Michigan football 2018: Starting lineup and depth chart projection
The Michigan Wolverines will have plenty of chances to silence their critics with big games all over their schedule. Here are the players hoping to carry Michigan to their first College Football Playoff appearance.
It is a statement year for Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh. When he was brought back to Ann Arbor the expectations were to be a consistent College Football Playoff contender. The Wolverines have not come close to sniffing the playoffs yet. The critics are getting louder and louder considering Harbaugh has a 1-5 combined record against Michigan State and Ohio State.
After having one of the youngest teams in college football last season much of the team is returning which will be helpful. What is not helpful is Michigan’s schedule. There are challenges in every part of Michigan’s season. They will renew their longtime rivalry with Notre Dame on opening weekend in primetime before diving into the Big Ten schedule.
Outside of the brutal Big Ten East division schedule, Michigan will cross over and play the top two teams in the Big Ten West last season, Wisconsin and Northwestern. Both the Michigan State and Ohio State game will be on the road this season which raises the stakes even higher.
Last season Michigan’s downfall was their offense, they lacked explosiveness in large part due to injuries. Their best wide receiver was Tarik Black who suffered a broken foot. Then the wheels fell off at the quarterback position. Wilton Speight went down with a broken back, John O’Korn struggled and was replaced by Brandon Peters. Peters then suffered a concussion and they had to go back to O’Korn. The offensive line play was uninspiring and they struggled greatly against elite talent.
Despite the poor offensive play, the defense looks as strong as ever. Defensive genius Don Brown is back at the controls and will have the Wolverines among the top-ranked defense again. The front seven is one of the best in the country and features one of the top defensive ends in Rashan Gary. Jim Harbaugh will once again lean on his defense to carry the load while the offense still tries to define itself.