Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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MICHIGAN WOLVERINES BY DAN MURPHY rom Denard to Devin, Michigan made a smooth pass of the quarterback baton in the second half of 2012, which sets up a young, talented team for a potential return to the Bowl Championship Series. Redshirt junior Devin Gardner started the final five games of the season and began a transition from the speed option offense that fit Denard Robinson's unique skills to the West Coast philosophy head coach Brady Hoke hopes to make a part of Michigan's identity moving forward. Gardner threw 11 touchdowns passes and only five interceptions while completing 59.2 percent of his throws during the transition period. Michigan plans to take another step this year toward the type of under-center, balanced attack with which Hoke and offensive coordinator Al Borges succeeded at San Diego State, according to The Wolverine's Chris Balas. "Gardner played only one bad quarter in Minnesota before he really found his F Quick Facts All-Time Series: Michigan leads 23-16-1 Last Meeting: Notre Dame 13, Michigan 6 (Sept. 22, 2012, at South Bend, Ind.) Head Coach: Brady Hoke, 19-7 (3rd year) and 66-57 overall (11th year) 2012 In Review: 8-5 overall, 6-2 Big Ten (2nd Legends) Final 2012 Ranking: No. 24 (AP) 2012 Stats Rankings: 78th total offense (383.1 yards per game) and 13th total defense (320 yards allowed per game) Returning Starters: 10 (5 offense and 5 defense) Key Losses: QB Denard Robinson (1,266 rushing yards) and LB Kenny Demens (82 tackles) 2013 Preseason Rankings: No. 14 by Athlon, No. 16 by Lindy's and No. 24 by Phil Steele's Last Bowl Appearance: 2012 (Outback Bowl, South Carolina, L 33-28) Did You Know?: Michigan is the only team on Notre Dame's schedule this year that is currently leading the Irish in their all-time series … Wolverines quarterback Devin Gardner has been the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week in two of his five weeks as a starter … Notre Dame's 13-6 victory in 2012 marked the fewest points the Irish have scored in a winning effort since 1990 … This will be Notre Dame's last trip to The Big House until at least 2020. Returning Leaders Rushing: Fitzgerald Toussaint (514 yards, 5 TD) Passing: Devin Gardner (1,219 yards, 11 TD) Receiving: Jeremy Gallon (829 yards, 4 TD) Tackles: Jake Ryan (88) Sacks: Jibreel Black (3) Interceptions: Thomas Gordon and Raymon Taylor (2) GAME 2 • SEPT. 7 • MICHIGAN STADIUM groove," Balas said. "The one knock on him was he didn't work hard enough. Now he's focused, and he's had a spring where he's the guy. I think he has the potential to be the best quarterback in the Midwest." Gardner's development could help a couple of talented receivers have big years as well. Fifth-year senior Jeremy Gallon is expected to be the top target after leading the team with 49 receptions a year ago. Sophomore Amara Darboh has good size (6-2, 213 pounds) to complement Gallon's speed. Michigan also may have found a future star in sophomore tight end Devin Funchess. As a freshman, Funchess caught only 15 passes, but five of them were for touchdowns. He'll be a bigger part of the equation in 2013. A torn ACL for returning leading tackler Jake Ryan, a redshirt junior linebacker, will keep him on the sidelines for at least the first half of the regular season. Nonetheless, a well-stocked front seven in Ann Arbor should make Michigan a tough defense to knock off the ball in Big Ten play. Junior Blake Countess leads a secondary that still has a few questions to answer heading into August. The Wolverines will need to find a safety to replace three-year starter Jordan Kovacs on a group that finished fifth in the country last year in passing defense (169.46 yards allowed per game). "They're going to have some weapons out there," Balas said. "Everyone is pointing to 2014 as the year that Michigan can compete for a national title or win the Big Ten, but I think this team can surprise some people this year." Prediction Michigan 28, Notre Dame 23 — The last time these two teams met at night in Ann Arbor the atmosphere was second to none. The Irish offense won't be fine-tuned enough for that scene in the second week of the season. Michigan's Devin Gardner has the talent to be a difference-maker in another close game between the two rivals. 2013 Schedule Date Aug. 31 Sept. 7 Sept. 14 Sept. 21 Oct. 5 Oct. 12 Oct. 19 Nov. 2 Nov. 9 Nov. 16 Nov. 23 Nov. 30 Opponent Central Michigan Notre Dame Akron at Connecticut Minnesota at Penn State Indiana at Michigan State Nebraska at Northwestern at Iowa Ohio State 2012 Result — L, 13-6 — — W, 35-13 — — W, 12-10 L, 23-9 W, 38-31 (OT) W, 42-17 L, 26-21 Strength: Defensive Line Hoke put Michigan on the same recruiting plan as Notre Dame when he arrived a year after Brian Kelly. It's starting to pay dividends this year with a very deep group of defensive linemen. Junior Frank Clark has NFL potential as an edge rusher. Freshman Taco Charlton and sophomore Mario Ojemeduia are also both very capable of getting after the quarterback. "You can tell defensive coordinator Greg Mattison likes what he's got," The Wolverine's Chris Balas said. "This is as deep of a group as they've had in years." In the middle, veterans Quinton Washington and Jibreel Black give Michigan some big-bodied run stuffers to open up tackling opportunities for the linebackers. X-FACTOR: Fifth-year senior Taylor Lewan has made 28 straight starts at left tackle for the Wolverines. The 6-8, 308-pound All-American was projected as a first-round draft pick in the spring, but decided to return for one more year in Ann Arbor. Last year, among other accomplishments, he became the first Michigan offensive lineman to score a touchdown since 1948. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Weakness: Interior Running The Wolverines will start three new players in the middle of their offensive line this season — redshirt sophomore Jack Miller at center and redshirt freshmen Kyle Kalis and Blake Bars at the two guard positions. They will needs some time to jell with two established tackles on the outside. Michigan also still has a question mark at running back heading into training camp. Fifth-year senior Fitzgerald Toussaint broke his leg at the end of a disappointing season in 2012 and has to prove he's still the type of back who had a 1,000-yard season two years ago. BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW 116-127.Opponent Previews.indd 117 ! 117 6/25/13 2:54 PM