The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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Chengelis have noticed what's going on in Bloomington, Ind., where Kevin Wilson has the Hoosiers wearing out scoreboards. Unfortunately, the num- bers are lighting up on both sides of them, but with a new defensive co- ordinator, Indiana could be a team to watch. "If they can do a few things on de- fense, they could really start to hurt people," Baumgardner said. "You remember the Michigan game — they put up 47 points, and Michigan scored 63. If they can keep somebody to 35 points, they have a chance to win the game. "Indiana scares people. If they can just get their defense turned around a little bit, they'll be a dangerous team." "That's a team that has really good ingredients," Chengelis concurred. "Their staff is enthusiastic. I talked to them a little bit at the Sound Mind, Sound Body Camp. I'm not saying they're going to go and challenge, but they're a team that is gradually show- ing improvement and could be a team to reckon with in the near future." As for a Big Ten team on the de- cline, Chengelis offered up newcomer Maryland, which she noted has some issues. Snyder tabbed Northwestern and Baumgardner picked Nebraska, but both mentioned Michigan as a possible candidate in that area, de- pending upon how the season goes. "Northwestern didn't get there, and Michigan didn't get there, but they were both kind of crawling uphill and didn't get there yet," Snyder noted. "At one point, they were picked to be successful, but they haven't gotten there." "Michigan has to prove it can play at its talent level, and we all know they have great talent," Baumgardner offered. "Nebraska has just become a little too stagnant. I don't know if Bo Pelini has enough to turn that around. There has been bad momentum for too long here." In addition to Chengelis picking Gardner for the breakout offensive performer in the Big Ten, Snyder went with Maryland wideout Stefon Diggs and Baumgardner with second-year Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg. "He had a good year last year," Baumgardner said. "It will be inter- esting to see how he transitions with a new coaching staff, because Bill O'Brien was so good with quarter- backs. He has enough raw ability to be a fantastic college quarterback, and down the road at the next level. "As poised as he was as a freshman, he was a little bit under the radar, and this year I really think he takes off." On the defensive side of the football, all went to the rosters of the two teams in the Big Ten championship game a year ago. Chengelis and Baumgardner chose Michigan State's Shilique Cal- houn and Kurtis Drummond, respec- tively. Snyder opted for Ohio State defensive lineman Joey Bosa. Those performers should help the Buckeyes and Spartans duke it out for supremacy in the East, while the Badgers rule the West, according to this trio of longtime observers. But there are always surprises along the way, and that's what Michigan fans are counting on come late Novem- ber. ❏