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Michigan football's spring game has revealed insights into the team's upcoming season, highlighting potential weaknesses under new head coach Kyle Whittingham. The full impact of new schemes will be clearer by the September 5 opener against Western Michigan.
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Michigan football's biggest weakness may not be what you think
With the Michigan football spring game complete, we have our first idea of what to expect from the Wolverines this upcoming season, albeit quite an incomplete visage.
The maize and blue are operating in a familiar yet completely different sphere. With a new head coach in Kyle Whittingham, there are new schemes being installed. And though we got a glimpse of them, they won't be fully quickened until the September 5 season opener against Western Michigan.
Yet, perception has been set. And with that, expectations.
Michigan football special teams coach Kerry Coombs
Bryce Underwood
Michigan defensive ends coach Lewis Powell
Michigan football's biggest weaknesses are still being assessed, but new schemes under head coach Kyle Whittingham may reveal unexpected challenges.
The new head coach of Michigan football is Kyle Whittingham.
Michigan football's season opener is scheduled for September 5 against Western Michigan.
New schemes are being installed under head coach Kyle Whittingham, which will alter the team's strategy for the upcoming season.
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Michigan football WR Travis Johnson
Michigan football WR coach Micah Simon
Michigan football LB coach Alex Whittingham
Michigan football assistant WR coach Marques Hagns
2028 Chicago (Ill.) Mount Carmel four-star WR Marshaun Thornton, four-star CB Tavares Harrington, and S commit Darrell Mattison
2027 Indianapolis (Ind.) Franklin Central four-star EDGE Jayce Brewer
2027 Fort Mill (S.C.) Catawba Ridge EDGE Alex Johnson
Michigan OT signee Malakai Lee
Michigan DT signee Alister Vallejo
Michigan football QB coach Koy Detmer Jr.
Michigan football DT coach Larry Black
Michigan football EDGE signee Carter Meadows
Michigan football OC Jason Beck
Michigan football EDGE Cam Brandt
Michigan football CB Jo'Ziah Edmond
Michigan football ST coach Kerry Coombs
Michigan football EDGE Lugard Edokpayi
Michigan football LB Troy Bowles
Michigan football freshman S Jordan Deck
2028 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star WR Deandre Bidden
2028 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star WR Dakota Guerrant
2028 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star WR Deandre Bidden
Michigan football OT Marky Walbridge
Michigan football RB Savion Hiter
Michigan football LB Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng
Michigan football LB Nathaniel Staehling
Michigan football WR coach Micah Simon
Avery Gach and Houston Ka'ahaina-Torres work to combo block DT Enow Etta
TE Eli Owens celebrates a first down
Nathan Efobi takes on Jonah Lea'ea
Bryce Underwood rears back to pass
Bryce Underwood scrambles after protection breaks down
Michigan football RB Jordan Marshall
Kyle Whittingham
Jason Beck
Michigan football WR Jaime Ffrench
Bryce Underwood unloads
Bryce Underwood scrambles
Jordan Marshall breaks free
Michigan football S Ernest Nunley
Kyle Whittingham
Jason Beck
Michigan football CB Shamari Earls
Michigan football WR Jacob Washington
Michigan football WR Jacob Washington
Michigan football OL Marky Walbridge and Brady Norton
Michigan football OL Marky Walbridge and Brady Norton
Tommy Carr hands off to Jonathan Brown
Michigan football OL Evan Link
Michigan football WR Travis Johnson
Kyle Whittingham
Michigan football WR Jaime Ffrench
Michigan football QB Tommy Carr
Michigan football QB Tommy Carr
Michigan football QB Tommy Carr
Michigan football QB Tommy Carr
Michigan football EDGE McHale Blade and DT Ted Hammond
Michigan football K Trey Butkowski
Michigan football OL coach Jim Harding
Michigan football WR Salesi Moa
Michigan football S Taylor Tatum
Michigan football WR Salesi Moa
Michigan football EDGE McHale Blade
Michigan football CB Jo'Ziah Edmond
Michigan football CB Jo'Ziah Edmond
Michigan football WR Jamar Browder
Kyle Whittingham
Kyle Whittingham
Former Michigan football TE Marlin Klein
Kyle Whittingham
Michigan football RB Tomas O'Meara
Michigan football RB Tomas O'Meara
The blue team celebrates a defensive stop by freshman LB Markel Dabney
Michigan football QB Chase Herbstreit
Michigan football QB Chase Herbstreit
Michigan football CB coach Jernaro Gilford
Michigan football WR Andrew Marsh
Michigan football RB Jonathan Brown
Michigan football QB Brady Smigiel
Michigan football LB Aisea Moa
Michigan football WR Jamar Browder
Michigan football QB Tommy Carr
Michigan football RB Tomas O'Meara
Michigan football S Kainoa Winston
Michigan football LB Markel Dabney
Michigan football CB Jamarion Vincent
Kyle Whittingham
Michigan football LB Aden Reeder
Michigan football S Taylor Tatum
Kyle Whittingham
Kyle Whittingham
Michigan football QB Chase Herbstreit
Jonathan Brown tosses to Logan Forbes on the double-reverse
Michigan football QB Tommy Carr
Jaylen Pile and the maize team celebrate the go-ahead touchdown
Tony Alford and Kerry Coombs
2027 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star WR Dakota Guerrant
Michigan football DT signee Alister Vallejo
Michigan football DT signee Titan Davis
Michigan football spring game
Michigan football WR Andrew Marsh
Michigan football OL Evan Link
Kyle Whittingham speaks to the Michigan football team after the spring game
Michigan football S Jordan Young
Michigan football DT Jonah Lea'ea
Michigan football WR Jaime Ffrench
The Michigan football defensive backfield
The Michigan football running backs room
The Michigan football wide receivers
Michigan football DT Travis Moten
Chase Taylor, Ernest Nunley, Jordan Young, and Jordan Deck
Kainoa Winston and Jamarion Vincent
Jordan Deck and Ernest Nunley
Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng
John Henry Daley
Jordan Deck
Jordan Deck, Jamarion Vincent, and Ernest Nunley
Michigan football QB Chase Herbstreit
Jonah Lea'ea, Trey Pierce, and Enow Etta
2028 Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech five-star QB Donald Tabron
Malakai Lee and Jim Harding
Jyaire Hill and Jo'Ziah Edmond with recruits
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Michigan football special teams coach Kerry Coombs
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Michigan football special teams coach Kerry Coombs
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Bryce Underwood
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Michigan defensive ends coach Lewis Powell
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Michigan football WR Travis Johnson
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Michigan football WR coach Micah Simon
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Michigan football LB coach Alex Whittingham
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Michigan football assistant WR coach Marques Hagns
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2028 Chicago (Ill.) Mount Carmel four-star WR Marshaun Thornton, four-star CB Tavares Harrington, and S commit Darrell Mattison
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2027 Indianapolis (Ind.) Franklin Central four-star EDGE Jayce Brewer
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2027 Fort Mill (S.C.) Catawba Ridge EDGE Alex Johnson
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Michigan OT signee Malakai Lee
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Michigan DT signee Alister Vallejo
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Michigan football QB coach Koy Detmer Jr.
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Michigan football DT coach Larry Black
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Michigan football EDGE signee Carter Meadows
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Michigan football OC Jason Beck
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Michigan football EDGE Cam Brandt
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Michigan football CB Jo'Ziah Edmond
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Michigan football ST coach Kerry Coombs
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Michigan football EDGE Lugard Edokpayi
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Michigan football LB Troy Bowles
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Michigan football freshman S Jordan Deck
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2028 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star WR Deandre Bidden
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2028 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star WR Dakota Guerrant
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2028 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star WR Deandre Bidden
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Michigan football OT Marky Walbridge
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Michigan football RB Savion Hiter
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Michigan football LB Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng
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Michigan football LB Nathaniel Staehling
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Michigan football WR coach Micah Simon
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Avery Gach and Houston Ka'ahaina-Torres work to combo block DT Enow Etta
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TE Eli Owens celebrates a first down
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Nathan Efobi takes on Jonah Lea'ea
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Bryce Underwood rears back to pass
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Bryce Underwood scrambles after protection breaks down
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Michigan football RB Jordan Marshall
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Kyle Whittingham
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Jason Beck
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Michigan football WR Jaime Ffrench
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Bryce Underwood unloads
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Bryce Underwood scrambles
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Jordan Marshall breaks free
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Michigan football S Ernest Nunley
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Kyle Whittingham
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Jason Beck
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Michigan football CB Shamari Earls
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Michigan football WR Jacob Washington
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Michigan football WR Jacob Washington
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Michigan football OL Marky Walbridge and Brady Norton
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Michigan football OL Marky Walbridge and Brady Norton
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Tommy Carr hands off to Jonathan Brown
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Michigan football OL Evan Link
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Michigan football WR Travis Johnson
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Kyle Whittingham
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Michigan football WR Jaime Ffrench
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Michigan football QB Tommy Carr
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Michigan football QB Tommy Carr
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Michigan football QB Tommy Carr
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Michigan football QB Tommy Carr
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Michigan football EDGE McHale Blade and DT Ted Hammond
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Michigan football K Trey Butkowski
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Michigan football OL coach Jim Harding
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Michigan football WR Salesi Moa
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Michigan football S Taylor Tatum
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Michigan football WR Salesi Moa
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Michigan football EDGE McHale Blade
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Michigan football CB Jo'Ziah Edmond
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Michigan football CB Jo'Ziah Edmond
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Michigan football WR Jamar Browder
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Kyle Whittingham
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Kyle Whittingham
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Former Michigan football TE Marlin Klein
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Kyle Whittingham
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Michigan football RB Tomas O'Meara
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Michigan football RB Tomas O'Meara
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The blue team celebrates a defensive stop by freshman LB Markel Dabney
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Michigan football QB Chase Herbstreit
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Michigan football QB Chase Herbstreit
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Michigan football CB coach Jernaro Gilford
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Michigan football WR Andrew Marsh
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Michigan football RB Jonathan Brown
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Michigan football QB Brady Smigiel
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Michigan football LB Aisea Moa
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Michigan football WR Jamar Browder
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Michigan football QB Tommy Carr
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Michigan football RB Tomas O'Meara
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Michigan football S Kainoa Winston
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Michigan football LB Markel Dabney
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Michigan football CB Jamarion Vincent
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Kyle Whittingham
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Michigan football LB Aden Reeder
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Michigan football S Taylor Tatum
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Kyle Whittingham
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Kyle Whittingham
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Michigan football QB Chase Herbstreit
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Jonathan Brown tosses to Logan Forbes on the double-reverse
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Michigan football QB Tommy Carr
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Jaylen Pile and the maize team celebrate the go-ahead touchdown
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Tony Alford and Kerry Coombs
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2027 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star WR Dakota Guerrant
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Michigan football DT signee Alister Vallejo
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Michigan football DT signee Titan Davis
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Michigan football spring game
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Michigan football WR Andrew Marsh
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Michigan football OL Evan Link
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Kyle Whittingham speaks to the Michigan football team after the spring game
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Michigan football S Jordan Young
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Michigan football DT Jonah Lea'ea
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Michigan football WR Jaime Ffrench
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The Michigan football defensive backfield
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The Michigan football running backs room
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The Michigan football wide receivers
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Michigan football DT Travis Moten
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Chase Taylor, Ernest Nunley, Jordan Young, and Jordan Deck
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Kainoa Winston and Jamarion Vincent
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Jordan Deck and Ernest Nunley
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Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng
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John Henry Daley
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Jordan Deck
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Jordan Deck, Jamarion Vincent, and Ernest Nunley
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Michigan football QB Chase Herbstreit
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Jonah Lea'ea, Trey Pierce, and Enow Etta
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2028 Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech five-star QB Donald Tabron
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Malakai Lee and Jim Harding
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Jyaire Hill and Jo'Ziah Edmond with recruits
ESPN went to the trouble to estimate the strengths and weaknesses of each of the projected top 25 teams, and for Michigan, the strength and weakness looks awfully familiar.
Strength: Running game. The Wolverines lost starting running back Justice Haynes to Georgia Tech, but the rushing attack should remain prolific. Jordan Marshall is back after running for 932 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 6.2 yards per carry last year. Michigan added Savion Hiter, the nation's No. 2 running back recruit. Quarterback Bryce Underwood can be electric with his legs too.
Weakness: Pass catchers. Andrew Marsh barely played until October as a true freshman last year and still led the Wolverines with 45 receptions and 651 yards. Keeping the promising Marsh in Ann Arbor was a big win for new coach Kyle Whittingham. But otherwise, the Wolverines will be relying heavily on transfers JJ Buchanan (Utah) and Jaime Ffrench Jr. (Texas) to give them much-needed production. -- Jake Trotter
While we are more than inclined to agree with the listed strength, especially after the spring game, we demur from ESPN's expectation that the pass catchers will be the weakness. While Marsh and Buchanan are the top two, as Jake Butt noted on the latest Locked On Wolverines podcast, the staff is looking for more trust for the players beyond that pair. Still, we saw from Ffrench and true freshman Salesi Moa that they can be reliable options, while others -- Jacob Washington, Jamar Browder, or true freshman Travis Johnson -- may prove inexperienced, yet could emerge. That's not even counting the tight ends, which will factor in heavily.
If we were to choose the weakness, it would be one that Whittingham himself mentioned: the linebackers. While we didn't get to see much of the likely starters in the spring game, particularly Chase Taylor, he, Troy Bowles, and Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng have little experience, but a lot of potential. Nathaniel Staehling has been precluded from spring with injury, but will be the most experienced linebacker of the bunch.
ESPN's estimation seems more in line with older expectations of Michigan, even if the spring game didn't provide much contrary evidence. Even so, the pass catchers should improve dramatically, as the roster is much deeper at the position now than it has been in some time. However, it's the linebacking corps that has more to prove, even if that position has been solid in the same time period.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football's true weakness after spring game, per ESPN