2006 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 2006 Michigan Wolverines football team will represent the University of Michigan in the college football season of 2006-2007. The team's head football coach is Lloyd Carr. The Wolverines will play their home games in Michigan Stadium.
Previous Seasons
In 2003 and 2004, Michigan had successful seasons, winning the Big Ten Conference and making it to the Rose Bowl both seasons. The 2005 season saw a reversal of fortune, as Michigan, hobbled by injuries, had a 7-5 record in one of their worst seasons in recent years, ending with a loss to Nebraska in the Alamo Bowl. Following the season, starters Gabe Watson, Jason Avant, and Tim Massaquoi were drafted into the NFL.
Preseason
The 2005 offseason saw a coaching shakeup, prompted by the departure of coordinators Terry Malone and Jim Herrmann. Ron English was promoted from secondary coach to defensive coordinator and Mike DeBord from special teams coach to offensive coordinator, while Steve Szabo and Ron Lee were hired as assistant coaches.
Between the new coaching staff and many returning starters, the Wolverines, led by third year starting quarterback Chad Henne, expect to compete for the Big 10 title and associated BCS bowl bid. The voters of the coaches' poll also expect improvement, ranking Michigan #15.
Preseason Awards
- Chad Henne - Maxwell Award watchlist[1]
- Mike Hart - Maxwell Award watchlist
- Steve Breaston - Maxwell Award watchlist
- Tyler Ecker - John Mackey Award watchlist[2]
- Jake Long - Outland Trophy watchlist[1]
- Mark Bihl - Rimington Trophy watchlist[3]
- LaMarr Woodley - Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, and Ted Hendricks Award watchlists[1]
- Leon Hall - Jim Thorpe Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy watchlist[4]
- Alan Branch - Ted Hendricks Award watchlist
- Prescott Burgess - Chuck Bednarik Award watchlist
Schedule
Michigan has one of the most difficult schedules in the nation this year, highlighted by away games against rivals Notre Dame and Ohio State. Both the Fighting Irish and Buckeyes are national championship contenders and preseason consensus top 3 teams. Penn State is another difficult away game, with the Nittany Lions wanting revenge after suffering their only loss in 2005 at Michigan Stadium. Iowa is the fourth preseason top 25 team on the schedule, and the rivalry against Michigan State for the Paul Bunyan Trophy is always a challenging game for the Wolverines.
As in 2005, Michigan does not play Big 10 teams Illinois and Purdue this year.
| Date | Time | Result | Rank# | Opponent | Stadium · City | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2, 2006* | 12 p.m. | Vanderbilt | Michigan Stadium · Ann Arbor, MI | ESPN | ||
| September 9, 2006* | 12 p.m. | CMU | Michigan Stadium · Ann Arbor, MI | ESPN | ||
| September 16, 2006* | 3:30 p.m. | @ Notre Dame | Notre Dame Stadium · South Bend, IN | NBC | ||
| September 23, 2006 | Wisconsin | Michigan Stadium · Ann Arbor, MI | ||||
| September 30, 2006 | 8 p.m. | @ Minnesota | Metrodome · Minneapolis, MN | |||
| October 7, 2006 | 4:30 p.m. | MSU | Michigan Stadium · Ann Arbor, MI | ESPN | ||
| October 14, 2006 | 8 p.m. | @ Penn State | Beaver Stadium · State College, PA | ABC | ||
| October 21, 2006 | Iowa | Michigan Stadium · Ann Arbor, MI | ||||
| October 28, 2006† | 12 p.m. | Northwestern | Michigan Stadium · Ann Arbor, MI | |||
| November 4, 2006* | Ball State | Michigan Stadium · Ann Arbor, MI | ||||
| November 11, 2006 | @ Indiana | Memorial Stadium · Bloomington, IN | ||||
| November 18, 2006 | 3:30 p.m. | @ Ohio State | Ohio Stadium · Columbus, OH | ABC | ||
| *Non-Conference Game †Homecoming #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5) and subject to change. | ||||||
People
Michigan returns 18 of 22 starters for 2006, one of the highest numbers in the nation.[5]
Key returning starters for the offense include quarterback Chad Henne, running back Mike Hart, and wide receiver and kick returner Steve Breaston. Henne and Hart, who both started in 2004 as true freshmen, look to rebound from their 2005 sophomore slumps. Hart, Breaston, and offensive lineman Jake Long all missed significant time due to injury in 2005, and hope to avoid that this season.
On defense, seniors LaMarr Woodley and Leon Hall return, respectively anchoring the defensive line and backfield. Both have started games in each year of their college careers and are projected to be first round draft picks by NFL Draft Countdown.[6]
Projected Depth Chart
Template:2006 Michigan Wolverines depth chart Based on Lloyd Carr's comments at the 2006 Big 10 Media Day.[7]
Roster
Template:2006 Michigan Wolverines roster
Coaching Staff
- Lloyd Carr - Head Coach - 27 years at U-M
- Mike DeBord - Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends - 11 years
- Ron English - Defensive Coordinator/Safeties - 4 years
- Erik Campbell - Wide Receivers/Assistant Head Coach - 12 years
- Fred Jackson - Running Backs/Associate Head Coach - 15 years
- Scot Loeffler - Quarterbacks - 5 years
- Andy Moeller - Offensive Line - 7 years
- Steve Stripling - Defensive Line - 2 years
- Steve Szabo - Linebackers - 1 year
- Ron Lee - Cornerbacks - 1 year
References
- ^ a b c "Big Ten Places 30 Football Student-Athletes on Several National Award Watch Lists" (HTML). CSTV.com. Retrieved 2006-07-07.
- ^ "Football's Ecker Named to Mackey Award Watch List" (HTML). Regents of the University of Michigan. Retrieved 2006-08-07.
- ^ "Rimington Trophy Official Web Site-College Football's Center Award" (HTML). Boomer Esiason Foundation. Retrieved 2006-07-05.
- ^ "Football's Hall Heads List for Thorpe Award" (HTML). Regents of the University of Michigan. Retrieved 2006-08-07.
- ^ "Christian Alexander Top Returning Players in NCAA and College Football" (HTML). VegasInsider.com. Retrieved 2006-08-07.
- ^ "2007 NFL Draft Rankings" (HTML). Draft Countdown. Retrieved 2006-08-07.
- ^ "Big Ten Media Day: Carr at the Dais" (HTML). Scout.com. Retrieved 2006-08-02.