The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1503142
THE WOLVERINE 2023 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 33 2023 SEASON PREVIEW 1 Will the kicking game be good enough with Jake Moody and Brad Robbins having moved on? Moody, the San Francisco 49ers' third-round draft pick, can make a case as the best kicker in Michigan history. He was clutch in his career, especially his last two seasons when he made 52 of 60 field goals and won the Lou Groza Award in 2021. Louisville's James Turner was brought in to help after making 20 of 22 for the Cardinals last year, but he doesn't have as big a leg. Frosh Adam Samaha will also get a shot. At punter, junior Tommy Doman will be called upon to fill Robbins' shoes. He had a very good spring. 2 Will the offense be as run heavy as it was last year, or will they turn J.J. McCarthy loose a bit more? When you have something that works, you stick with it — especially when it's as dominant as Michigan's running game. The Wolverines have a lot of experience returning on the offensive line and two elite running backs in Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards. At the same time, McCarthy has the ability to be an elite passer, and the running game should set things up for play action and the first-down passing game. We said last year we expected better balance. It didn't necessarily happen during the season, but it was on display much more at the end. They wouldn't have won the Ohio State game, for example, without McCarthy's passing. 3 Which players emerge as the primary pass-rushing threats? This spring, defensive line coach Mike Elston and coordinator Jesse Minter talked about getting more pressure from the interior. Sophomore Ma- son Graham and senior Kris Jenkins seem to have the ability — on the edge, Coastal Carolina transfer Josaiah Stewart, sophomore DERRICK MOORE and senior Braiden McGregor all had nice springs getting to the quarterback. This is an area that needs to improve over last year. Minter admitted they had to blitz too much a season ago, and it burned them at times, especially against TCU in the Fiesta Bowl. They appear to have the talent to rectify that. 4 Who emerges as the "other corner," and will he hold up? Sophomore Will Johnson seems primed for a breakout season and should be one of the Big Ten's, if not the nation's, best cover corners. With Gemon Green and DJ Turner off to try the NFL, though, someone without experience is going to have to answer the bell. Junior Ja'Den McBurrows had a nice spring and will get a shot, and true fresh- man Jyaire Hill has great upside. The coaches like sophomore Amorion Walker, too. He's an elite athlete. A couple of them will have to answer the call if the defense is going to be as good as hoped. 5 Is there a true, consistent deep threat at receiver? There were times last year it seemed as though the offensive coaches wanted to go to the passing game more, but it didn't work out. Maybe McCarthy missed some guys, but film showed receivers weren't getting open too often. All that seems to be missing this year is a consistent gamebreaker — the guy defenses almost have to double cover. Senior Roman Wilson has the speed, and now he's bigger. Can he step up? TOP FIVE QUESTION MARKS Edge rusher Derrick Moore played in all 14 games last season as a true fresh- man, recording 8 tackles with 2 sacks and 2 quarterback hurries. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER