Lindy's delivers good news, bad news and a bottom line for Michigan football ahead of 2022 season
Lindy’s released its 2022 national college football preview magazine, and had some interesting things to say about Michigan Wolverines football heading into this fall’s much-anticipated season. The Maize and Blue are coming off winning the Big Ten title, advancing to the College Football playoff and notching 12 victories for just the third time in program history. Lindy’s has Michigan ranked No. 6 in its preseason rankings.
“The jokes can stop,” Lindy’s wrote. “Michigan finally beat Ohio State and won the Big Ten, ending the punching bag era by punching its first CFP ticket. How did [eighth-year head coach] Jim Harbaugh celebrate? By flirting with the Minnesota Vikings. In the end, he stayed true to his school. Why not? The best may be yet to come.”
Michigan ranked behind No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 Clemson and No. 5 Texas A&M. In addition to the Wolverines and the Buckeyes, just two other Big Ten teams slotted top 25 — Wisconsin at No. 16 and Michigan State at No. 20.
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The magazine also opined on one piece of ‘good news’ and one chunk of ‘bad news’ for Michigan heading into this fall’s campaign.
“The good news: The offense drips with potential,” the publication wrote. “[Senior] quarterback Cade McNamara is looking good, while [sophomore] J.J. McCarthy comes off a shoulder injury. Harbaugh calls a trio of freshman wideouts — Darrius Clemons, Tyler Morris and Amorion Walker — a “freak show.” And vet [sophomore] wide receiver Andrel Anthony is freaky, too.”
The biggest reason why most are high on Michigan’s chances this fall is the offense and what it returns. The Maize and Blue lost three starters — all important pieces in running back Hassan Haskins, center Andrew Vastardis and right tackle Andrew Stueber — but replacements are there for each position and the other groups should be even stronger than last year.
Whoever winds up winning the quarterback job should only provide an elevated level of play, after McNamara threw for 2,516 yards and 15 touchdowns and McCarthy went for 516 yards and five scores last season. They each have different strengths — McCarthy is more mobile, for example, having rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns in 2021 — but are another year older and have more weapons.
The offensive line could also be even better, which is almost hard to believe after the unit won the Joe Moore Award last season. Graduate Olusegun Oluwatimi, a Rimington Award finalist a year ago, should step in nicely at center after transferring in from Virginia, and senior Trente Jones is athletic and has upside at right tackle.
The bad news revolves around the lack of returning production for Michigan on the other side of the ball.
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“The bad news: Questions litter the defense, starting with how to replace new NFL edge rushers Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo. Is [senior defensive end] Mike Morris the next Hutchinson? Maybe. It’s up to a third defensive coordinator (Jesse Minter) in as many years to figure it out.”
Michigan notched 34 sacks last season, with 28 coming from players who are no longer on the roster. That’s a concern, as the outlet mentioned, and the likes of Morris and others will be tasked with stepping up and getting after opposing quarterbacks.
There’s also a chance, though, that the linebackers and secondary are stronger, even with safety Dax Hill leaving early for the NFL, which could offset some of the losses on the defensive line.
Lindy’s also provided ‘our call’ after giving its good and bad news — and there are a lot of positives for Michigan.
“Even after offensive coordinator Josh Gattis left for Miami in a huff, this offense should hum with running backs [junior] Blake Corum and [sophomore] Donovan Edwards behind another strong line in an homage to 1975 offense.
“Bottom line: Big Blue can post successive top 10 seasons for the first time since 2002-03, and who knows, might even be good enough to beat Ohio State again. That hasn’t happened since 1999-2000.”
