GBMW: Coach’s Corner: Three key personnel improvements for every game phase needed for next season,

Posted at 8:00am — 12/2/2009

GBMW: Coach’s Corner: Three key personnel improvements for every game phase needed for next season.

Offense:

1a) Offensive Line:

The adjustment is not just replacing two seniors, but where do the new starters play? Does Omameh move back to left tackle, which I think is his best spot, he did not show the *ss end to handle stronger defensive tackles in my opinion. Does Huyge play offensive guard with Dorrestein at right tackle? Do the higher end youngsters/superior athletes step up and replace the more experienced guys? This is going to be fun to watch.

1b) Running Back:

Who steps up and replaces B. Minor. The offense was noticeably less effective with him out of the game. I fully expect improvement from the youngsters; I am not willing to say any will be at Minor’s level next season. So, in my opinion it will be a committee approach to try and replace Minor. It is the belief here that if Minor had stayed healthy Michigan gets to six wins.

2) Quarterback competition:

Who plays, and also who starts? This is going to be another fun competition to watch. In a perfect world, D. Gardner gets a red-shirt, with D. Robinson and T. Forcier splitting duty. In my opinion, if one could combine Forcier’s swagger and play making ability with D. Robinson’s overall athletic ability, the result is a nearly perfect Coach Rod quarterback.

3) Split Ends:

Will Stonum, or somebody/anybody, provide a deep threat and vertically stretch defenses? If that happens, I predict Roundtree gets 50+ catches. Look what he did with defenses compacted. Back them up and create underneath space and this kid will explode!

Defense:

1) Replacing B. Graham:

Make it Roh, or whomever, somebody needs to get this done. It will not be easy, Graham was a monster and far better than the final numbers showed. With teams scheming and adjusting to him, he was still a major factor. This type of player does not grow on trees. He was a rare talent indeed. Thanks B. Graham for being a credit to Michigan and good luck!

2) Who plays safety?

Michigan cannot continue to give up almost unlimited big plays. Cheap touchdowns have to stop, teams must be forced to earn every point. Take away the big plays and this defense would be markedly better and again Michigan would have gotten to six wins. I expect to see Woolfolk and a completely new guy start here. And I would not be surprised to see either M. Williams or Kovacs playing closer to the line of scrimmage.

3) Linebackers:

I would not be surprised if Ezeh has played his last game at inside linebacker. If that is true does he try quick, or defensive end? The second biggest question I have is what happens with Mouton? He never looked comfortable to me at inside linebacker; he might be a candidate for S. Brown’s position. And what happens with B. Smith is another very meaningful question. Does he play inside, or try to play S. Brown’s strong side linebacker position, which seems like a natural fit?

Special Teams:

1) Who replaces Mesko?

What a weapon this kid was. Zoltan was the best in the conference and quite possibly the best in the country. The dirty little secret is without his punting Michigan probably would have lost to Indiana. He was that good!

2) Who kicks field goals/extra points?

With two scholarship players on the roster one of them needs to step up and take over all placekicking duties. Michigan cannot have more repeats on missed extra points and short field goals. A missed extra point cost UM the sixth win.

3. Who returns the punts?

With Stonum doing a nice job on kick off returns, for most of the year, Michigan needs to find someone to do the same with punts. J. Hemingway did a competent job, but it would be a huge plus to find a dynamic guy to make this more than just a competent level of proficiency. J Gallon can shake it up a little. But something better must be achieved than just catch the ball.

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Written by GBMW Staff

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