Michigan Monday: Are The Wolverines Too Young?

I just heard Phil Steele on Mike and Mike this morning.  Golic said, he heard it was going to be a down year for Michigan and Phil responded they are young and play a difficult schedule.


Phil went on to say that Michigan is one of the youngest teams in the country with only 5 starters returning but for example they are very strong on the defensive line. 


That got me thinking, where are the biggest inexperience risk areas for the Wolverines?  Below are the position groups that have the most risk.


Youth Scale Rating System 0-5


5 = High Risk
1= Low Risk
0=No Risk


Offense
QB = Michigan has a returning starter = 0
RB = Michigan has a ton of guys returning who have experience = 0
TE = Bunting and Wheatley have played a bunch = 1
OL= Mixing guys with experience and guys that haven't played much = 3
WR =  These guys are very young but very talented = 4


Defense
DL = These guys could have been considered starters last year with amount they played = 0
LB = Returning Starter and a couple of new guys, including trying to replace a Heisman finalist = 3
DB's = Biggest risk to the team are the DB's, these guys are young and lack experience = 5


Special Teams
P = Brad Robbins committed on NSD and will walk into a starting role in the Big House = 5
K = Nordin at least has one year on campus already, still didn't play much last year = 4




My Expected Starters:


QB = Speight
RB = Evans & Hill at FB
TE = Bunting and Wheatley
WR = Crawford, Black, Slot = Grant Perry (if not suspended)
OL = LT Cole, LG Bredeson, C Kugler, RG Onwenu, RT Runyan


DL = Gary, Mone, Hurst, Winovich
LB = Hudson, McCray, Bush
S = Kinnel and Metellus
CB = Hill and Washington  (Long in the mix here as well)


What Does that mean for the Wolverines?


If you are an OC facing Michigan, you will look to take advantage of the youth in the secondary.  Your QB won't have a ton of time with the quick pass rush, so I see a bunch of two step drops and quick passes.   Michigan's best pass defense will be a strong pass rush this year.


If your are a DC facing the Wolverines, you will try to stop the run and take advantage of the right side of Michigan's line.  They will learn very quickly how talented the Michigan WR's are.  They are big, fast and I expect great things from that unit and only a few youthful mistakes.    I expect a huge year from Bunting and Wheatley. 


Special Teams =  I don't have too much concern about Robbins as all he has to do is Punt.   Nordin is clearly talented and will be put in tough positions to get Michigan points.   His accuracy could be the difference in wins and losses this year.


The punt returner role is open and probably will be asked to just catch the damn ball.   I like McDoom in this role.

• Caris and DJ are playing well in the Summer League so far.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2017/07/michigan-monday-are-wolverines-too-young.html