Michigan Football: 3 reasons UM can fulfill AP playoff prediction

Shea Patterson is the impact player Michigan has been missing

Having a quarterback isn’t everything, especially in college football. If your team is good enough, you can win but no matter what, the quarterback still has to be productive. He doesn’t have to carry the team, but he can’t be the reason you lose games either.

For the past three years, Michigan football has had nothing but game managers. Jake Rudock was good at it. Wilton Speight, John O’Korn and Brandon Peters? Well, they weren’t quite as skilled.

Speight almost single-handedly cost Michigan the Ohio State game two years ago and what could have been a Big Ten title and the playoff appearance that went with it. His turnovers proved costly and all last season, turnovers killed all three quarterbacks.

Patterson has a history of turnovers, he threw 12 interceptions in 10 starts at Ole Miss, however, has also can make plays, averaging 2.3 touchdown passes per start. Patterson can make something out of nothing and that will pay big dividends.

Michigan hasn’t had that the past three season and with the guy the AP predicted to finish fourth in the Heisman race, it could make all the difference in the world.