NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
There appear to be more questions surrounding Michigan football’s offense entering the 2024 campaign than perhaps at any point in the past decade.
The Wolverines are in the process of finding the best way to simultaneously replace J.J. McCarthy (the winningest quarterback in program history), Blake Corum (the most decorated running back in program history) and the entire starting offensive line (which racked up awards over the past three years for its dominant play).
In case that’s not enough holes to fill for first-year head coach Sherrone Moore, there’s more. Somewhat quietly (at least relative to the other positions), Michigan also lost its top two wide receivers from a season ago, seniors Roman Wilson and Cornelius Johnson.
Michigan punt return Tyler Morris (8) runs against Indiana during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.
BIG TEN INSIDER: Wink Martindale likes to bring pressure. He’s now feeling it as Michigan football’s new DC
The duo finished first and second on the team in catches and first and third in yards as they combined for 95 grabs, 1,393 yards and 13 touchdowns. Of those scores, 12 were hauled in by Wilson, the most by a U-M wideout in a single season since Mario Manningham (12) in 2007.
Michigan is far from the first team to lose its top pass catchers, but for perspective, the last time two U-M wideouts matched last year’s totals from Johnson and Wilson was 2015 (Jehu Chesson and Amara Darboh).
Chesson and Darboh both returned the following year, but their production fell off. And in 2017, when they both left for good, Grant Perry and Donovan Peoples-Jones became U-M’s two leading receivers and combined for 47 catches for 584 yards and just one TD.
In short, it takes a lot to step up as a No. 1 wide receiver.
But that hasn’t stopped offensive coordinator Kirk…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/2024s-mission-clear-michigan-football-100454307.html
Author : Detroit Free Press
Publish date : 2024-08-03 10:04:54
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
