After emerging as legitimate Big Ten and College Football Playoff contenders in 2016, it will be interesting to see how Michigan will fare next season. The Wolverines opened last year with nine straight wins before fading down the stretch with a 1-3 record to finish the season. Jim Harbaugh has done an excellent job building Michigan back in to a contending team but he will have his work cut out for him this offseason with a number of issues that must be addressed. Here is a look at the biggest offseason priorities for the Wolverines.
Lock Up A Talented Recruiting Class
Michigan has 27 commits and ranks third in the country on Scout.com’s national team rankings behind only Alabama and Georgia but they might not be done recruiting just yet. Harbaugh’s staff could add as many as four signees before February when recruits are able to sign their national letters of intent. The Wolverines are still trying to add talent along the defensive line with five-star defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon among their top priorities to land. Michigan could also use another top wide receiver prospect with Nico Collins one name that has been linked to the program over the pat couple of months.
Establish Rashan Gary’s Role
Gary is expected to be one of the nation’s top defensive line prospects this season but it will be on the coaching staff to put him in position to maximize his potential in 2017. Gary finished his freshman season with 27 tackles including five for loss and one sack but the perception is that he has only started to tap in to his high ceiling. The most important thing for the coaching staff to do is figure out how to put Gary in position to succeed whether that is at defensive end or defensive tackle. Gary could be a dominant force in 2017 but it will be on the coaching staff to maximize his potential on defense.
Get Pep Hamilton Acclimated
Jeff Fisch’s departure was a surprise but Harbaugh landed another highly regarded offensive coordinator in Pep Hamilton so there is reason for optimism following the coaching change. Harbaugh and Hamilton worked together at Stanford and Hamilton will bring a wealth of experience to the table after developing Andrew Luck at Stanford and then with the Indianapolis Colts. The Wolverines need to get Hamilton acclimated with the program and put his offensive plans in place. Michigan has some serious talent on that side of the football and it will be on Hamilton and his staff to put them in position to succeed.
Work On Speight’s Development
Wilton Speight has a solid first season as the starting quarterback for the Wolverines but he will need to take his game to another level in order for Michigan to take that next step. Speight completed 61.6-percent of his pass attempts for 2,538 yards and 18 touchdowns compared to seven interceptions but consistency was an issue at times and he needs to do a better job of making more big plays while still limiting his mistakes. Speight has all of the tools to be a quality starting quarterback and his development will be key to the Wolverines overall potential this season.
Find A Way To Beat Ohio State
The Wolverines have exceeded expectations in the first two years under head coach Jim Harbaugh but they’ve failed in one key area: beating Ohio State. Two years ago, they were lit up by the Buckeyes as they fell 42-13. In 2016, they again lost to the Buckeyes – albeit in a much closer affair – by a score of 30-27 in overtime. Last year’s loss was particularly stinging as they would have gone to the College Football Playoff had they beaten their biggest rival.
The Wolverines have to devote some time this offseason to figuring out how to get by the Buckeyes. Whether it’s coaching, film work or ironing out the finer points of execution, the Big Blue need to make sure that devote extra attention to this particular team. They’ll have a tough road game at Penn State this year and an opening neutral-site affair with Florida won’t be easy, but they simply can’t afford to lose to Ohio State a third time in a row – especially with this year’s game being at The Big House in Michigan.
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