ANN ARBOR, Mich. — You look for signs of contentment or resentment, for clues of complacency. When Michigan puts together a once-in-a-quarter-century season, beats the Buckeyes and wins the Big Ten, you naturally wonder if it’s a lasting imprint, or a fleeting footprint.
Two-and-a-half weeks before the season opener, Jim Harbaugh isn’t wondering anymore. He sees the majority of his players in excellent shape, with strong competition at several positions. He sees senior receiver Ronnie Bell fully recovered from a knee injury, and says if he had to pick a training camp MVP so far, it’d be Bell.
Harbaugh knows he has plenty of options, especially at quarterback, running back and receiver. He also has plenty of openings on defense, which lost elite players and leaders — Aidan Hutchinson, David Ojabo, Daxton Hill, Josh Ross. It’s mildly amusing the most-discussed topic about the Wolverines is a conundrum, but not a concern. Should Harbaugh start the senior quarterback who expertly guided UM to its first Big Ten title in 17 years, or the five-star phenom who flashes unique gifts, throwing and running?
Cade McNamara started every game last season, completed 64% of his passes and threw only six interceptions. J.J. McCarthy played sparingly in 11 games as a true freshman and made some mistakes, and also made some athletic statements. Harbaugh said Wednesday the competition is ongoing, back and forth, no decision yet for the Sept. 3 opener against Colorado State.
I strongly suspect McNamara will start, as he should. And McCarthy will step in at times, as he should. Based on performance, the roles might switch. This qualifies as a healthy, albeit delicate, debate. It does not qualify as a problem, and both have handled it well. McNamara doesn’t get enough credit for his savvy and leadership, which is why he has hung onto the job, so far.
“This is a very good, unique situation,” Harbaugh insisted. “We have two quarterbacks that are playing at a high-starter level and we’re going to keep competing, and it’s possible there’s a starter by the first game. And it’s possible it plays into the season, then we pick the one that’s gonna help the team win.”
If Michigan’s offense is as deep as it appears, and running backs Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards can pound behind another touted offensive line, there’s no need for dramatic change. If the revamped defense with new coordinator Jesse Minter struggles to keep up, and the offense doesn’t dominate on the ground, McCarthy is an enticing risk-reward option.
Buckeyes are loaded
Can the Wolverines replicate last season’s magic and win another championship? Betting odds say no because the Buckeyes are loaded, and will be loaded for revenge when Michigan comes to Columbus Nov. 26. But it sure looks like Harbaugh’s preferred physical style will remain the early plan, with offensive coordinator Josh Gattis gone to Miami (Fla.) and co-coordinators Sherrone Moore and Matt Weiss executing it.
In rolling past Ohio State (42-27) and Iowa (42-3) late in the season — before Georgia delivered a reality check in the playoff — the Wolverines showed no desire to alter much. After going 12-2, and after Harbaugh’s brief dalliance with the NFL, clarity replaced confusion. Harbaugh spent the offseason talking about the dangers of entitlement, and was asked Wednesday why he’s confident it hasn’t seeped in.
“Effort is usually the biggest clue,” he said. “How they take care of themselves and how they take care of the team. Avoiding the big head, that’s the deep, dark, lonely trap. Continuing to attack everything put in front of them and not afraid of any new challenge.”
Last season’s glow should be gone by now, and in a way, the pressure ratcheted. The Wolverines didn’t beat the Spartans, yet again. They got clobbered in the playoff. If they don’t beat their rivals and contend again, did they really change enough to make a mark?
"We need to win again," McNamara said during Big Ten Media Days. "We need to show that last year was not a fluke."
There was nothing fluky about the way Michigan rolled. But if the roll doesn’t continue, 2021 could be viewed as an anomaly. Based on their relatively soft 2022 schedule, it’d be a surprise if they won fewer than 10 games, but momentum is a funny thing, only as good as your first big road test (at Iowa Oct. 1).
No. 8 in preseason poll
Michigan is No. 8 in the AP preseason poll primarily because its offense looks stacked. Ohio State is No. 2 and Michigan State is No. 15, so the challenges haven’t diminished for anyone. The Wolverines gladly tout their four major goals — beat MSU and OSU in the same season, win the Big Ten, win the national championship.
"We're just going to continue to attack,” Harbaugh said. “That's what I really love about this team.”
Michigan will find out how much it really misses the sack-attack duo of Hutchinson and Ojabo. Similarly, the Spartans and Mel Tucker will find out how much they miss Kenneth Walker III, who shredded Michigan for 197 yards and five touchdowns in the 37-33 victory. Sustainability is the challenge for everyone.
The Wolverines have an abundance of talent at receiver: Bell, Andrel Anthony, Cornelius Johnson, Roman Wilson, A.J. Henning, tight end Erick All and more. Hassan Haskins was a brilliant workhorse, but Corum and Edwards are primed for more. On defense, 337-pound tackle Mazi Smith and sophomore linebacker Junior Colson should be forces, as the players embrace the “no-stars” approach. There’s also a chance for continuity, after coordinator Mike Macdonald returned to the NFL’s Ravens but was replaced by Minter, who once worked with Macdonald in Baltimore.
It's highly doubtful anyone matches the sack totals for Hutchinson (14) and Ojabo (11). But the Wolverines will have a fresh variety of blitz packages, and fresh hunger as players such as linebackers Nikhai Hill-Green and Mike Barrett, and defensive end Mike Morris step into larger roles. That’s the theory, at least.
In the fading days of summer, Harbaugh had no problem suggesting this defense could be better than last year’s.
“We’ve made some real strides in the interior defensive line,” Harbaugh said. “(Defensive line coach) Mike Elston’s doing a tremendous job. Mazi Smith’s doing a tremendous job coaching guys out there. It wasn’t but a couple of days ago where it was super noticeable, and our defensive line got the better of the offensive line.”
Fans will talk endlessly about the quarterbacks, and media will dissect every pass, every wrinkle, every option. That’s not a bad thing. After one fulfilling season under scrutiny and pressure, the Wolverines must show they’re getting used to it.
