Michigan football: Don't expect these six questions to be answered at Big Ten Media Days

INDIANAPOLIS — Michigan Wolverines football head coach Jim Harbaugh, senior running back Blake Corum, senior defensive tackle Kris Jenkins and graduate defensive back Mike Sainristil will represent the Maize and Blue at Big Ten Media Days Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium. We’ll be able to glean a lot by speaking to the U-M coach and players, but some questions will still remain when we depart back for Ann Arbor. Here’s a look at some things that either won’t, or can’t, be answered in Indy.

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NCAA allegations and a potential suspension

The event was already going to be exciting with Big Ten favorite Michigan rolling into Indianapolis Thursday, but things got way more interesting with Yahoo Sports first reporting that Harbaugh will likely agree to a four-game suspension. It would be part of a negotiation with the NCAA stemming from a Level I violation that he allegedly failed to cooperate with investigators who were looking into minor violations by the program.

Michigan has already said it’s not allowed to comment on the matter — strategic wording considering someone, likely the NCAA, leaked information on the case? — and we predict Harbaugh won’t in Indianapolis. We could see him express displeasure that word got out just two days before he took the stage in Indy, when the case isn’t resolved yet, but that would be about it. We don’t expect to hear about who would take over interim / acting duties based on the suspension(s), either.

Offensive line starters

We think we have a good idea of how the Michigan offensive line will shake out when it’s all said and done, but while the group is expected to be strong again, there’s no set starting five. Position battles will take place in camp and perhaps into the season. Right now, from left tackle to right tackle, we project the starting line to be: graduate LaDarius Henderson, graduate Trevor Keegan, graduate Drake Nugent, senior Zak Zinter and graduate Karsen Barnhart. However, Henderson, Nugent and Barnhart will have to earn their spots in camp, with hungry players behind them.

How the offense will be different

Sherrone Moore has been co-offensive coordinator and line coach the last two seasons, but he’s now the sole coordinator and, presumably, play-caller. That will bring about changes, naturally, whether or not they’re major.

Harbaugh and his staff have been quiet about the play-calling operation really since he arrived at Michigan, and that’s unlikely to change. It’ll still be a “collaborative” effort — we expect to hear that word — but Moore will have a lot more say. He’s also in charge of the offensive line — a lot on his plate, though he’s delivered each and every time Harbaugh has given him more responsibility.

Injuries

It really depends on what kind of mood Harbaugh is in. Sometimes, he’s pretty transparent with injuries. Other times, it’s a two-word answer — “no update” — when he’s asked. Michigan appears to be pretty healthy heading into fall camp, with sophomore cornerback Will Johnson (knee) being the primary question mark.

Starting cornerback

Like with the offensive line, it’s impossible to know how things will play out. Harbaugh has made predictions, but jobs will be earned. Michigan has a slew of options to start opposite Johnson (and in place of him if he does miss time), including graduate Josh Wallace, a UMass transfer, junior Ja’Den McBurrows and sophomore Amorion Walker, a converted wide receiver who has wowed with his agility.

What’s hype and what’s real

An event like this requires a lot of reading between the lines, examining how a player or coach is saying something, and with what kind of confidence, as much as parsing through the actual words. Everything is positive for every team at this time of year. It’s almost funny to hear the coaches who will finish at the bottom of the league a few months later speak with optimism about their team. And they absolutely should! That’s why it’s a great time of year, with hope springing eternal. But we have to take some things with a grain of salt. When it comes to Michigan, we’ll learn some in Indy, and we’ll be skeptical about other topics. That’s what makes it fun.