ESPN panel talks Michigan football

ESPN analyst Jesse Palmer believes Michigan is good enough to win the Big Ten championship this season with a schedule he believes sets up nicely.
But finish with only two losses as the Wolverines did last season in Brady Hoke’s first season as head coach? Palmer thinks that is unlikely, especially with Michigan opening the season against defending national champion Alabama on Sept. 1 in Arlington, Texas.
“Today, Michigan is 0-1,” Palmer said during a panel discussion on ESPN’s College Football Live on Monday. “I think it’s a better than last year, but I think they have more than two losses.”
Former Michigan receiver Desmond Howard, now an ESPN analyst, said that Hoke continues to stress to his team that last year was a “failed season” because the Wolverines fell short of winning the Big Ten championship.
Kirk Herbstreit, the panel moderator, mentioned that U-M offensive coordinator Al Borges hasn’t been able to fully implement his pro-style offense with quarterback Denard Robinson.
“We can’t see Al Borges until Denard Robinson isn’t there,” Herbstreit said.
Howard agreed.
“When he leaves, the identity changes,” Howard said.
While there was plenty of focus on Robinson and how he will improve this fall – he had 15 interceptions last season and said he worked all spring practice on limiting turnovers – Howard said the biggest concern is defensive line.
Michigan lost three starters from the line – Mike Martin, Ryan Van Bergen and Will Heininger.
“Opening against Alabama in Dallas and the soft spot is your defensive line?” Howard said. “That’s a bigger concern than Denard’s mechanics.”
Robert Smith, an ESPN analyst, said the losses of Martin and Van Bergen are concerning.
“Are (the Wolverines) going to be able to pressure quarterbacks?” Smith said.
Another question mark, according to Herbstreit, is receiver. Junior Hemingway is gone, and Herbstreit believes his absence is enormous.
He wants to see “where they can grow and be more consistent and efficient in the passing game.”