Will Chad Henne or Mike Hart have a more vital role in Michigan?s 2006 offense? Both had surprising and astounding freshman seasons for the Wolverines. Both struggled in their sophomore years. Both will be expected to perform at a high level in order for Michigan to have a successful season. But one must step up to the plate to fix what drastically hurt the Wolverines? offense last year.
Both of the ?Fabulous Freshman?, Chad Henne and Mike Hart, blossomed in their first year wearing the maize and blue. Chad Henne, who was appointed starting quarterback after Matt Gutierrez suffered a shoulder injury, threw for over 2,500 yards and 25 touchdowns. He completed 60% of his passes and threw only 12 interceptions. He also was the first freshman quarterback to lead his team to the Rose Bowl and only the second freshman in Michigan history to start in the opening game. Mike Hart, on the other hand, had to wait a few games until the starting role was given to him. He tallied only 37 yards in his first two games against Miami (OH) and Notre Dame while Lloyd Carr and the coaching staff shuffled around with other backs.
Hart was handed the starting role before the 3rd game and finished the season with an impressive 1,455 rushing yards. Needless to say, Hart and Henne were poised for excellent sophomore seasons, andMichigan fans across the country got excited about this highly touted duo.
2005 was a wake-up call for the then ?Super Sophs?. Both started off well in their season opener against Northern Illinoisbut a nauseating performance followed against hated rival, Notre Dame. Chad Henne struggled along with the entire Michigan offense. Against the Irish, Michiganwent 0-3 in the red zone with multiple turnovers. It didn?t help causes that Mike Hart went down with a leg injury late in the first quarter. “It wasn’t his best performance,” Carr said of Henne. Carr was right. The Wolverines, behind a disastrous offensive showing, went on to lose to the Fighting Irish, 17-10. The season finished with a loss to most hated rival, OhioState, and a ho-hum Alamo Bowl berth which resulted in another defeat.
Chad Henne and Mike Hart now play vital roles in Michigan?s 2006 run. Which one will have the more crucial part in the Wolverine offense? First of all, Chad Henne has played quite well in crucial games including against OhioState and in the Bowl Games. In Henne?s two OhioState match-ups and the Rose and Alamo Bowl performances, he has thrown for 1,048 yards, 10 touchdowns, and only 3 interceptions. Henne has played well in most crucial games, but a better outing against Notre Dame, the Wolverines? first road match of 2006, is much needed if Michigan wants to pull out of South Bend with a W.
In the five 2005 losses, Henne threw for 1,133 yards, 7 touchdowns, and only 3 interceptions which leads us to believe that a good running game may have propelled the Wolverines to more wins. A significant factor in Michigan?s offensive decline in 2005 was the rushing game. Not only Mike Hart, but the entire running back corps only averaged roughly 162 yards per game. Granted, Mike Hart was in and out due to injuries along the way but his numbers declined from 1,455 yards in his freshman campaign to 662 yards in his sophomore year. The Michigan offense was successful in 2004 because both components of a potent offense, rushing and passing, were there. Last season, the rushing game was not.
So, whose performance is most critical? Henne?s solid performances cannot carry the entire burden. If Mike Hart leads the Michigan backs, Kevin Grady, Jerome Jackson, Carlos Brown and others, to a powerful rushing attack, we will come out with fewer L?s on our schedule and more W?s including against Notre Dame, OhioState, and the Bowl Game. Henne must continue to perform at a high level, but Hart?s health and his ability to stimulate an effective rushing game will be most crucial to offensive success.
You gotta have Hart.
