Senior Spotlight: Big Ten Conference

MICHIGAN WOLVERINES @ OHIO ST. BUCKEYES – NOVEMBER 21 - 12:00 ON ABC

LB MARCUS FREEMAN, OHIO ST.

Overshadowed by James Laurinaitis over most of his career, Marcus Freeman is a pretty darn good linebacker in his own right. As a run stopper, Freeman’s speed allows him to close the gap between himself and the ball carrier before significant yardage is gained. His explosiveness allows him to get into the backfield against the run, yet he’s also strong enough to take on tight ends at the point of attack. He is a fluid athlete who moves well from side-to-side, which allows him to play in pass coverage. In addition to his skills as a linebacker, he is a solid special teamer, playing on three separate units at OSU. He is not the most instinctive player and relies on his athleticism a little too much, but Freeman has improved his recognition skills. The senior has also improved his blitzing this year. Freeman is more of a piece of the puzzle than the centerpiece, which works out well at Ohio St. Like many of his teammates, after a slow start to the 2008 season, Freeman comes into this game playing his best football of the season.

2008: 69 Tackles, 6.5 Tackles For a Loss, 3.5 Sacks

DT TERRANCE TAYLOR, MICHIGAN

Terrance Taylor, a 6-foot, 310 pound senior, has made 26 consecutive starts and played in 47 career games going into his final contest as a Wolverine, providing experience and durability. In total, he has started 35 games at nose tackle, one of the toughest positions to play at any level of football. As a junior, he became the first defensive tackle since Josh Williams (53 tackles in 1997) to post 50 stops in a season, earning him Second Team All-Big Ten honors. Taylor is an excellent athlete, particularly for a man of his size. The former high school state champion in power lifting (610 pound squat, 620 pound dead lift, 385 pound bench press) is as strong as they come. As an undefeated wrestler, he possesses the type of fight one would expect in a noseman. He won the state title as a junior, and threw the shot (52 6 feet) and discus (163 02 feet) for his track team in Muskegon. He’s a bit squatty at just over six-feet tall and also lacks closing speed, whether it’s getting after the quarterback or chasing down the ball carrier. Taylor is not much of a pass rusher, but very few nose tackles are. His value comes in occupying multiple blockers, which frees things up for others to make plays.

2008: 30 Tackles, Four Tackles For a Loss, 1.5 Sacks

QB BRIAN HOYER, MICHIGAN ST.

Hoyer is in his second year as full-time starter in East Lansing after backing up Drew Stanton for two seasons. He lacks ideal size and bulk, but is a very good athlete although he does not look to run very often. The Ohio product isn’t the strongest quarterback in the Big Ten and has struggled with his accuracy this season (49.1 percent). Hoyer doesn’t have overly impressive skills, but deserves his due for putting the Spartans in position to win a share of the Big Ten title. A solid game manager, the senior has done a good job of protecting the football this season.

MICHIGAN ST. VISITS PENN ST. THIS SATURDAY – 3:30 PM ON ABC

Photo Credit: OSU Athletics

CFI RANKINGS: #23 MICHIGAN WOLVERINES

2007 RECORD: 9-4; BIG TEN: 6-2
Won Capitol One Bowl vs. Florida 41-35
LOCATION: Ann Arbor, Michigan
STADIUM: Michigan Stadium (107,501)
HEAD COACH: Rich Rodriguez
OVERALL: 105-62-2 (15 seasons)
AT MICHIGAN: First Season

Everyone is expecting a down season for the Wolverines with a complete upheaval in system and philosophy, not to mention a ton of losses on the offensive side of the ball…but they still cracked the Coaches Poll at No. 24. Michigan is still Michigan and there will be no shortage of talent—particularly on the defensive side of the ball. If Rich Rodriguez can find a quarterback, watch out.

WHEN THE MAIZE & BLUE HAVE THE BALL

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Calvin Magee (1st Season)
OFFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 2
KEY LOSSES: Chad Henne, Mike Hart, Jake Long, Mario Manningham, Adrian Arrington, Adam Krause, Ryan Mallet (TRAN), Justin Boren (TRAN)

As if losing super seniors QB Chad Henne, RB Mike Hart and OT Jake Long (No. 1 overall pick in ’08 NFL Draft) wasn’t bad enough, junior wideouts Mario Manningham and Adrian Arrington left early for the pros, and blue chip recruit Ryan Mallet transferred out. With WR Greg Matthews, RB Brandon Minor and RB Kevin Grady leading a stable of skill players, there is no shortage of playmakers. But who will run the offense? No one knows for sure. Another area of uncertainty is the offensive line, typically a position of stability in Ann Arbor. Sophomore Steve Schilling is a stud tackle and they always bring in top recruits, but it could take time for them to gel as a unit.

TOP PROSPECTS: 1) OT Steve Schilling (SO), 2) WR Greg Matthews (JR)

WHEN THE OTHER TEAM HAS THE BALL

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Scott Shafer (1st Season)
DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 7
KEY LOSSES: Shawn Crable, Jamar Adams, Chris Graham, Brandent Englemon

The Wolverines have the pieces in place to have one of the top defenses in the nation and it starts up front where they return all four starters. DT Terrance Taylor can dominate opponents at the point of attack, and ends Tim Jamison and Brandon Graham are each capable of reaching double digits in sacks. All three need to play with more consistency. The second unit has to replace two starters on the outside, including sack-master Shawn Crable, but sophomore MIKE Obi Ezeh is ready to step up and is a star in the making. The secondary returns both corners with Donavan Warren, one of the top freshman in the nation last season. They should be better at safety with junior Stevie Brown ready to bust out.

TOP PROSPECTS: 1) CB Donavan Warren (SO), 2) DT Terrance Taylor (SR)

THE SCHEDULE

I know, I know, it begins and ends with Ohio St., but before they get to “the game” the Maize and Blue must protect the Big House. The season opens with the upstart Utes from Utah and how fast can you say Appalachian St.? Big Ten action begins with home games versus ranked foes Wisconsin and Illinois. They also play host to rival Michigan St., who could be much improved. Both their season and conference play begin in the Big House and Rodriguez had better take advantage of that.

PIVOTAL POINT

Quarterback: The fact that they’re replacing four of five starters along the offensive line is not getting enough attention. Nevertheless, Rodriguez’s version of the spread offense is all about the quarterback (see Pat White). Freshman Steven Threat and sophomore Nick Sheridan come into camp as the top two players on the depth chart, but the player who is creating the most buzz and may ultimately be the best fit in shotgun is incoming true freshman Justin Feagin.

CFI FINAL ANALYSIS

Talent at Michigan is a given. However it has been quite some time since the Wolverines have had to replace this much ability on the offensive side of the ball. There is also a new attitude adjustment they have had to make, as the traditionalists went “outside the family” in hiring Rodriguez to replace Lloyd Carr. Those who wonder whether their bowl streak is jeopardy are going a bit too far into the realm of doom and gloom, but a spot in the final top 25 is not guaranteed. They will go as far as their quarterback (whoever he is) takes them.