Michigan Wolverines
2000 record: 9-3 (6-2).
Coach: Lloyd Carr (7th year, 58-16).
Starters returning: 4 offense, 8 defense, 1 kicker.
Outlook: Who is going to throw the touchdown passes? Who is going to carry the ball into the end zone? Who is going to form the wall necessary to do both? The Wolverines must replace one of the nation's best quarterbacks (Drew Henson), one of the nation's top receivers (David Terrell), an outstanding tailback (Anthony Thomas) and four offensive linemen.
For those of you keeping score at home, Henson, Terrell and Thomas accounted for more than 5,000 yards and 52 touchdowns last season. No wonder the Wolverines are hoping their defense is improved this season. And that defense must improve in order for coordinator Jim Hermann to keep his sanity. Michigan finished second in the Big Ten in scoring defense (19.1) but allowed 389.9 yards per game, the highest mark in school history. Ouch. The corps of linebackers, led by senior Larry Foote, should be the best in the Big Ten. The secondary, bolstered by the return of free safety Cato June, who missed all of 2000 with a knee injury, should be improved. The key will be generating a better pass rush. Michigan recorded just 21 sacks last season, the eighth-lowest total in the Big Ten.
Keep an eye on: The quarterback battle. With the departure of Henson, all eyes will be on former backup John Navarre and the quarterback position in general. Navarre, a sophomore, looked brilliant last year against the likes of Rice and Bowling Green, but he struggled against the big boys. The jury remains out. Perhaps most important, his lack of mobility is glaring, which isn't an asset with a line featuring four new starters. Can redshirt freshman Jermaine Gonzales or former San Diego State starter Spencer Brinton, fresh off a Mormon mission, move past Navarre? Stay tuned.
Key game: The matchup with Ohio State is THE game every year, but a road battle against defending Rose Bowl champion Washington in Week 2 should be both entertaining and telling. The Wolverines should have a victory after opening at home against Miami (Ohio) and plenty of time to shore up any weak areas. They'll need to do that because winning in Seattle isn't easy. Just ask the Miami Hurricanes.
It's a good year if... The Wolverines are playing in a BCS bowl game. A return trip to the Rose Bowl for the first time since the 1997 national championship season is out unless the Wolverines finish No. 1 or No. 2 in the final BCS standings. That seems unlikely. However, given the fact there doesn't appear to be a dominant team in the Big Ten there is no reason the Wolverines can't win the conference title, particularly with Purdue and Ohio State visiting Ann Arbor.
Jeff Potrykus covers the Big Ten for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
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