Hot Topics: Who Should Be The Starting Running Back

On a regular basis, our writers will break down a "Hot Topic" among the Michigan fans and express their personal opinions regarding the issue. Topics cover everything from major athletic department decisions to team apparel. Writers have their own opinions and readers and their views may not necessarily represent Hoke's Mad Magicians as an entity.  Readers are welcome to comment below or contact our writers via Twitter with their own thoughts.

Week 7 Notes and Predictions

On Thursday night I had the privilege of viewing "Black and Blue", the documentary about Gerald Ford, Willis Ward, and the 1934 Michigan-Georgia Tech football game. After watching the program, I came away with an altered view on Michigan's football history. I won't go into the details here because I believe this is one that is a must see for all Michigan fans alike but I do enjoy hearing about the history of Michigan football, and this is a chapter that has been forgotten over time and shrouded in gray. There will be another showing of it on November 18th at the Brighton District Library, and DVD copies will also be on sale for 20 dollars. Due to the efforts by a 2nd grader in Brighton, October 20th will be Willis Ward Day...so look for information regarding that come next week when Michigan will be hosting Michigan State. On a final note, considering this Saturday will be homecoming, and also the game honoring the late President Gerald Ford in the Legends Patch ceremony, that makes the game a watershed moment. Not only does the timing of the documentary work well with it, but there's rumors of Willis Ward being mentioned as well. I plan on attending the game, not only to see our beloved Wolverines kick Illini butt, but to soak in the history of Ford, Ward, and the story behind it all.

Week 6: Top Performers And Underperformers

Saturday against Purdue gave us a lot to be happy about with this team as a whole. In my opinion, it was the first game this season that both the offense and defense were rolling on all cylinders. And let me just say it was a beautiful sight.

With so many high class performances on Saturday, it's hard to pick just the top 3, but I guess it comes down to separating the good from the elite.

So before I hold you up any longer, here are your top Wolverine performers from Saturday's action.

1) Denard Robinson - QB

Let's just get something out of the way here. When Denard Robinson says he is going to bounce back and perform better, expect Denard Robinson to bounce back and perform better.

Week 4: Biggest Performers And Underperformers

What an ugly game. I think that's the best way to put it. It was one of those nights where the $500 consequence of throwing a remote through the TV would have been worth it. And in a game where you really do beat yourself, there are a lot of individual performances that amounted to a weak team performance.

On the other hand, I think we learned a couple positive things about this team, even in such a mess of a game. As always, we start with the bright first.

1. Jordan Kovacs - S

Jordan Kovacs was just one part of an over all impressive defensive performance from the Wolverines on Saturday night. Notre Dame doesn't have the strongest offense in the land, but they have just enough talent and play making ability to give a defense a lot to worry about.

Preview And Prediction: Notre Dame

For the second time in four weeks, both Notre Dame and Michigan will be stepping onto the field for a prime time match up that the nation will be watching. It is one of college football's most storied rivalries. Notre Dame and Michigan carry so much tradition on their backs, it's hard not to get goose bumps at the just the thought of the game.

Of course, last season's game ended up being one of the most exciting in the history of these two programs getting together. It was the first night game in the Big House. It was 28 points in the 4th quarter. It was Denard Robinson to Roy Roundtree with 2 seconds left. It was beautiful chaos.

But for this meeting, Notre Dame seems to have already hit that curve and propelled forward into something called relativity. It will be exciting to see if they can continue their early season success against a Wolverine team that has won 3 meetings in a row.

Week 3: Biggest Performers and Underperformers

The week three game against Massachusetts was a beautiful things to watch. Everything seemed to be clicking for the Wolverines on offense and defense. This wasn't one of those situations where one key guy led the way to victory, and that is something to be proud of.

There were a lot (and I mean A LOT) of key performances from Wolverines this last week, but we're going to stick to the absolute top, and then also look at some guys who maybe didn't have the performance they were looking for.

Top Performers

1. Denard Robinson - QB

I'm handing out individual accolades for Week 3, and we can finally welcome Denard Robinson to the top of the list. This was one of the most complete games of Robinson's career because of the fact that he was able to get the passing game going, and I'm not just talking about the big plays.

Consistency is the most highly scrutinized aspect of Robinson's game, and it really isn't hard to see why. However, Saturday showed that his so-called "improvement" in the off season was not just a thing of talk; it was real. And we finally saw it on display.

Of course, it isn't a Michigan football game unless "Shoelace" busts one open with his legs and makes our jaws drop in amazement. So he did some of that, too. The running portion of Denard's game is truly what makes him so special.

Game Review: UMass

For anybody who had any kind of doubt that the Wolverines would dominate this game, I'm sure those feelings were erased around the 15 minute mark of the first quarter. And I'm sure I won't be the only one to admit that it was nice to witness such a lopsided victory because of that feel-good emotion at the end of the day.

This game was never even close, but that does not mean it was useless. In fact, I think this was the perfect tune up game for this Saturday against Notre Dame. As I mentioned in my preview of this game, it was a great opportunity to fix some things that were really haunting the Wolverines through the first two weeks.

For starters, the offensive and defensive lines were far below average against Alabama and Air Force. In fact, it was plain ugly. Both lines are undersized and not very deep, but that doesn't necessarily mean they can't excel. It just so happens Alabama and Air Force are two of the top rushing teams in the nation. Playing a program like UMass was great for those big boys up front, giving them the confidence they need heading into the rest of the season.

Preview And Prediction: UMass

When taking a look at Michigan's 2012 season schedule, this Week 3 match up against Massachusetts seems to be the easiest of the year, and it is a terrific tune up game heading into the storied rivalry against Notre Dame.

The most important part of Week 3 will be the establishment of position. Both lines need a boost heading into the meat of the schedule, Fitz Toussaint could really use a solid game to get his season on track, Denard Robinson would benefit from consecutive weeks of high performance, and the defense as a whole needs to get back to the basics of tackling.

There are a number of things the Wolverines can do to prepare themselves for the part of the schedule that really matters to the program. So here are my top keys both teams.

Michigan

Michigan is coming off their first win of the season last week against Air Force and desperately needs to find a way to tune themselves up before heading into South Bend next week.

1) Control The Lines

It has been no secret through the first two weeks that Michigan has been dominated on the offensive and defensive lines both. Granted, they were facing two of the most respected rushing attacks in the game, but there was not a lot to be proud of for the men up front.

On defense, gaps are being opened that even Moses would be jealous of -- yes, that is my attempt at humor. UMass will be trying to exploit the exact same thing come Saturday. The MinuteMen don't necessarily have the greatest run game, but they see it as their best chance to penetrate the Michigan defense.

Week 2: Biggest Performers and Underperformers

It seemed like Michigan was 0-1 for a couple of months, and, throughout the course of the game against Air Force, I couldn't help but wonder what would happen if Michigan lost back-to-back games to open the season. I'm sure it would have been ugly, but it's a reality we don't have to face thanks to some very key performances on the field.

Of course, where you find good, you also find bad. Or at least unproductive. There were some not-so-great performances from some Wolverines, too. But it is always best to start with the positives.

Top Performers

1. Devin Funchess - TE

Especially after Kevin Koger left for the NFL a year ago, who would've thought we would be mentioning a Tight End as a top performer for the Wolverines? I certainly didn't. But it turns out Devin Funchess might be a vital weapon for this offense heading forward.

Funches recorded all of his first career stats last week against Air Force, and it wasn't just getting a couple numbers next to his name. They all pop out. In fact, you would probably think you're looking at a big threat Wide Receiver's numbers.

Week 2 Notes With Updates On Tweeting MSU Players And Blake Countess

We are officially headed into Week 2 of the college football season. We have an idea on some teams, and others we're still wondering about. Here's a few things to keep in perspective:

1. Fitzgerald Toussaint and Frank Clark are back. I don't want the importance of this action to be overlooked. There were many Michigan fans who cried out when Fitz was suspended initially, and even more when Brady announced that he would be also suspended for the Alabama game. Now, did he make the right call? Absolutely. Even with the presence and skill of having Fitz on the field would not have changed the outcome of the game. If he had played one of two things might have happened. We might have had better field position of a couple of series, but still no points from it. Two, he might have been injured. Fitz comes into the Air Force game with a set of fresh legs, ready to take on their defense.

Preview And Prediction: Air Force

Michigan won't be playing on quite the same stage as last week. There weren't weeks of anticipation for the "Air Force game." College GameDay isn't setting up outside of the Big House ready to break this one down for us. You get the point. However, for the Falcons of Air Force, they don't get too many opportunities to step on a big stage like Michigan Stadium. It's a chance they are looking forward to seizing.

This is a game Brady Hoke and the coaching staff have really been looking forward to because of the tradition both programs bring to the program and the respect the nation has for Air Force. While the Falcons aren't known to be a football power house, this will not be an easy rebound game for the Wolverines.

Here are Michigan's keys to the game:

Michigan
The Wolverines are desperately looking to bounce back after a Week 1 embarrassment against Alabama last Saturday, and their chance is finally here. However, they head into this game short-handed, despite getting Fitzgerald Toussaint and Frank Clark back from suspension. Blake Countess suffered an ACL tear that has ended his season.

Week 1 Notes With Updates on Fitz Toussaint And Frank Clark

I have waited as long as I could to post this column, waiting to find out the final decision on Fitzgerald Toussaint and Frank Clark.
Now I have learned that Toussaint and Clark are both continuing their respective suspensions thru the Alabama game. "The decision was not easy, but I feel it is in the best interest of this program and for these kids, and those always will be my priorities," Hoke said in a statement. "We have choices every day, and you have to be accountable to this program, your teammates, your family and the University of Michigan." I don't like Hoke's decision. I think Fitz gives Michigan a better chance of winning. Yet, while I don't like his decision, I do respect it. Hoke has rarely made a decision so far that I don't like, and he absolutely has not made one decision that has been detrimental towards the team. I applaud Hoke for making what is one of the toughest decisions so far this early in the season.


The eighth-ranked Wolverines will likely use running backs Thomas Rawls, Vincent Smith, Justice Hayes perhaps along with newcomers Dennis Norfleet and Drake Johnson against the defending national champion Crimson Tide.

2012 Positional Breakdown: Running Back

The running back position is traditionally very deep at Michigan, and nothing has changed heading into 2012. Obviously, the arrest and indefinite suspension of Fitzgerald Toussaint is a huge set back for the Wolverine offense, but there is a still a lot of talent and potential behind him on the depth chart.

Guys like Thomas Rawls, Stephen Hopkins, and Vincent Smith are all looking for their opportunity to make some noise in the back field with this chance to take over the starting position for a portion of the season. Fitz Toussaint was the presumed starter heading into the 2012 season, but, because of his suspension, can not be listed.

Thomas Rawls (Sophomore)

Thomas Rawls is widely considered to be the starter in place of Fitz Toussaint to start the 2012 season. He put together a fantastic spring that caught the attention of coaches and fans, which at that time seemed to solidify himself as the back up. Now, he is likely taking the role of starter against Alabama and will get his first shot on the biggest stage of his life.

Toussaint Arrest Puts Chaos In Wolverines Offense

RB Fitzgerald Toussaint, arrested and indefinitely suspended

As reported earlier this week, starting RB Fitzgerald Toussaint was arrested this past Saturday night on a DUI charge. There were multiple questions up in the air immediately, but coach Brady Hoke cleared some of the fog for us with this statement on Toussaint:

"Fitz made a poor decision and has been suspended indefinitely because of that action. There are expectations that come with being a football student-athlete at the University of Michigan and those responsibilities were not met in this instance. We will use this as an opportunity to educate Fitz and make sure he understands the high standards that we have established within our program."

"Suspended indefinitely" could mean anything from zero games missed to an entire season. This is Toussaint's first offense, so most are not expecting the most drastic of measures, but it can't be shoved out of the picture just yet. Brady Hoke has held to his word of keeping a strong amount of integrity within the program. As he puts it, "This is Michigan, for God's sake."

Fitz Toussaint Arrested, Suspended, And Leaving Questions For Michigan

Michigan runningback Fitzgerald Toussaint was arrested Saturday evening in Saline, Michigan on a DUI charge.


Toussaint rushed onto the scene a year ago for the Wolverines in the backfield in the middle of the season, becoming the team's second leading rusher behind Denard Robinson with 1,041 yards and nine TDs on 187 carries.

2012 Most Improved Returning Players #5 And #6

Today (Monday) begins a 3-post series that breaks down the top 6 returning players from 2011 that I think will make the largest improvements in the 2012 season. Many players improve on a yearly basis and I'm going to try to make some predictions about which players will improve the most.  There are a lot of question marks for next year's team, so this should help us get an understanding of who will be the best players for next year.

Each Monday and Thursday, I will reveal two more players. Today, we are looking at #6 and #5, Thursday we will be looking at #4 and #3 and next Monday I will be ranking #2 and the #1 most improved returning players.  Remember, this isn't necessarily the best players on the team, but the ones that will be the most improved.

6. J.T. Floyd (CB)

J.T. Floyd has been one of the most exciting players to watch develop over the past couple of years, and the improvement he has already made as a cover corner in the Big Ten is worth noting.

Floyd has made his trademark on the Michigan defense with his 1-on-1 abilities. The staple of Floyd's career at Michigan came last season in the Big House's first ever night game against Notre Dame. There was obviously the tremendous comeback in the fourth quarter, but J.T. Floyd was left 1-on-1 with Michael Floyd for most of the game and held his own. Minimizing the damage that came from the Fighting Irish all-star was a big part of that huge victory.

Floyd's biggest improvement will come in his deep coverage game. Last season, he had some trouble in defending the deep ball mainly by biting on a double move and then getting beat down the field. The good news about that is it all in the technique, which means it is easier to fix. We could also see more turnovers by way of Floyd this season. At 6-foot-1-inch, a good play on the ball could result in 3-4 INTs this season, after 2 last year.

My expectations for J.T. Floyd in 2012 are: getting better defending the deep ball, continued improvement in 1-on-1 coverage, and 3-4 INTs.

The number one key for Floyd in his improvement in defending the deep ball will be not biting so hard on the double move from receivers. Floyd is more often than not put on the opposition's best receiver in man-to-man coverage, so it will be a tough challenge. The main things I'm looking for with Floyd are recognition and reaction. Recognizing the situation and knowing what the receivers double move is going to look like, and then acting quickly enough to disrupt will be the difference.

1-on-1 coverage in the main characteristic of J.T. Floyd's play. His ability to lock in on receivers and track the ball is why this Michigan coaching staff trusts him on some of the toughest wideouts in the Big Ten, and I think he will continue to improve that aspect of his game into something lethal.

2 INTs for Floyd last year seemed average. I believe he is capable of more, and that should show in 2012. He does a nice job of breaking up passes, so the next logical step is getting two hands on the ball and not letting it go. Now, I'm not complaining about the break-ups, but it would be huge to come up with some turnovers, especially with the threats of an offense led by Denard Robinson.

5. Fitzgerald Toussaint (RB)

Fitzgerald (or "Fitz") Toussaint was the biggest offensive surprise from 2011. Al Borgess kept stressing his need to find a full-time back that could carry the ball 20-25 per game, and he got his guy about midway through the conference schedule.

Fitz Toussaint showed some potential early in the season with 80 yards in the opener against Western Michigan and then 108 yards in the blowout victory against Minnesota. But, at that time, he was getting equal opportunity with Vincent Smith and Michael Shaw. It wasn't until a 170 yard performance against Purdue that offensive coordinator Al Borges decided to stick with Toussaint through the rest of the season, and he did not disappoint.

Getting going early will be the biggest key for Toussaint next season. Consistency was never really a problem; once he was productive, he stayed productive. Obviously, getting the ground game going with a long haul, powerful back like Toussaint is what Michigan is wanting to get back to, but, at the same time, it helps out Denard Robinson in plenty of different ways. Robinson's running game can open up, he will find more 1-on-1 opportunities in the passing game, and play-action will be very affective. It's going to be exciting to see how big of an impact Fitz Toussaint can have on this Michigan offense next season.

My expectations for Fitz Toussaint are: 1,300+ rushing yards, 12 TDs, and to be reliable for 3rd and short situations.

Toussaint didn't really break into his 2011 prime until about midway through the conference season. Still, he rushed for just over 1,000 yards and punched a ticket into the end zone 9 times. If he can get started right away in 2012, I don't see any reason why 1,300 yards wouldn't be reached by the end, given he can stay healthy.

When Michigan got deep into the Red Zone last year, the most reliable play seemed to be letting Denard roll out and either dump it off or try to run it in himself. But in a perfect offense led by Al Borgess, the ball could be pounded in by the back. Fitz is turning into that kind of a player, and I think the Red Zone will be his "throne" this year. He's very strong, lets his blocks form, and has pretty good foot speed. Not to mention, he won't go down on first contact.

3rd and short is in the same boat as being as deep in the Red Zone. It used to primarily be up to Denard to find a way to move the chains, but that shouldn't be the case in 2012. Toussaint can use that same combination of power and speed in 3rd and short situations that he can use on the goal line.

Stay tuned for Thursday when I reveal the #4 and #3 most improved returning players for 2012.

Pre-season All-Big Ten Teams Breakdown

Photo Credit: PhilSteele

Phil Steele has released his 2012 preseason All-Big Ten teams, and a lot of familiar names have made their way onto the list.

OFFENSE

QB- Denard Robinson (1st Team):

Topping the 1st team list at quarterback is no surprise: Denard Robinson. Denard "Shoelace" Robinson is one of the most exciting exciting players to watch in all of college football, and, while nothing is set in stone this early, Denard seems to be the favorite to get the first team selection among just about everybody.

The largest obstacle standing in front of Robinson is decision making. The Michigan staff says 1/3 of his 15 interceptions from a year ago were due to poor decisions, and Denard has acknowledged that flaw to his game. If we see a Denard Robinson that can keep attacking on the ground, as well as cut the turnovers in half, there is no way around crowning him with 1st team honors.

WR- Roy Roundtree (1st Team):

The second Wolverine to find himself on the 1st team ballot is WR Roy Roundtree. Everyone remembers Roundtree from a year ago for the famous TD grab with 2 seconds on the clock against Notre Dame, but he only had 19 receptions all year, after 72 receptions in 2010. However, the absence of Junior Hemingway will open up a huge opportunity for Roundtree to step up as a target of Denard Robinson.

OT- Taylor Lewan (1st Team):

The third and final 1st team selection for the Wolverines is OT Taylor Lewan, a 6-foot-8-inch, 294 lb junior. Lewan was one of the most physical presences up front in the Big Ten, but was somewhat downplayed because of the play of David Molk, last year's Rimington Award recipient.

Lewan played a very key part in the success of both running the football and protecting Denard Robinson in the backfield. Very few teams had any kind of success penetrating the Michigan O-line, which in turn led to the success of Fitz Toussaint in the running game and allowed Robinson to toss 20 TDs.

RB- Fitzgerald Toussaint (2nd Team):

Fitz Toussaint is a name worthy of a 1st team bid, but with other RBs like Montee Ball and Rex Burkhead, he finds himself as the only Wolverine selected onto the 2nd team. Last year, Toussaint established himself as the primary back in the beginning of Big Ten play, and that is exactly what Al Borgess wanted from his Wolverines backfield, someone to step up and carry the ball 20-25 times a game for the long haul. The staff is still working to develop Toussaint into a back that can take the pressure off of Denard's legs, which would ultimately make them both more affective.

OG- Patrick Omameh (3rd Team):

Patrick Omameh is another big body up front for the Michigan offense, and, much like Taylor Lewan, was somewhat looked over because of the play of David Molk. Still, Omameh made huge contributions to the Wolverines O-line. I could have seen his name anywhere from 2nd team to 4th team and really wouldn't have been too surprised, so 3rd team is certainly a good fit for big man.

WR- Jeremy Gallon (4th Team):

Jeremy Gallon is the only Wolverine to find himself on the 4th team, but, of all players selected preseason, I believe Gallon is the most likely to move up by the end of the season, possibly as far as the 2nd team. He made a huge jump from 2010 to 2011, going from just 4 to 31 receptions and was a consistent target for Denard Robinson all season. Gallon's biggest weapon is speed, so his numbers will highly depend on his ability to get out in the open field, however Al Borgess goes about doing that.

DEFENSE

LB- Kenny Demens (2nd Team):

No Wolverine made it as a 1st team selection on defense, but the first of three to be named to the 2nd team is Kenny Demens. Demens finds himself on the 2nd team strictly because of his ability to find the ball carrier and bring him down. He isn't a defender who is going to nose out the ball through the air or rack up 10 sacks per season. In a defense led by coordinator Greg Mattison, the number one emphasis was ganging up on the ball, and that's exactly what Kenny Demens was able to do. All in all, Demens accounted for 49 solo tackles and 45 solo tackles.

CB- J.T. Floyd (2nd Team):

J.T. Floyd is a very nice selection for 2nd team CB. Floyd is a much improved cover corner who has had his share of tests. The biggest stepping stone to his game came against Notre Dame, when the defensive scheme matched him up 1-on-1 with Michael Floyd (now with the Arizona Cardinals) for most of the game, and he held his own for the most part. This is J.T. Floyd's secondary, and I expect to see a very solid season from the senior.

S- Jordan Kovacs (2nd Team):

The final Wolverine to be selected to the 2nd team is Safety Jordan Kovacs. Kovacs had to walk on to the football team and now finds himself starting at Safety and doing a fine job at it, as well. Kovacs is passion-driven player who makes the right plays at the right times. I actually thought Kovacs would be a 4th team selection, but this just goes to show the amount of respect he has built up with other people.

DE- Craig Roh (3rd Team):

Senior Craig Roh is the only Wolverine selected onto the 3rd team, but I think Roh could have been a 2nd team selection. Craig Roh's staple was the ability to get into the backfield. He accounted for a sack in all but four games that he played in. A lot of his success from last year was due to the attention required by Mike Martin and Ryan Van Burgen, so it will be interesting to see if he can keep his success going with those two up front with him.

S- Thomas Gordon (4th Team):

Thomas Gordon is probably my biggest surprise being selected for the Wolverines, but he has deserved this honor. Gordon's biggest up-side is closing speed. As the last line of defense of safety, Gordon accounted for a good number of tackles.

SPECIAL TEAMS

PR- Jeremy Gallon (3rd Team)

Jeremy Gallon is the only Wolverine listed under the special teams, but I think this is well deserved. Gallon is always a threat on the returning side, especially punt return, and, for the most part, he did a nice job of getting the Wolverines offense into good position. 

Ty Isaac Chooses USC

Photo Credit: ESPN

The Ty Isaac decision has finally come and gone, and Michigan fans have been left with the short end of the stick.  By all markers, Michigan's 2013 recruiting class has been superb.  They currently have 18 commitments in a class that will likely size up to be around 23 recruits and the class has been ranked #1 by numerous scouting services.  However, Michigan has struck out with several big recruits as of late and many fans are feeling disappointed.

By all marks, Isaac was a special type of recruit that could change the entire dynamic of a team.  Scout has him ranked as the #1 running back in the country and as a 5* player.  Rivals has him a bit lower as the #2 running back in the country and a 4*, but will likely be upgraded to a 5* in the near future.  I don't think I need to explain how impressive it is to be either the #1 or #2 running back in any recruiting class.  He is literally a one in a million type of player.

By all reports, Michigan had been in his consideration for a while, but he ultimately decided to commit to USC today.  There's no doubt that USC is going to be getting a great player.  Did he make the right decision?  I really can't say.  I don't know the future, and we have no idea how Michigan and USC's teams will look like when he arrives on campus and when he leaves USC.  The main question should revolve around the impact on Michigan's recruiting class and for the team's future.  Is this something that's going to hurt this class and the team?

There's no doubt that losing out on the #1 or #2 recruit for any position is not a good thing.  However, I really don't think this is something that's going to do a lot of damage long-term.  Why do I believe this?  Take a look at defending Big Ten Champion Wisconsin.  Montee Ball has had amazing success at the running back position and is one of the major reasons why Wisconsin has been so successful as of late.  However, if you asked an NFL scout about Wisconsin's strengths, he probably wouldn't describe Wisconsin's running backs as their strongest position.  Instead, he would probably describe the offensive linemen.

Wisconsin's high-powered offense has been built on elite offensive linemen that have been able to allow the running backs to have great success.  Of course, Ball and Wisconsin's former running backs are talented, but let's be honest.  If there's a huge gaping hole in the defense, most running backs are probably going to do pretty well.  Running backs can have a big impact on a team, but the most important part of running success is the role of offensive linemen.  No matter how good a running back is individually, they are not likely do well without at least a decent offensive line.

Michigan has been recruiting an elite offensive line for the future.  Just look at the 2012 and 2013 Michigan commitments.  Michigan had 4 offensive line commits in 2012, and currently has 5 offensive line commits for the 2013 class.  However, these aren't just random commits.  Almost every one of these commits are elite linemen that can make an enormous impact for Michigan.  Just take a look at 2012 commit Kyle Kalis and 2013 commit Chris Fox.  Rivals has both of these guys as #4 in the country for their positions.

Unless something dramatic happens, Michigan is going to have a very elite offensive line in the near future.  This is important because of what I described above in the case of Wisconsin.  Having an elite running back like Isaac would have certainly helped Michigan's running game, but with these type of elite linemen headed to campus, I really don't think the running game is going to need too much help. 

Just take a look at Michigan's 2012 and 2013 running back commitments.  Michigan currently has four commitments between the two classes and is still in position to land some other elite recruits in 2013.  Along with this, Michigan should have solid running back depth between Fitz Toussaint and Thomas Rawls for at least the next few years.  That means some of these 2012 and 2013 commits will have some time to bulk up and get adjusted to college play.

As I said earlier, losing out on Ty Isaac is never going to be a positive for Michigan, but this currently isn't something that's going to severely hurt this team's chances long-term.  With Michigan's elite incoming offensive linemen and running back depth, I just don't see this as being something that really impacts this team, even in the future in a very significant way.  It is without a doubt a set-back for Michigan's recruiting, but not something that's going to cripple Michigan by any means.  The team's still in very good shape based on Hoke's incredible recruiting.

The Game 2011

When Braxton Miller lined up on 4th down and less than a minute to play, seven years of torture flashed before the eyes of Michigan fans. They could see the finish line. It was sitting there, staring them in the face. No more torture, no more misery, no more losing to "that school in Ohio" as many have started to refer to them. When Miller scrambled for a first down by about a football's length, it felt like Ohio State was going to drive for a touchdown and win 41-40. Another heartbreaking loss. If Michigan couldn't beat Ohio State here, when would they?

Why is this happening to us? Why can't good things happen to Michigan? Fitz Toussaint was in the endzone, they'd all scream, referring to the previous drive where a call was reviewed, a touchdown overturned. A few plays later, Michigan settled for a field goal when they could have delivered the dagger.

Inexplicably, Braxton Miller spiked the ball on 3rd down on his next series of downs, setting up another 4th down. With the crowd sensing another shot at ending their misery, the noise level rose to ear-piercing levels. Miller dropped to throw. The crowd waited. The ball sailed through the air. Michigan's Courtney Avery, an Ohio native, deflected the pass.

Images came flooding back, one after another. There was Jim Tressel, saying how proud Columbus would be of their Buckeyes in the 2001 version of the game. There was Lloyd Carr, punting the ball in the 4th quarter from OSU territory, with a lead and a chance to deliver a dagger in the 2005 game. There was Bo, passing away the night before the epic 3-point 2006 loss in the #1 vs #2 Game. Henne with his shoulder falling off, not literally of course, in the 2007 game. There was all of 2008-2010, perhaps the most humbled Michigan has ever been in a three year period of The Game.

Then the ball fell into Avery's hands. With that, a new image replaced those nine defeats in the past ten years. No more would we need to watch highlights of the 2003 Game to get a glimpse of Michigan defeating the enemy. That game could be put to bed, just a distant memory of victories past. No, we now had a new image to possess in our memories.

Fans leaping to the air in a joyous celebration. The Victors blaring all over the Big House. Players running to the student section to meet their classmates. Fans of all ages, young to old, running on the field in a spontaneous, emotional display. Michigan had finally vanquished its demons.

In 2011, Michigan wins The Game, 40-34.

Bullet Points

• Denard Robinson played a terrific game, completing over 80 percent of his throws and rushing for 170 yards.
• Fitz Toussaint and Denard both finished the regular season at over 1,000 yards rushing, the first Michigan duo to do so since 1975 and only the 2nd to ever do so.
• The defensive backs did not have a great game. Several times OSU receivers were able to get open deep. Fortunately, Braxton Miller doesn't possess the accuracy to hit them.
• Bo Schembechler, Gary Moeller, Lloyd Carr, and now Brady Hoke all lost to Michigan State in their first seasons while beating Ohio State.
• Michigan's 40 points ties for 4th all-time most that the Wolverines have ever scored in The Game trailing 1902 (86), 1943 (45), and 1946 (58).
• The 40 points was also more than Michigan scored in the last four editions of The Game combined (they managed just 27 combined points from 2007-2010).
• The "days since Michigan has beat Ohio State" clock at the Columbus Dispatch website went from 2,926 to non-existent.

Photo Credit: Gregory Shamus

Previewing "The Game"

Michigan fans often debate with each other about who their biggest rivals are. Many of our opponents consider us their biggest rival while we don't feel the same we back. (I'm looking at you Illinois). We debate amongst ourselves whether we would rather beat the Golden Domers or Sparty more. One thing is certain amongst us all. Nothing tops "The Game."

The 4 W's

What: #15 Michigan (9-2, 5-2) vs Ohio State (6-5, 3-4)

When: 12:00 p.m. EST

Where: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Weather: 50s with a 10 percent chance of rain. Wind at about 15 mph

Series History

Michigan leads 57-44-6 (includes vacated wins by Ohio State).

Last 5 meetings:

2010: Ohio State 37*, Michigan 7 @Columbus

2009: Ohio State 21, Michigan 10 @Ann Arbor

2008: Ohio State 42, Michigan 7 @Columbus

2007: Ohio State 14, Michigan 3 @Ann Arbor

2006: Ohio State 42, Michigan 39 @Columbus

When Ohio State has the ball

Ohio State's offense has struggled with true freshman QB Braxton Miller taking the majority of the snaps for the Buckeyes. They rank as the nation's #67 offense in FEI and average only 315 yards per game. They pass only when they deem it to be absolutely necessary. Miller has completed under 50 percent of his passes this season and only gets 7 yards per pop when he puts the ball in the air. Only one Buckeye has managed even 200 yards catching the ball this year, but they did just get star WR DeVier Posey back last week (4 catches, 66 yards). Posey at least affords Ohio State the ability to keep Michigan from loading the box to stop the run, at least until so long as they prove they can actually utilize Posey.

While they struggle to air it out in the rare events that Miller actually does put the ball up, the Buckeyes offense does have some strengths to it. Miller is very good at taking care of the ball (just 3 Ints all year), and they do manage to run to some degree of success. Miller has put up 595 yards this season (4.6 ypc). Don't expect a running style like we see in Ann Arbor on a weekly basis though. Miller likes to improvise. He is very dangerous when trying to create on his own. Often, he won't even follow the design of the play. You can see great examples of this is the front paged story by BlueSeoul over at MGoBlog. Teaming up with him is Boom Herron. Boom has put up 565 yards on 5.2 ypc in just 5 games after returning from his tatgate suspension.

Defensively, Michigan features the country's #10 rated FEI defense. While sometimes it struggles with the pass, the Wolverine defense has been pretty good against the run lately, completely smothering Illinois on the ground and limiting the dangerous Nebraska duo of Taylor Martinez and Rex Burkhead.

The keys for the Michigan defense are to stay locked onto OSU's mediocre WRs (and Posey) for as long as possible to avoid Miller improvising his way into open targets. Maintaining gap integrity is absolutely essential if you want to avoid Miller busting a long run. Boom Herron will likely get his yards, but that's okay. Michigan needs to stay on Braxton Miller from the opening kickoff and make the true freshman try to beat them on his own in his first trip to Ann Arbor for "The Game."

When Michigan has the ball

While the OSU offense has struggled to adjust to life in the post-Tressel/Pryor era, the defense has remained stout. Ranking 12th in America in FEI, they go up against Michigan's #14 rated offense. This is likely to be one of the toughest defensive lines the Wolverines have seen all year. John Simon is a dangerous end and mountain Jonathan Hankins (who would be a Wolverine had the previous staff offered him), is a sophomore who has over 60 tackles and 9 TFLs. He'll be someone Michigan will want to avoid. In the linebacking corp, Ohio State might be without star player Andrew Sweat. If he can't go, or if he's limited in what he can do, the Bucks may be staring at a freshman manning one of the linebacking spots. This hasn't worked out so well for them. If this happens, look for Al Borges to attempt to expose this spot with some misdirection to see if he can get a freshman moving the wrong direction. If Michigan can get Denard and Fitz Toussaint into the 2nd level and past an inexperienced linebacker, OSU's mediocre safeties are susceptible to missing tackles. Keys here are as usual. Take care of the ball, avoid putting Denard under center (stay in the damn gun!), and run the ball as much as possible.

Special Teams

The Buckeyes feature a strong special teams, rated #11 in FEI compared to Michigan's #71 ranked unit. Jordan Hall is the dangerous man returning the ball. He averages 28.6 yards a return on kickoffs. Compare that to Michigan's top kick returner. Tay Odoms averages just 22.3 per return. Field goal kicker Drew Basil has connected on 13 of 16 for the Bucks, including 4-7 from over 40. While Michigan has improved on FGs this year, Brendan Gibbons has a career long of only 42 yards. Special teams figures to be a big advantage for OSU.

Five Keys to winning The Game

1. Maintain gap integrity and edge contain vs. Braxton Miller running the ball

2. Al Borges fights the temptation to want to bomb it deep and run plays from under center. You will not win by running power at Jonathan Hankins.

3. Attacking Andrew Sweat's backup and the Ohio State safeties. David Molk against some linebackers to get Toussaint into the secondary plz!!

4. Avoid getting bombed in special teams. Michigan has been much better here of late, but Ohio State does still have an advantage. If Ohio State can win the field position battle, it can limit the Michigan offense and set its own offense up with short fields.

5. Get an early lead and force Braxton Miller to win in the air.

What's on the line for Michigan

By now, we've all seen the projections saying Michigan is playing for a BCS bowl bid, perhaps to the Sugar Bowl. So there's that, but there's so much more in a game like this. The pride of not letting your arch-rival come into your stadium and win (again). This would be their 4th straight win in the Big House and 8th overall in the series that Michigan leads. So not only is the BCS on the line, but so is our pride. If this streak doesn't end now, when Ohio State is down and Michigan is playing well, when will it ever end?

Five predictions sure to backfire because I'm not a football coach and don't know what I'm talking about

1. Denard throws at least 1 bad interception

2. Toussaint gets 27 carries for 126 yards

3. Jake Ryan makes a momentum changing play

4. Brendan Gibbons makes a 40+ yard FG for the 2nd week in a row

5. Luke Fickell coaches his only game in Ann Arbor

Finally, the score

Michigan, 21-17