The Michigan Insider

Tim McCormick and Sam Webb discuss the NBA Players Association Top 100 camp performances turned in by Dug McDaniel, Jett Howard, and recent Michigan offer recipient Yohan Traore. Attention then turns to Traore's potential fit alongside recent Michigan commit Tarris Reed. The podcast concludes with NBA draft and summer league reflections. The duo assess the landing spots and performances turned in by Franz Wagner, Chaundee Brown, Isaiah Livers, Cade Cunningham, and many more.

Concluding our series previewing the Michigan football team at each position group, we take a look at the depth chart, position battles, strengths, weaknesses and question marks in Michigan's special teams unit, while also making a bold prediction for the group.

We open with a discussion of our projected depth charts at kicker, punter and in the return games. We dissect how many of the battles are already likely decided, while previewing a bit of a battle in the return game. We discuss the group's strengths, including punting, potentially high ceiling in several key areas and Michigan's all-around coverage game. We then look at the unit's weaknesses, including costly mistakes, muffed punts and penalties.

We then turn our attention to questions about Michigan's kicking woes and turning talent into production in the return game, and make our bold predictions for the group in 2021.

We continue our series previewing the Michigan football team's 2021 at each position group, taking a look at the Wolverines' defensive backfield. We discuss the position battles, strengths, weaknesses, question marks and make predictions for Michigan's cornerbacks and safeties in the fall.

We open with a look at the battle for the No. 2 cornerback position, along with a peek at the depth chart battles that persist at both spots, including one backup who has emerged as a starter-caliber player. We then turn our attention to the group's strengths, looking at an underrated group in coverage and a faster defensive backfield than Michigan is used to having. We also look at the unit's weaknesses, discussing the room's inconsistency and mental hurdles they must overcome.

We then close with our biggest questions about the group, looking at Daxton Hill and Vincent Gray, and our biggest bold predictions for the group this season, looking at Gemon Green and RJ Moten's ascent.

Continuing our series previewing the Michigan football team at each position group, we look at the Wolverines' linebacker room. We discuss the position battles that exist at linebacker, the room's strengths, weaknesses and key questions, while also making our predictions for the room in 2021.

We begin by looking at the depth chart. We discuss the inside linebacker duo of Josh Ross and Michael Barrett, and what kind of push Nikhai Hill-Green and Junior Colson can provide. We also look at the edge position, and what the hierarchy might look like behind Aidan Hutchinson.

Our attention then turns to the strengths and weaknesses of the room. We discuss the unit's tackling ability, high ceiling at edge, coverage woes, lack of depth and more. We also ponder if any of the room's former top-tier recruits will pop in 2021, and what a hype-filled offseason for Aidan Hutchinson can translate into on the field this fall. We close with our predictions for the group in the 2021 season.

Continuing our podcast series previewing the Michigan football team at each position, this episode zeroes in on Michigan's defensive line. We look at the position battles, strengths, weaknesses, key questions and make bold predictions for how the group will fare in the 2021 season.

We begin by taking a look at our projected two-deep for the defensive line, as Michigan tries to find its best three between Christopher Hinton, Mazi Smith, Donovan Jeter, Jess Speight, Julius Welschof, Kris Jenkins and Jordan Whittley, and the position battles that will come from that.

Our attention then turns to the line's biggest strengths and weaknesses. We discuss the line's added weight, improved depth, athletic potential, lack of pass-rushing capabilities and lack of ceiling.

We then close with discussions about the biggest questions surrounding the group, and make our bold predictions for the room heading into the 2021 season.

Continuing our positional season preview series, we take a look at Michigan's offensive line, previewing the position battles, depth chart, strengths, weaknesses, questions and making a bold prediction on the Wolverines' front for the 2021 season.

We begin by taking a look at position battles, as Michigan returns seven players who started up front in 2021, leading to technically three position battles. We assess the competition level at each spot, how the Wolverines could move layers around to truly come up with a 'best five,' and why Michigan may wait longer than usual to decide its starting five up front.

We then turn to the group's strengths, looking at the line's depth, size and potential ability to move the line of scrimmage more this year than last season. We also look at weaknesses up front, including some pass protection concerns and a lack of experience and proven production. We then offer our biggest questions about the group, then make prediction for the line's outlook this fall.

Continuing our series previewing Michigan's 2021 season at each position group, we take a look at the depth chart, strengths, weaknesses, questions and bold predictions in the Wolverines' wide receiver and tight ends room.

We begin by taking a look at potential position battles in Michigan's receiving game. We forecast our projected starters, and dissect the battle to make the two-deep rotation — battles we argue are as equally important as the starting roles.

We then turn to the group's strengths. Shaw takes a look at the Wolverines' speed out of the slot, while Lorenz lauds Michigan's versatility at wide receiver. In terms of weaknesses, both of them had a very clear-cut one in mind.

Finally, they look at questions and predictions surrounding the group. They look at Michigan's tight end usage, Daylen Baldwin's impact and offer their thoughts on how the group could fare in 2021.

Continuing our series previewing the Michigan football team's 2021 season at each position, we look at the depth chart, strengths, weaknesses, question marks and make bold predictions for the Wolverines' running back room.

In looking at the group's depth, we discuss the value of a three-back rotation, elaborate why all three backs could start in any given situation and assess the battle between Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards' similar roles. We then turn to the position group's strengths: Shaw takes a look at the physical strength of the room led by Hassan Haskins, while Lorenz outlines that Michigan should benefit from multiple years of landing its top recruiting targets.

We also look at the room's weaknesses, taking a peak at Michigan's lack of a home-run hitter at running back, improvements to be made in vision and maybe some concern over a diluted rotation and limited carries. We also ponder what Edwards could bring in year one.

We close with our predictions, looking at who might lead the Wolverines in rushing yards and how we think the position group will stack up compared to other position groups on the team and in recent Michigan running back history.

We kick off our season preview series, a collection of shorter episodes that look at each of Michigan's position groups ahead of the 2021 season. In our first episode, we look at the quarterback position, assessing the group's depth chart, position battles, biggest strength, biggest weakness, biggest question mark and make one bold prediction for the group in 2021.

At the quarterback position, we begin by looking at the position battle behind Cade McNamara, where JJ McCarthy and Alan Bowman will compete for second-string snaps. We go over what all three quarterbacks bring to the table, as well as what the Wolverines are looking for in a second-string quarterback.

We then look at the group's strengths and weaknesses. Shaw points to the group's productive high school careers, noting that Michigan is quietly more experienced at quarterback than usual, though he acknowledges that the position group might not be as physically gifted as it has been in year's past and questions Michigan's 2021 ceiling at quarterback. Lorenz lauds the group's throwing talent, while questioning the position's comfort in a high-caliber college game. Dan Villari's unique role is also discussed.

We close with our predictions, and assess what expectations around McNamara can be in 2021.

In this episode, we break down some of the key storylines we’re watching heading into fall camp.

We begin by looking at Michigan’s redemption efforts on the defensive front. We assess the defensive line’s commitment to bulking up, players on the spot to help improve Michigan’s pass rush and key questions that remain in the Wolverines’ front seven. We then take a look at a pass secondary that is also looking for redemption, but could start by finding some stability and consistency.

Our attention then turns to one of Michigan’s bigger strengths, and how the Wolverines can solidify their ground game early on in fall camp as part of their team’s identity. We also look at Cade McNamara’s apparent takeover of the team, and preview what that could mean for Michigan in fall camp and beyond.

In the back half of the episode, we discuss players we think could have surprisingly strong fall camps, position battles we’re watching the most closely and summer-enrollee freshmen we think could immediately contend for spots in Michigan’s two-deep.