Denard Robinson (left).
 

‘Bama’s first opponent at Jerry World in Arlington, Texas on Sept. 1 at 7 PM CT on ABC, the Michigan Wolverines, should be a pretty good test for the Tide. But it’s a game they should win rather comfortably.

When you think of Michigan, you first  think of quarterback Denard Robinson. He can be an electric player. He is extremely fast and can take it to the house any time he carries the ball. Against Notre Dame last year, he showed he could make some clutch passes as well in a comeback victory over the Fighting Irish. But if you look at the passing numbers from last year, they’re not so impressive. Robinson was 142-of-258 (55%) for 2,173 yards, 2o TDs, and 15 interceptions. Robinson did run for 1,176 yards and 16 TDs, so he’s a huge threat on the ground. He can make the explosive play, but he’s got to be 5’10”, 5’11” max, and he has trouble throwing over the defensive linemen. He was in for one series in the spring game and got one of his passes batted down. With that said, he can also be dangerous. But ‘Bama has better speed than the defenses he’s used to. He’s a huge factor that the Tide defense will have to account for, but he is containable in my opinion. Their best running back, Fitzgerald Toussaint, who ran for 1,041 yards and nine touchdowns last year, is indefinitely suspended after being arrested for driving while impaired last month. I guess that’s a DUI. So his availability for the game is up in the air. If he does get it together over the month of August, he’ll probably play. He’s a good player. His backup,  Thomas Rawls, is pretty good, but not extremely fast. Toussaint is 5’10, 195 and Rawls is 5’10”, 219. Toussaint is the quick guy and Rawls is the bruiser. WR is led by Jeremy Gallon, who is more a possession guy than a game-breaker type. He had 31 catches for 453 yards and 3 TDs  last year. Roy Roundtree had 19 receptions for 355 and two TDs last year. They look like the key guys on the perimeter. Just not a big threat in the passing game against the speed and talent of the Alabama secondary. Corners Dee Milliner, John Fulton, Deion Belue and Travell Dixon look like they’ll be able to handle them with safeties Robert Lester, who should have a huge year, Vinnie Sunseri and Ha Ha Clinton Dix there for plenty of support.

The Michigan offensive line is big as usual. All around 300 pounds. Didn’t look great in pass coverage but they should be pretty decent. Lost two guys off the line last year. Center Ricky Barnum (6’3″, 292) had some trouble with the snaps in the spring game. Tackle Taylor Lewan (6’8″, 302) is a good player. He’ll probably be on Damion Square or Adrian Hubbard when Hubbard gets his hand down. Good size on their line. It’ll be interesting to see how the Tide dline plays the first game of the season against a pretty big line. I know S knows more about his team blindfolded than I do, but this defensive end for Alabama, Jeoffrey Pagan (6’4″, 285), is one of the most impressive looking guys I’ve ever seen on the defensive side of the football. I think Pagan can be a huge impact player if he works hard this summer. He could be extremely disrupting coming off the edge. In my opinion, he could have a Courtney Upshaw-like impact. He’s got the physical tools. If Pagan puts forth the effort this month, he could make a major impact not only against Michigan, but also against the rest of the schedule.

On defense, the Wolverines have some good players, but not a ton of depth. Brady Hoke is still building depth on that side of the ball. Their linebackers are pretty good. Linebacker Brandin Hawthorne (6’0″, 214) is a heckuva player. Made a lot of tackles in the spring game and an incredibly athletic one-handed interception. He’s an athlete. Kenny Demens (6’1″, 248) is very good as well at another linebacker spot. Dline looks pretty decent led by defensive end Craig Roh (6’5″, 269), who looks very good at rushing the passer. They did lose three key players off the dline last year. Depth may be an issue I imagine S will put D.J. Fluker on Roh. Roh is good, but D.J. is a potential first round pick. He may have some trouble getting by D.J. Their secondary is pretty solid, led by safety Jordan Kovacs. He’s their leader. Blake Countess made a nice interception in the spring game. Looks like a player at corner. They’re replacing some guys and depth may be a problem back there too, but they should be pretty decent. Think A.J., with time, which he’ll most likely get, can find Kevin Norwood, DeAndrew White and Christion Jones in seams in the coverage and possibly on some deep balls as well.

The Wolverines kicker looks like he’s straight out of the movie Easy Rider. Brendon Gibbons looks like he could easily be riding a Harley with Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, or even more currently, with Bobby Petrino, and his girlfriend. Gibbons doesn’t look like he’s missed many meals either. Or many frat parties. Got a heavy mid section. He did kick the game winning 34-yarder to defeat Va Tech in the Sugar Bowl last year, but Matt Wile looks like he’s just as good a kicker if not better. Wile made his 30+ yarder in the scrimmage and Gibbons missed his 30-yarder. Gibbons is left-footed and Wile is right-footed. Wile looks like he’ll be their punter. He averaged 41.6 yards on 17 punts last year as the backup. There were no returns in the spring game. I imagine Toussaint, if available, would be involved in kickoff return if there are any kick returns with the kickoffs being moved up to the 35 this year.

One final thing: Denard Robinson is listed at 195, which is probably accurate, but I think he can get hurt. He plays with such reckless abandon, that a tough hit might knock him out for a couple of series or even a game. He did play in all 13 games last year, but injury is a possibility. Don’t want him to get injured by any means, but there is that chance if somebody unloads on him.

Final Analysis:

Michigan is a solid football team. They are pretty solid on the lines of scrimmage and Robinson and Toussaint are players. Toussaint may not be available, but if he is, Michigan has a lot better chance. The defense has some good players. But the Wolverines as a team are not as fast, as athletic or as well-coached as Alabama. I like Alabama to win this game pretty soundly.

‘Bama 27, UM 10