Michigan Wolverines: The Media has it all wrong about 2019
By Bob Heyrman
The Michigan Wolverines are widely predicted to win the Big Ten Championship, but is this just another over-hyped Wolverines’ team?
The Michigan Wolverines under Jim Harbaugh hasn’t even competed for the Big Ten Title in Indianapolis, yet the club is often being predicted to win the Championship. Many are suggesting the Wolverines will finally beat Ohio State landing themselves in the College Football Playoff. It’s something the Wolverines have yet to accomplish. It is now or never for the Michigan Wolverines but can they finally get past a Meyer-less Ohio State?
With Urban Meyer departing Ohio State, the door is open for Harbaugh to unseat the Buckeyes atop of the Big Ten Eastern Conference. Meyer had Michigan’s number beating them in all seven games. In fact, the Bucks have beaten Michigan in 14 of the last 15 games.
It seems ludicrous when you read that last sentence over, but unfortunately, it’s true. The team that beat Ohio State was Denard Robinson under the direction of head coach Brady Hoke. Don’t forget, Hoke also had the Bucks on the ropes again when he decided to go for two rather than kicking an extra point to force overtime. Imagine the Wolverines were able to convert, would we look at Hoke differently if he beat Ohio State twice? Has Jim Harbaugh’s tenor as head coach been any better than Hoke?
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I’d be a bit reluctant to rush and put the Michigan Wolverines atop the Big Ten. Newly-appointed head coach Ryan Day is inheriting a juggernaut in Ohio. Ohio State is still Ohio State. An under the radar move that needs to be addressed is the Buckeyes adding former Michigan Wolverines D-Line coach Greg Mattison. Mattison churned out many talented players while with Michigan is the new co-defensive coordinator with the Buckeyes. The Wolverines do get the Bucks at home along with Notre Dame, & Michigan State. If there were ever a time for the Wolverines to explode finally, this would be the year.
Shea Patterson is returning for the second year under Harbaugh. Jim is finally giving the offensive play calling to his new OC Josh Gattis. Gattis was the co-OC in Alabama last year, but he wasn’t the play-caller. Gattis is installing a new offense that shouldn’t include Jim Harbaugh’s famous full-back running plays out of a jumbo set. Gattis is expected to bring some of that SEC spread offense to Michigan.
It’s not precisely what Harbaugh likes to do, he prefers the power run, smash-mouth football but it apparently hasn’t worked for him. Gattis is set to use the playmaking capabilities of Donavan Peoples-Jones and Tarik Black by getting them the ball in space much more often. Shea Patterson could emerge as a Heisman Trophy finalist if Gattis’ offense clicks as expected.
Next. It’s now or never for Jim Harbaugh. dark
We could see a situation where the Michigan Wolverines go 12-0 in the regular season, but I am not willing to appoint them playoff-bound until we actually see the product on the field. When the going gets robust will, Jim Harbaugh continue to allow Gattis to call the plays? Will Harbaugh take over in a close game? The first real test will be week three in Wisconson. After the conclusion of that game, we should be able to gauge the new-look offense better.