Roundtable: What to expect in Michigan football’s opener vs. ECU

Michigan opens the season against ECU today. Who are we most excited to see in the Wolverines’ first game of the season? What are the concerns, if any? Who will break out? We tackle those questions and more in today’s first Saturday pregame roundtable.

Who is the Michigan player you’re most anxious to watch on offense Saturday, and why? The defense?

CHRIS BALAS: We all want to see what Michigan running back Blake Corum looks like now that he’s back to full health, of course. He’s one of the best players in college football. But these eyes will be on offensive linemen Drake Nugent and Myles Hinton at center and right tackle. These are the guys who are going to help determine how good this offense can be this year — ditto Karsen Barnhart at left tackle. Is he up to the challenge? On defense, let’s see if Josh Wallace is the guy we hope he is at the “other corner.” This might be the underrated pickup of the offseason.

CLAYTON SAYFIE: It’s senior running back Blake Corum; Arguably the best player in college football last season, it’s still hard to think Corum returned for his senior campaign, but here he is ready to make his first appearance since trying to give it a go with a bum knee at Ohio State last November. It was a long road back for Corum, but he’s back and apparently better than ever. I can’t wait to see it, and the crowd’s reaction the first time public address announcer Carl Grapentine calls his name.

ANTHONY BROOME: I want to see how Roman Wilson is used in this offense. He has been the upperclassman with the most hype around him, and we know that there are more creative ways to get him involved. He can be one of Michigan’s most dangerous weapons if he continues his Fiesta Bowl momentum. On defense, Josaiah Stewart is the one to watch. He has a chance to be Michigan’s bendiest and most explosive pass rusher and his motor is always running. As the season goes on, I predict it will be harder and harder to take him off the field.

If there’s one concern about this team heading into Saturday, it’s …

CHRIS BALAS: The kicking game. We know Tommy Doman has the big leg at punter — will it translate to games? More importantly, what will James Turner do at placekicker? We’ve heard the Michigan native is really good inside 40 yards … after that, it gets dicey. There are going to be games in which they need someone to bang through a 45-yarder, for example. Will he step up?

CLAYTON SAYFIE: The injuries. Michigan still has much more talent than ECU and should win fairly easily regardless, but being short-handed at wide receiver and defensive back opens the door for the Pirates to attack. It shouldn’t be an issue, but if there’s a concern, this is it.

Who is the Michigan preseason offensive MVP? Defensive?

CHRIS BALAS: On offense, it’s Corum. He’s still the straw that stirs the drink for this offense, and one of the best running backs in the nation. He’s got great pieces around him, but he’s the guy. On defense, there are several great candidates, but graduate nickel Mike Sainristil is so valuable with what he brings. Leadership, ability, communication — he has it all. He’d be the pick here.

CLAYTON SAYFIE: It’s Corum on offense. He was the heart and soul of last year’s team and will be again, though junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy will be right there with him. This is one of the best quarterback-running back duos in the nation. On defense, I’ll go with sophomore cornerback Will Johnson. He’s simply the most talented player on the unit. The light turned on for him at the end of last season and he’ll pick up where he left off, and then some, this fall. Senior defensive tackle Kris Jenkins also has a case here.

ANTHONY BROOME: On offense, my preseason MVP is J.J. McCarthy. The QB position determines your ceiling in the national title hunt, and Michigan will go as he goes. Defensively, Kris Jenkins is a tone-setter and his best football could be ahead of him.

Thoughts on Michigan trips to Nebraska and Minnesota after watching that game, noting it’s ONLY one game?

CHRIS BALAS: Nebraska was the better team, minus the mistakes. The defense was aggressive and played with an edge and deserved a better fate. Everything Minnesota did looked labored. The Cornhuskers just don’t have the offense yet … a mistake-prone quarterback and no passing game. That one-dimensional approach probably won’t beat Michigan, but that’s still not going to be an easy game. I feel much better about U-M’s game in Minneapolis. There’s nothing on either side of the ball that strikes fear into a good football team.

CLAYTON SAYFIE: Nothing has really changed. I still like Minnesota’s skill position players and defense — especially safety Tyler Nubin; he’s a beast — but think they’ll take a step back. Nebraska just doesn’t have the talent yet. Jeff Sims had to do way too much, and he’s mistake-prone, though that defense impressed. The Wolverines should win comfortably in each game.

ANTHONY BROOME: As ugly as that game was at times, the takeaway is that both looked good defensively and will not back down from a physical challenge. Those road trips are no layups, but they do seem a little more manageable now after seeing both teams play. But it is a Thursday night opener, so we should wait for more tape to figure out where they might be headed.

Which Big Ten games will you be watching most intently this weekend, and what will you be looking for?

CHRIS BALAS: Ohio State, for one. Do the Buckeyes have a quarterback? This is always going to be No. 1 for any Michigan fan given the importance of The Game in November. But we’ll also keep an eye on Penn State to see what Drew Allar looks like at QB. That team could be really good with great quarterback play. We just wish West Virginia were a little better.

CLAYTON SAYFIE: Penn State (West Virginia) and Ohio State (Indiana) should win convincingly, but it’s wise to always have one eye on each of Michigan’s top two challengers in the Big Ten East. The main thing I’ll be watching are the quarterbacks. Is Drew Allar really the real deal for the Nittany Lions? Is Kyle McCord the guy for the Buckeyes, or will Devin Brown continue to push for the starting job? And how much better is that Ohio State defense, which returned a bunch of studs? Outside of the Big Ten, I can’t wait to see Deion Sanders’ debut at Colorado.

ANTHONY BROOME: Always keeping one eye on the enemy, I will be interested in seeing how Kyle McCord fares for OSU at Indiana. And my alma mater (Central Michigan) is taking on Michigan State in the Friday night opener, so that will get a close look.

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