As rival fan bases ramp up the offseason noise, Michigan faces a fresh round of criticism entering the 2025 season. Here are three ways the Wolverines can silence the critics this year:
As the calendar prepares to turn to August, chirping between rival fan bases has gone beyond a fever pitch. It’s reached a point of annoyance somewhere between incessantly being asked about grandkids and another friend planning a fall wedding (and they call us sickos). Without football being played, the pointless arguments have gotten out of control.
The other day, I came across, “Blake Corum was overrated at Michigan!” It is understood this is rage-baiting malarky, but sometimes it is just hard to cope with people being this wrong on the internet. However, buried among the ignorance and simple-minded comments are a few key arguments that the Michigan Wolverines will look to win in the fall.
Michigan will never win the war on stupidity, but here are three ways the Wolverines can silence their critics in the fall.
Balance the offense
There’s no need to pile on here. The enlightened reader you are understands Michigan’s passing attack was somewhere between flaccid and terrible last season. The Wolverines ranked No. 131 ahead of only Navy, Air Force and Army, and only one spot behind Iowa. “Fla-rrible?” “Ter-ccid?” Predictably, shots have been coming from all across the country, except Columbus, of course.
To address these aerial issues, head coach Sherrone Moore brought in proven offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, the top quarterback prospect in the country in Bryce Underwood, and reinforced every supportive position group — offensive line, wide receiver running back — around his new signal caller.
Michigan isn’t going to reinvent the passing attack this season. Moore isn’t suddenly going to turn into a Mike Leach. But reincorporating balance to this run-first offense will make this unit malleable and one of the most difficult to stop in the Big Ten.
Another Top-10 defense
The Michigan defense was elite last season. After a slow start, it finished as the top scoring and total defense in the country over its final four games. Despite having a passing attack that rivaled the excitement of eating soggy french fries, Michigan’s defense carried the team to eight wins.
But with the departures of NFL first-rounders Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, Day 2 picks Will Johnson and Josaiah Stewart, and other secondary contributors in Aamir Hall, Wesley Walker and Quinten Johnson, those outside Ann Arbor are expecting the unit to decline. But those in Ann Arbor are expecting improvement.
The losses are substantial, but Michigan has been through this before. The defense wasn’t expected to improve following the 2021 season when the unit lost two first-rounders in Aidan Hutchinson and Dax Hill, second-rounder David Ojabo, leading tackler Josh Ross, important contributors Vincent Grey, Christopher Hinton and Donovan Jeter, and defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. However, the unit improved in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, passing defense, turnovers forced, sacks and tackles for loss.
Expect a similar bump with second-year defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, a returning star in Rod Moore, and proven experience and production at all three levels. Similar to ‘22, this “no star” defense will be one of the best in the country and will go a long way in proving last season’s success wasn’t only because of a few stars.
Return to the College Football Playoff
It’s crazy having a list without “Beating Ohio State ” on it. But beating Ohio State for the fifth year in a row does nothing to prove critics wrong. Even the biggest Michigan critics know this is the expectation at this point. However, a return to the College Football Playoff would go a long way in silencing the critics of Sherrone Moore.
Although Moore has two wins over top-five Ohio State teams, a road win under impossible conditions against Penn State, a completely salvaged season against all odds last year and a bowl win over Alabama, there are still some who question his coaching acumen.
With a full season and offseason under his belt, Moore is prepared to lead a program built in his image in 2025. If Moore can lead a balanced offense and a stout defense back to the CFP, critics will have to look elsewhere for petty arguments. And don’t even think about looking at two-time All-American (once unanimous), two-time unanimous first-team All-Big Ten, two-time top-ten Heisman Trophy finisher, and national champion Blake Corum either.