Michigan Football: 5 keys to a successful 2019 for the Wolverines

Release the Kraken

Wilton Speight said it best.

"“I know he, and I’m sure Michigan nation, are very excited for the handcuffs to maybe come off and Shea can rip it around the field. I remember that same type of scenario once Jedd (Fisch) left (as pass-game coordinator, replaced by Hamilton), it was like, ‘God, I feel I could do a little bit more.’"

This new offense might be exhilarating in theory but as the former Wolverine quarterback Speight said, Michigan Football needs to give Shea Patterson the freedom to throw to his elite receivers.

Patterson showed some significant improvements to his game his first year at Michigan. At Ole Miss during the 2017 season, Shea threw the ball 260 times and completed 166 of those for 2,259 yards and tacked on 17 touchdowns with nine interceptions.

During 2018, Patterson threw for 2,600 yards going 210/325 and adding 22 touchdowns with seven interceptions.

What it should look like this year is 374/533 for 4,832 yards, 51 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

Recognize those numbers? It’s one completion more than Dwayne Haskins last year, one more yard, one more touchdown, and one less interception.

In my opinion, anything less than 3,000 passing yards means the handcuffs were loosened, not removed.