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Michigan at Florida: 3 storylines to follow in week one

By Matty Breisch

ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 01: Michigan Wolverines and Florida Gators players line up before a snap during the second half of the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl game at Orlando Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 01: Michigan Wolverines and Florida Gators players line up before a snap during the second half of the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl game at Orlando Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /
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2. How will Michigan replace 19 starters?

Going into his third season as the Wolverines head coach, Jim Harbaugh may be facing one the toughest challenges of his coaching career: rebuilding a roster that lost nearly 20 of its starters.

After amassing a 10-3 record in 2016, it’s worth wondering if the Wolverines will be able to improve much in 2017, or if the fans will have to wait until 2018 and five-star recruit Dylan McCaffrey or Brandon Peters to lead the team back into the College Football Playoff picture.

On offense, Michigan will only be returning three starters, center Mason Cole, guard Ben Bredeson and quarterback Wilson Speight from last years squad.

Speight, a three-star recruit from Richmond, Va., will not only be throwing to an inexperienced cast of players like second-year receivers Eddie McDoom, Kekoa Crawford and junior tight end Ian Bunting, but will also be learning a new passing scheme from new assistant head coach/passing coordinator Pep Hamilton.

Hamilton, a veteran offensive coordinator who has called plays for the Stanford Cardinal, the Indianapolis Colts and the Cleveland Browns, could help to unlock the big-play potential of Michigan’s offense and develop speedy receivers like McDoom into college football stars but it’s unlikely this will occur in time for Week 1.

Related Story: Can Eddie McDoom live up to having the coolest name in college football?

On defense, Michigan’s transition may not go as smoothly.

Of Michigan’s 11 defensive starters in 2016, only one player, linebacker Mike McCray, is returning for the 2017 campaign.

While some players, like defensive lineman Maurice Rice and breakout candidate Rashan Gary did get rotational snaps last season forcing them into extended action before they are ready could be detrimental for Michigan’s ability to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Michigan still has a strong defensive infrastructure in place, with good coaches and a score of three, four and five-star recruits ready to slide into expanded roles for years to come, but such a massive turnover can take some time, specially when replacing unique players like Jabrill Peppers, Michigan’s defensive swiss army knife.

While it’s entirely possible that the Wolverines will still field a top 20 defense in 2017, Michigan’s young core will be facing a trial by fire in week one.

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