The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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26 THE WOLVERINE DECEMBER 2016 were obviously some players there," Dienhart said. "Hoke did a nice job recruiting. I think sometimes people forget the tal- ent that was there. Was it well coached? No, but there was talent, and we're seeing now this staff really maximize the talent that was there. So credit Har- baugh and his staff for bringing it out." The proof is in the numbers. Michi- gan was first in the country for scoring (11.0 points allowed per game) and total defense (244.7 yards allowed per game) after 10 games, and among the top five in a number of other catego- ries, including tackles for loss (tied for first, 9.0 per game) and pass efficiency defense (third, 93.41). The Wolverines were averaging 44.5 points per game, sixth in the coun- try, even after being held to only 13 at Iowa, and were also tops in Foot- ballOutsiders.com's special teams ef- ficiency rankings (STE), an average value generated per "non-garbage possession" by a team's non-offensive and non-defensive units. Their .22 rat- ing tied with Memphis as the nation's best. "It happened quicker than I would have imagined in terms of them be- ing a legitimate national championship team," Michigan sideline reporter and 97.1 The Ticket Radio's Doug Karsch said. "But what will be really telling is how good they are next year, if they don't take a substantial step back. I would still expect them to be competi- tive in the Big Ten East in spite of los- ing a lot of talent. "Being in Big Ten contention this year … that I would have expected. But they're rolling people. This team is a little tough to cover and talk about because they just go out and blast peo- ple every single Saturday. That may change being it's late in the year, they might get tired … but it almost feels like they're killing time before they go to Columbus." They might have been caught look- ing ahead at Iowa, but their goals were still all within reach following the setback with vows to refocus for the home stretch. QUARTERBACK DEVELOPMENT KEEPS U-M IN THE PICTURE The Achilles Heel in Harbaugh's first few years was supposed to be quar- terback play. Instead, he took Rudock and turned him into a future pro (he's on the Detroit Lions' practice squad). Redshirt junior and Houston transfer John O'Korn was supposed to be the heir apparent, but redshirt sophomore Wilton Speight surprised many — but not himself or Harbaugh — in earning the starting job. His play, even after a tough showing at Iowa in which he completed 11 of 26 passes for 103 yards with one intercep- tion, has been one of the surprises of the 2016 college football season and a big reason the Wolverines were in the title hunt. He still ranked 25th nation- ally in passing efficiency (148.9) after 10 games. "It's been the surprise," Dien- hart said. "I thought he was the best quarterback in the Big Ten this year [through nine games], and if I would have heard myself saying that back in August, I'd have had myself commit- ted to an asylum. "First Harbaugh takes Jake Rudock, a castoff from Iowa, and turns him into a special quarterback, and now does it with Wilton Speight, a guy nobody thought would probably get on the field. "I, like a lot of people, thought O'Korn was going to win this job. Spei- ght got it, and I wondered if Harbaugh made the right decision. We should all learn our lesson not to doubt any deci- sion Harbaugh makes." Give Speight credit for staying after BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart "We all anticipated improvement, but debuting with a 10-win season and a bowl win — I thought that was overachieving. But now in year two … a top team in the country vying for a Big Ten title. Without a doubt, this Harbaugh train is way ahead of schedule." Harbaugh's quick rebuild at his alma mater has impressed all observers, including Big Ten Network senior writer Tom Dienhart who noted the coach maximizes the talent on his roster. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN First-time starter Wilton Speight has thrown for 2,156 yards and 15 touchdowns against just four interceptions under Harbaugh's tutelage. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN