The Wolverine

February 2014

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/246097

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 35 of 160

Past, Present & Future Taking Stock Of What Went Wrong For Michigan In 2013, What To Watch For This Offseason And Why 2014 Could Be Better T By Michael Spath he 2013 season began with high expectations, even with talk of Michigan and Ohio State meeting in back-to-back weeks to decide the Big Ten championship (in the regular-season finale and then the following week in the title game). OSU held up its end of the bargain, but the Maize and Blue made a disappointing showing, finishing 7-6 overall and 3-5 in conference play — sharing a dubious honor with the 200810 teams as the only Michigan squads in more than 40 years (since 1967) to finish with a losing record in Big Ten action. So what went wrong, and what has to change? The following is a look at the season that was and the offseason that must be. Five Signs Of Trouble U-M Could Not Overcome Offensive Line Malfunction: Michigan tried five different starting combinations among the interior of its offensive line, with seven total Wolverines earning at least one start, and two of them — redshirt sophomore Graham Glasgow (left guard and center) and redshirt freshman Erik Magnuson (right guard and left guard) — starting at two different positions along the inside. Nothing worked. Youth and inexperience played a part, with all seven interior linemen being first-time starters, while in six games there were at least two freshmen (redshirt or true) in the starting lineup. The line couldn't run-block worth a lick — U-M finished 11th in the Big Ten in rushing (125.7 yards per game and 3.3 yards per carry) and ended up dead last nationally (125th) in allowing 114.0 tackles for loss on the year — creating a one-dimensional offense that would handicap the Maize and Blue every week. Big Plays Allowed: Michigan's defen-

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of The Wolverine - February 2014