2012 Positional Breakdown: Special Teams

Entering the 2011 season, there were some major questions revolving around Michigan's team and specifically, the special teams.  Following last year, many of those questions have been answered and some have even started viewing the special teams as an advantage for the team.  With Michigan's top three kickers/punters returning and both of its specialist returners coming back, there is a lot to be excited about in terms of special teams.  Granted, they don't win the game alone (in most cases), but Michigan fans know as well as anybody from their experiences in 2009 and 2010, that they can be extremely important for a team.

Brendan Gibbons (RS Junior)
The story of the Sugar Bowl and the redemption of Team 132 could almost be an autobiography for Brendan Gibbons.  During Michigan's 2010 campaign, Gibbons appeared in 5 games and started 4 of them.  Not bad for a redshirt freshman.  The problem is that he made just 1 of 5 field goals with his longest being from just 24 yards in the first game of the season.  His play that followed was erratic, unreliable, and scattered throughout the season and in the biggest games of the year.  Few thought he stood a chance in 2011.

However, the year that followed was simply astounding.  Not just because of the massive improvement, but because he did it after undergoing the down 2010 year.  Kickers recovering from those types of performances are mixed.  Kicking takes a lot of mental preparation and taking that big of a mental hit and recovering is quite an accomplishment.  Not only did he play in and start every game for Michigan's Sugar Bowl run, but he also posted career highs in several games including 7 made PAT's against Minnesota and a 43 yard field goal against Ohio State.  Despite this, his most impressive moment was when he made all 3 field goal attempts against Virginia Tech including a 37 yard overtime kick to seal the game.  Gibbons will be back and should be the most reliable kicker Michigan has had in quite awhile.