Batemen, as he is without a doubt Minnesota's best player and it would be ridiculous to think they won't try to get him the ball more than anybody else out wide. Prediction: Gopher running backs will not reach 100 yards on the ground and they will average under 3.5 yards per carry on the night. 

The Two Minnesota Advantages that Could Sink All Michigan Efforts:

1. Quarterback Tanner Morgan Vs. The Michigan Secondary - Michigan is down a proven coverage player or two from realistically winning this match up. Some young, inexperienced players will need to step up, as will junior Vincent Gray, who now finds himself as the top corner after playing a lot as the third corner last season. He could be ready for the lead job but I am not totally confident. He just looks like a better two to me, which makes the loss of Ambry Thomas hurt that much more. Gemon Green will probably start opposite Gray, but D.J. Turner II, Jalen Perry, Sammy Faustin and a pair of freshman safeties will all get some playing time somewhere. Honestly, I think they can do the job but I just don't think they will be able to bottle up that perimeter attack all night long, and we should expect to some fireworks from Morgan. If Michigan can keep his passing yards below 250 and limit the number of big plays that go downfield, then it could be just enough to win the game. Michigan does have a very good pair of safeties in the middle of the secondary. In fact, they are so good that I believe we will see them line up in a variety of spots. We will see them closer to the box like a linebacker. We will see them lined up on the slot receiver as a nickel. We will also them running down balls 30 yards deep. Brad Hawkins is quietly one of the team's senior leaders. I think he will be an NFL safety some day soon. Dax Hill, on the other hand, looks like he has the speed and athleticism of a future high first round pick. The word on the street is that the 5-Star from Texas is already the best coverage player on the team, so it would probably be dumb to think that he won't be moved around in an attempt to eliminate an opposing player on any given play. 
2. The Minnesota Secondary Vs. The Michigan Receivers - The Gophers return three key players to their secondary in safety Jordan Howden and corners Benjamin St-Juste and Coney Durr. They will collectively cover a lot of ground back there on defense and it could prove to be real tough sleddin' for a young Michigan receiving corps that will not field a single senior player. The one veteran guy is junior Ronnie Bell, who led the team in catches last season, but the rest is all sophomores and freshmen among those expected to play. It actually would not surprise me to see the offense utilize its plethora of running backs more as receivers in this game to take advantage of any mismatches underneath. The tight ends could find some opportunities in the middle of the field too. The depth actually isn't very good back there for Minnesota, so if Milton gets enough time to make his reads he could very well find a third, fourth, or fifth option open. Some guys need to step up. Cornelius Johnson, Giles Jackson, Mike Saintristil, A.J. Henning, and Roman Wilson are all on my watch list. There are a lot of recruiting stars lined up right there. Luckily, I don't believe Minnesota's passrush will be that great so that could put too much pressure on the DB's to stay in coverage longer, which also benefits the speedier Wolverines. Again, this is just another reason why I think the Michigan offense will only go as far as the line will allow it. Because giving Milton time is the only way I think he can truly beat this secondary.