Greg McElroy expects 'rock-solid' defense from Michigan, ranks Wolverines preseason No. 11

As part of Greg McElroy’s preseason top 25 rankings on his YouTube show, Always College Football, he rated Michigan outside the top 10 and made the case for why the Wolverines can’t be trusted too much in 2024.

“Just being honest, I look at the last couple years, I’ve been high on Michigan — had them No. 2 but picked them to win the national championship,” McElroy referenced of his 2023 preseason predictions. But he made that pick in ’23 for the same reasons he’s docking UM in ’24.

“I took the Michigan Wolverines, understandably because of the continuity that had been created the last few years,” he explained. “There is no longer the same level of continuity.”

McElroy then went into breakdowns on the Wolverines on each side of the ball, liking the upside of the defense while really questioning what Michigan has on the other side of the ball. Take a look at what he had to say:

Defense

“I think the defense is excellent and they’re going to be again this year,” declared McElroy. “I think Wink Martindale was an excellent hire — going to have a lot of pressures, going to bring a lot of blitzes.”

He obviously likes the coach, but also the personnel Michigan is returning at certain positions.

“You bring back a couple of defensive tackles that can take over the game like Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant. They’re in a great spot. I love the edge presence that is Derik Moore and Josiah Stewart.”

But overall, Greg McElroy just doesn’t see quite as many weapons in the war chest this time around.

“Defensively, they just don’t have as many pieces this year as they’ve had the last couple years. I also look at the inside linebacker group, are they what they’ve had the last couple years? That I’m not 100% sure.

“While I love Will Johnson there at corner, he’s elite, there will be a couple of guys that will be stepping in from time to time. There’s a few other guys that I think there are some question marks defensively.”

Even with all that said, Greg McElroy isn’t talking about a great leap backward, but instead, some small slippage compared to what was the very best defense in the nation a year ago.

“They should be rock solid top three, four, five, 10 in the country, no doubt about it.”

Offense

“The problem is on offense,” says McElroy, noting what he expects Michigan to excel at vs. struggle with given all they lost on that side of the ball.

“I know they’re going to be able to run the football, that’s what they do,” he continued, then questioning the offensive front and quarterback situation. “I look at the offensive line and there are more question marks there for me than there is for most. I think there are massive question marks at quarterback.”

In specific, the QB conundrum isn’t working out any qualms for McElroy.

“Looking at the Big Ten and how it might change a little bit, you might need to score more points to win games in the Big Ten. When you’re playing USC, you might have to play and score 35 to win.

“So I look at how the game has changed and the quarterback question mark is significant, because a five-man quarterback battle in the spring is not something that has me feeling real good about that position. I think Orji is a great athlete, I think Tuttle’s been around for a long time, you got a couple other guys that obviously have some talent. But that is a legitimate questionmark for me.”

Greg McElroy admitted he does like the skill talent, but it’s that OL and QB which are holding him back from more optimism.

“I also look at the wide receivers. I think the wide receivers are going to be really solid, I think tight end is gonna be really solid. I think running back Donovan Edwards going to be really solid.

“Quarterback and offensive line are legit question marks for me, which is why at this point I have Michigan outside of my top 10 heading into the preseason. I know it’s going to make a lot of people frustrated but right now man there are too many question marks surrounding the Wolverines.”