Michigan opens as a 37 point favorite. Special teams coach Jay Harbaugh to be head coach for 1st half, RBs coach Mike Hart to be head coach for 2nd half.
There won't be much to glean in this one either. They'll probably sit Will Johnson, Rod Moore, Tyler Morris, and any other starter with nicks and bruises just because they can afford to. I'd expect to see a lot more combinations on the OL, sounds like LaDarius Henderson might get the start at LT and Trente Jones at RT. Jeem calls it the "Michigan Method" aka play a bunch of creampuffs OOC at home so you can fine-tune the depth chart and position battles in what is basically an NFL-like pre-season.
I'd expect to see more of the young safeties and CB's again...Keon Sabb, Zeke Berry, Jyaire Hill, DJ Waller, Ja'Den McBurrows, Amorion Walker (if healthy) as the #2 CB battle still isn't settled.
Hopefully they let JJ throw it 30-35 times again and keep building the chemistry with Romand Wilson, Cornelius Johnson, and Colston Loveland, use these next 3 games to air it out and keep building on the timing and chemistry of the passing game. When you have a schedule with the first 4 games like this- why not? You have to. Biggest gripe with them last year was they didn't do it- just expected JJ/WRs to go out there and do it at the end of the year even though they hadn't really repped it all-season long and were a run heavy run first squad. Build that rapport and timing right now. Will be PISSED if they don't throw it at least 30 times.
Special teams is a bit concerning. They had a slow white walk-on fielding punts last week and RB3 Kalel Mullings fielding kicks. Mullings is a 240 pound power back with limited speed. CJ Stokes or Cole Cabana (if he's healthy) or one of the freshman WRs should be fielding punts and kicks. The fact that one of them aren't....little bit concerning. The kicking game looks like it might be an issue as well. The transfer kicker nailed a 52 yarder vs ECU but he also missed bad on a 40 some yarder. FGs ain't automatic anymore without Jake Moody....he's a huge loss.
