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Michigan Overrated?

Over-hyped in 2005, under-hyped in 2006, it appears the pendulum has swung back to over for the Wolverines in 2007. They're in the perfect over-hype position this year:

• They beat expectations last year making any critics wary of rating them too low.
• They return stars at the glamor positions of quarterback, tailback and wide receiver.

But Michigan is vulnerable because they also lost the some of the best players they've had on defense in some time:

2007	1	18	Leon Hall	CB	Bengals
2007	2	33	Alan Branch	DT	Cardinals
2007	2	46	LaMarr Woodley	DE	Steelers
2007	2	47	David Harris	LB	Jets
2007	6	207	Prescott Burgess	LB	Ravens

Remember this article on their defense last year? Here's what USA Today focused on:

The 6-2 Henne has a steady target in Manningham, who had 703 receiving yards a year ago.

"Mario Manningham is one of the more exciting football players that we've had since I've been at Michigan," Carr says.

Hart finished fifth in Heisman voting last year and is expected to be in contention again with Arkansas' Darren McFadden, runner-up in 2006 to Troy Smith of Ohio State, and West Virginia's Steve Slaton, who finished fourth.

Hart thought about entering the NFL draft after piling up 1,562 yards but says he decided to return because Long, an excellent run blocker and pass protector, opted to hold off on the draft.

"If Jake would have left, I would have left," Hart says. "He's that great of a player. He means that much to me."

Long, the Big Ten's offensive lineman of the year, says Hart's stance made him think harder about his decision.

"I was really excited about the team we were going to have this year," he says, adding that he wants to "perfect the littlest things in my game and have no questions" about readiness for the NFL.

The jury is out on Michigan's defense because of the loss of seven starters from 2006, including All-America cornerback Leon Hall, now suiting up for the Cincinnati Bengals. Carr is talking about playing true freshmen.

No one doubts the team's potency on offense.

"There's a lot of firepower in this offense right now," Hart says.

What about those 'other' offensive linemen?

ESPN also managed to write an entire article about Michigan without once mentioning those other guys

Thanks to Long's surprising decision, the Wolverines enter this season as favorites to win the Big Ten championship, something that has elluded them since Long's redshirt freshman season in 2004.

When Long, a 6-foot-7, 313-pound native of Lapeer, Mich., decided to return to school for his senior season, tailback Mike Hart and quarterback Chad Henne soon followed. That trio, along with receivers Mario Manningham and Adrian Arrington, gives Michigan what could potentially be one of the most explosive offenses in college football.

Michigan does return some fantastic talent on offense and faces a easier schedule than usual with ND and OSU down or in transition, but the difference between a typical Carr 3-loss year and a run at the national championship will be their defense, which must answer a lot of questions before it can be considered among the nation's elite.

posted by Scott Engler @ 5:12 AM