Know Your 2018 Penn State Football Enemy: Michigan Wolverines
By Corey Hunter
Offense
Michigan entered the 2017 season with returning starter Wilton Speight as the team’s entrenched quarterback. As the season unfolded, however, a myriad of quarterbacks were forced to play due to injuries and poor play. By the time the season had concluded, redshirt Freshman Brandon Peters was at the helm.
Enter Shea Patterson.
The Ole Miss junior transfer has a gunslinger’s mentality and the brashness to pull it off. Before having his 2017 season cut short by injury, Patterson amassed some eye-popping statistics. In just over half a season, he threw for 2,259 yards (322.7 yds/game) including 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Patterson was granted immediate eligibility according to the Michigan Daily.
The Shreveport, LA native will now be charged with settling a position that ranked 11th in the Big Ten in passing offense in 2017. How quickly Patterson is able to pick up the offense by de facto offensive coordinator Jim McElwain will go a long way in determining how Michigan will fare in 2018.
One offensive area needing no stabilizing is the running back position. The Wolverines return two experienced backs in senior Karan Higdon and junior Chris Evans. Higdon was Michigan’s leading rusher falling just shy of 1,000 yards (994 yds) while Evans recorded 685 rushing yards in 2017. The duo also scored 17 combined rushing touchdowns and averaged over five yards per carry. Look for McElwain and Co. to rely on both of these “heavy hitters” to alleviate the pressure on Patterson.
The deepest receiving position may be at tight end. Two of the top-three receiving leaders in 2017 were redshirt junior Zach Gentry and sophomore Sean McKeon. Both players combined for 604 receiving yards and score five of the team’s nine passing touchdowns. With Patterson under center, those numbers should improve in 2018.
At wide receiver, Michigan possesses some talented, but inexperienced players, led by sophomore Donovan Peoples-Jones. The Detroit, Michigan native reeled in 22 passes in 2017, but showed his versatility and speed in the return game. Against Air Force he returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown. Complimenting People-Jones will be Tarik Black. The sophomore looks the part of a big-time receiver. He hauled in 11 passes in 2017 including a 46-yarder against Florida. Senior and leading receiver, Grant Perry (307 yards), will once again reprise his role as slot receiver. The losses of Kekoa Crawford and Eddie McDoom to transfer will test the depth of the Wolverines.
Perhaps one of the biggest reasons for the poor offensive output in 2017 was the play of the offensive line. During the offseason, OL coach Tim Drevno was relieved of his duties and former Ohio State OL coach Ed Warriner was brought on board. With how well the Ohio State line performed the past few seasons, look for Warriner’s expertise to help the Michigan OL put up better numbers in 2018.
The interior of the offensive line has the most returning experience with Second-Team All-Big Ten LG Ben Bredeson returning along with Junior RG Michael Onwenu. The biggest question marks along the offensive line are at the tackles positions. Protecting Patterson’s blind side will be LT Juwann Bushell-Beatty. Last season he made seven starts at RT and only one start at LT.
Starting opposite Bushell-Beatty at RT will be Jon Runyan, Jr. Runyan, Jr., the son of former NFL OL Pro Bowler Jon Runyan Sr., earned his first start at RT last season in the Wolverines Outback Bowl loss to South Carolina. Starting at center will likely be Sophomore Cesar Ruiz. As a true Freshman in 2017, Ruiz played in 10 games, and started six games at right guard.