The following five items seem probable if not obvious to expect from the Michigan Football offense in '23.
#1. Drake Nugent to fill the shoes of Olu Oluwatimi. Nugent didn't participate fully in spring practice but has received enough recognition from his play at Stanford to think he will jump right in and captain the UM offensive line. PFF named Nugent as its top returning center for '23. Nugent particulary excelled as a run blocker last year, according to PFF, where he earned an 84.1 run-blocking grade that ranked third among all centers in the country last year.
#2. Donovan Edwards to be a big-time weapon in the passing game. Edwards is a prototype modern running back that can be as dangerous as a receiver outside as he is getting the ball out of the backfield. Edwards had his coming out party in '21 at Maryland and then last year the junior had TD receptions at Iowa and at Rutgers. Edwards made sprinting down the middle of the field and breaking for an out cut that went for 28-yards verses Michigan State look easy.
#3. Roman Wilson to be even more of a game changer. Even with his sub 4.4 (4.3?) speed, Wilson is a little bit underated or under-the-radar because of UM's strong ground attack. Targeting and connecting on more downfield shots can take UM's '23 offense to the next level. Double digit TD receptions is an achievable goal for the senior from Hawaii. That next level, if it can get there, is as good as it gets. Michigan averaged over 40 points (40.4) last year which ranked #6 overall in the country.
#4. Colston Loveland to be a major factor in the passing game. 16-for-235 yards & two TD's last year for the UM offensive ROY. WIth Luke Schoonmaker & Erick All moving on at the position, a 40-for-500 & 7 TD type monster season is out there for the sophomore from Idaho.
#5. Michigan to contiune with it's identity of pounding-the-rock while developing an explosive (at times) passing attack. It looked like the downfield passing game broke its seal at OSU last year. The success on the field the last two years speaks for itself. in '21 UM ran 0n 59% of its total plays and passed for 41%. Last year, the running-to-passing split was 62%/38%. Can Michigan continue its ground philosphy and have an explosive passing game? That's the idea, and as its been pointed out a few times since the season ended, Michigan tried to hit on deep passes earlier in the year a season ago, but just couldn't get the QB & WR's clicking until late.
#1. Drake Nugent to fill the shoes of Olu Oluwatimi. Nugent didn't participate fully in spring practice but has received enough recognition from his play at Stanford to think he will jump right in and captain the UM offensive line. PFF named Nugent as its top returning center for '23. Nugent particulary excelled as a run blocker last year, according to PFF, where he earned an 84.1 run-blocking grade that ranked third among all centers in the country last year.
#2. Donovan Edwards to be a big-time weapon in the passing game. Edwards is a prototype modern running back that can be as dangerous as a receiver outside as he is getting the ball out of the backfield. Edwards had his coming out party in '21 at Maryland and then last year the junior had TD receptions at Iowa and at Rutgers. Edwards made sprinting down the middle of the field and breaking for an out cut that went for 28-yards verses Michigan State look easy.
#3. Roman Wilson to be even more of a game changer. Even with his sub 4.4 (4.3?) speed, Wilson is a little bit underated or under-the-radar because of UM's strong ground attack. Targeting and connecting on more downfield shots can take UM's '23 offense to the next level. Double digit TD receptions is an achievable goal for the senior from Hawaii. That next level, if it can get there, is as good as it gets. Michigan averaged over 40 points (40.4) last year which ranked #6 overall in the country.
#4. Colston Loveland to be a major factor in the passing game. 16-for-235 yards & two TD's last year for the UM offensive ROY. WIth Luke Schoonmaker & Erick All moving on at the position, a 40-for-500 & 7 TD type monster season is out there for the sophomore from Idaho.
#5. Michigan to contiune with it's identity of pounding-the-rock while developing an explosive (at times) passing attack. It looked like the downfield passing game broke its seal at OSU last year. The success on the field the last two years speaks for itself. in '21 UM ran 0n 59% of its total plays and passed for 41%. Last year, the running-to-passing split was 62%/38%. Can Michigan continue its ground philosphy and have an explosive passing game? That's the idea, and as its been pointed out a few times since the season ended, Michigan tried to hit on deep passes earlier in the year a season ago, but just couldn't get the QB & WR's clicking until late.
