Pick your surprise(s): Offense

Submitted by Ron Utah on

The MGoBlog previews for the offense have been posted.  It seems there is at least one surprise starter and contributor every year.  Last year, Grant Newsome took the LT job, Asiasi leap-frogged Wheatley, Chris Evans took off as the #2 RB, and, most famously, Wilton Speight won the starting QB job (though by the preview Brian conceded he was the most likely starter).

So...who on offense do you think will start/contribute in a significant way that has been overlooked?  As a reminder, here's Brian's starting line-up:

  • LT: Mason Cole
  • LG: Ben Bredeson
  • C: Patrick Kugler
  • RG: Mike Onwenu
  • RT: Jon Runyan, Jr.
  • FB: Khalid Hill, Henry Poggi
  • HB: Khalid Hill
  • TE: Ian Bunting
  • Flex: Zach Gentry
  • WR1: Kekoa Crawford
  • WR2: Tarik Black, DPJ
  • Slot: Grant Perry
  • Spread H: Chris Evans
  • RB: Chris Evans, Karan Higdon
  • QB: Wilton Speight

My guesses: TWJ starts at TE (not Bunting); Sean McKeon is a surprise contributor; Chris Evans and Karan Higdon combine for 1,800 rushing yards.

elhead

August 29th, 2017 at 7:04 PM ^

to the Albuquerque Journal and give him some kind of gift. That was one of the stupidest things I've ever read in that paper, and that's saying a lot (or not much, depending on how you look at it - the Journal sucks.)

yossarians tree

August 29th, 2017 at 4:44 PM ^

I believe that by mid-season, once they've gotten some game experience, this offense is going to be explosive. So many playmakers and a coaching staff that knows how to use them all.

BornInAA

August 29th, 2017 at 5:00 PM ^

Agree. It's reload. They will be as good if not better than last year.

QB - obvious

RB - we rotated everyone often last year, lot of them are back

TE - all very talented and used last year too

OL - just as good

WR - these are young, but this is the position where raw talent makes up for a lot.

GRMaizenBlue

August 29th, 2017 at 4:45 PM ^

Ben went through trial by fire last season and it didnt go well for him or the OL as a whole. I really believe a lot of that had to do with him being a true freshman and not knowing the playbook, or his assignments, very well. Now that he has some experience under his belt and a full year of coaching, I think we will be pleasantly surprised with his contributions..... or we at the very least, wont be talking about all the mistakes he made week in and week out.

Steves_Wolverines

August 29th, 2017 at 5:01 PM ^

Speight leads the B1G in passing yards, TD:INT ratio, and QBR. No RB has over 900 yards rushing. Ruiz takes over somewhere on the line eventually. Rashan Gary will break the single season sack record at Michigan. 

Steves_Wolverines

August 29th, 2017 at 5:27 PM ^

Really the only competition for passing in the B1G this year is PSU and Purdue. PSU has a Heisman caliber running back, so they might not air it out as much (or be as successful as last season). Purdue could easily end up with more passing yards this year than Michigan. I can't think of another team in the B1G that has a scary passing game and is capable of putting up huge numbers. 

Also, I think we'll see Evans go for around 850 yards, Higdon around 800, Isaac around 600, and Walker around 400. We'll still have a balanced offensive attack, but our passing game will be scary this season. 

evenyoubrutus

August 29th, 2017 at 5:15 PM ^

O'maury Samuels has a Chris Evansesque freshman year.

My other answer: they platoon Runyan/Ulizio at Right Tackle in the first half against Florida, it is a total disaster, so James Hudson starts the second half and demolishes the Florida offensive line, paving the way for a freshman anti-American season.

garde

August 29th, 2017 at 5:31 PM ^

I know everyone is hyping the wide receivers (as I am too). However, if the passing game clicks, expect the run game to explode. If teams can't load the box against us, I expect Evans and Higdon to pile up the yards. I think Higdon really shines this year. He gets to and hits the hole better than the other returning RBs with playing time.