Written by T.J. Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

Week Thirteen Preview: Michigan Wolverines

The penultimate game of the 2019 regular season sees the Indiana Hoosiers host the Michigan Wolverines. IU has been oh so close to finally knocking off Michigan in the recent past but they have not actually beaten the Maize and Blue since 1987 (a 14-10 triumph in Bloomington). The Wolverines have won 22 in a row in the series. This game comes right before gigantic rivalry games for both schools and it’s impossible to tell what all will be on the line for either side when November 23 rolls around.

Week Thirteen: Michigan Wolverines

Date & Time: Saturday, November 23, Time: TBA

Venue: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana

TV: TBA

Wolverines at a Glance

Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh

Entering his 12th season as a collegiate head coach, fifth at the University of Michigan

Overall Record 96-41 (38-14, 26-9 in B1G)

Last Season: 10-3 (8-1)

Wolverines Returning Leaders

Passing: Shea Patterson (64.6%, 2,600 yards with 22 TDs and 7 INTs)

Rushing: Tru Wilson (62 rushes for 364 yards with 1 TD)

Receiving: Nico Collins (38 receptions for 632 yards with 6 TDs)

Tackles: Josh Ross (61 tackles)

Wolverines Preseason Predictions

Athlon’s: 1st in the Big Ten East

Lindy’s: 1st in the Big Ten East

Phil Steele: 1st in the Big Ten East

Street & Smith’s: 2nd in the Big Ten East

S&P+: 9 wins (9th nationally)

Impact Newcomers for the Wolverines

Mazi Smith – DT – The #4 defensive tackle recruit in the country is going to play early for two reasons. First, he is playing a position of need for the Wolverines. Second, he has the size that is needed for an interior lineman in major college football. He came into school at 6’3” and 305 pounds.

Daxton Hill – Safety – Tyree Kinnel has moved on but Michigan has to feel pretty good about the replacement because they brought in the top-ranked safety in the country. Daxton Hill is very athletic and fits the mold of a modern safety. While the inexperience is a concern, he should be well past that by the time Michigan takes on IU.

Zach Charbonnet – RB – With the previous season’s top two running backs off the team (Higdon to graduation, Evans from suspension), carries are there to be had and hopes are incredibly high for true freshman Zach Charbonnet. A four-star recruit that was wanted by most of the country’s powerhouses, Charbonnet is 6’2” and nearly 230 pounds. He missed the spring with an injury but he should be 100% by the opener and he is expected to be the starter at running back by mid-season.

Offensive Preview

Michigan’s offenses during the Jim Harbaugh era have been moderately successful but the tempo they played with and a perceived lack of creativity hounded them. After a few seasons of creative collaboration between multiple coaches, Jim Harbaugh has turned the attack entirely over to one person: first time playcaller Josh Gattis. Gattis is very well-regarded but this will be the first time he will actually lead an offense. Whether or not Jim Harbaugh is going to actually allow an open attack with more shots down the field and more aggressiveness can only be found out once the games are on the line.

Shea Patterson is now a senior and there is some low-level Heisman hype surrounding him. Count me out on that. Not because I don’t believe in the talent of Shea Patterson. Actually, I think he is quite good and one of the better quarterbacks in the conference. The skepticism comes from this quote given by Jim Harbaugh: “Where it stands right now, I see maybe redefining what a starter is. I see that. That’s where it is right now. You want to get both (Patterson and Dylan McCaffrey) on the field either at the same time or separately. When I say I want to play them both in games, it’s really going to be, they’re both playing quarterback during the same game. The way it stands now, in every game.” To be honest, I don’t really know what that means. I think it is safe to say though that Shea Patterson and Dylan McCaffrey are both going to play. They’ll be throwing to a deep wide receiver group led by a trio of potential stars: Nico Collins, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Tarik Black. Collins actually appears to have the highest upside but if they can all stay healthy, that’s a dangerous group. Running back is less solidified as Karan Higdon and Chris Evans are both now gone. Tru Wilson is the top returning rusher but he likely won’t get the bulk of the carries. The top running back figures to be true freshman Zach Charbonnet. He’s a big back with good quickness and recruiting analysts say that he makes excellent cuts and has good vision. In addition, Ben VanSumeren figures to be relied on for short-yardage situations. The strength of the offense figures to be the offensive line. In fact, Michigan might have one of the best o-lines in the country. Jon Runyan, Ben Bredeson and Cesar Ruiz will be draft picks and there is lots of size and depth behind them.

Defensive Preview

The 2018 Michigan defense was one of the nation’s best until getting shelled by the Ohio State Buckeyes (and in the Peach Bowl when they were absent some starters). Don Brown’s charges lost several key pieces but they bring some known commodities back and have a lot of young pieces excited to step in. The defensive line has a couple of returning rotation players along with a couple of breakout stars like the ultra-athletic Kwity Paye at end. Linebacker is anchored by Khaleke Hudson who will need to be better than he was in 2018. Josh Ross will try and fill the hole left by the departure by Devin Bush Jr.. Indiana fans will likely recognize Indianapolis native Cameron McGrone, a redshirt freshman that will probably break into the rotation. Don Brown is like most defensive coordinators. He loves to have a lot of versatile athletes that can cause havoc in the opposing backfield. Thankfully for Don Brown, Michigan is able to get a lot of those guys. The most prominent this season is possibly Josh Uche. He had seven sacks last season and he’ll push for double-figures in 2019. The secondary has some questions but Lavert Hill and Josh Metellus are good veterans and incoming freshman Daxton Hill was the top-rated safety in the country. Cornerback is a question mark but the staff told The Athletic they feel good about Ambry Thomas and Vincent Gray. The pieces are there for another great defense but there are some question marks and you could see the defense struggling at times if certain players cannot step up.

Special Teams Preview

The top punter in the league in 2018 was Will Hart after he averaged 47 yards per punt. He returns so punter is definitely set. At kicker, Michigan will go with either Jake Moody or Quinn Nordin. Donovan Peoples-Jones is a good returner on punts and he returns to handle those duties.

The Huddle

First Glance: Hoosiers will Look for Some Senior Day Magic as They Host Michigan on Senior Day

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