What will Michigan football look like in 2008?

There is probably no program out there that has more tradition than Michigan. The images of Bo Schemblecher and Desmond Howard ring in our minds as the definition of college football in the 70s, 80s and 90s.

Over the last season or two that image has been crumbling. The success of smash-mouth football, as seen at Michigan and the Big-10, has began to falter. The spread and other gimmick offenses (think Darren McFadden at QB) have begun to creep up in the elite conferences and began to command respect all across the land. Michigan football had become an anachronism, a relic of the past.

That all changed this past year. The Big-10 has made huge strides in jumping on the new age bandwagon that is the spread offense. When undersized Appalachian State wandered into the Big House and marched out with one of the biggest upsets ever Michigan decided if ya can't beat um then join um.

They went out and hired spread option wonder-boy (and asshole) Rich Rodriquez. Ohio State seems to have jumped onboard as well, pulling in blue-chip recruit Terrell Pryor. Illinois is already ahead of the curve and making strides with Juice Williams and Arrelious Benn tearing it up.

But so now that Rodriquez is at the helm in Ann Arbor the question is what will the team look like in 2009?

Honestly? Not good. This is not a knock at Rodriquez but the right talent is not in place to really execute this offense. Almost every offensive position requires a different skill set. The offensive line has to be smaller and quicker, you need a QB who has some speed and different type of playmakers in the backfield and at wideout.

Michigan, while they have loads of talent, does not have the right combination of players to pull off a smooth transition. It will take a few years to get those type of players on campus and mature enough to play.

Don't forget in 2001, Rodriquez's first year at WVU the Mountaineers went 3-8 overall but followed that up with a 9-4 record in 2002.

The verdict on Michigan? 2008 is going to be rough but give Rodriquez time and Michigan could launch the Big-10 back into national prominence.