Camp Open(ed): March 17 (yeah, we’re late on this one)
Spring Game: April 14
Is Michigan football back? Following an 11-win season capped with a BCS bowl victory it would be easy to say so. But until Michigan makes an appearance in a Big Ten championship game it might be wise to hold off on those thoughts. But hey, that could very well happen in 2012. The optimism should be abundant in Ann Arbor this spring as those plans start to come together.
Stability Factor (1 = chaos; 5 = rock solid): 5
Michigan has everything in place to make a run for a Big Ten championship this season. They have an improved coaching staff ready for year two on the job, a quarterback who can hurt defenses on the ground when needed and a ton of returning starters. Looking ahead, Michigan is already hauling in an impressive recruiting class for next year.
Under the Microscope: Fitzgerald Toussaint, Running Back
Toussaint recoded 100-yard rushing games in four of Michigan’s final five games of the regular season, scoring five touchdowns in the process, but now he will be looked to produce at that kind of level from start to finish. A disappointing 30-yard performance in the Sugar Bowl leaves some doubt out there as to whether he can be an asset against quality defenses.
Locked and Loaded: Secondary
Michigan returns their entire defensive secondary in 2012, a year after allowing the fewest passing touchdowns in the Big Ten (12, tied with Penn State). Of course, on the flip side, Michigan also had the fewest interceptions in the conference other than Indiana and Minnesota.
Michigan also returns three starting linebackers, so if the defensive line can fill some holes then it should be another decent year for the Michigan defense.
Jockeying for Position: Wide Receiver
Michigan will be fueled by the running game in 2012, with Denard Robinson capable of breaking a play with his legs at any time and Fitzgerald Toussaint looking to continue where he left off last season. But at some point Robinson will need to throw the football. The question is who will be there to catch it, other than Roy Roundtree?
Name to Know: Dennis Norfleet, Running Back
Michigan’s recruiting class was impressive this season, and while other players will come in as higher rated prospects, running back Dennis Norfleet, from Detroit, could bring some sizzle to the offense, or perhaps special teams. Norfleet rushed for 1,880 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2010 and 2,033 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2011.
Spring will be a success if…: Improved passing game of Denard Robinson
What we would really like to see from Denard Robinson is an improved passing game. We know he can kill defenses on the ground, but adding some better passing would really help Michigan make a Big Ten title run in 2012. Robinson completed 55 percent of his passes in 2011 and had 20 touchdowns compared to 15 interceptions. He can work to reduce the interception rate to under one per game, that would be a great accomplishment for he and Michigan. If he does that, 2,300 or even 2,400 yards cannot be that far behind through the air.
Related: Michigan’s classic uniform style is up against Nebraska in Crystal Ball Run’s Uni Madness Final Four. Vote here.
Kevin McGuire is the host of the No 2-Minute Warning podcast and managing editor of Nittany Lion’s Den. Follow Kevin on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.
