Michigan Wins: Henne Looks More Like the Heisman Quarterback, Wolverines at Next Level?

After a lot of huffing, puffing and dancing around, the Florida Gators had to tuck away their Gator Chomps and listen to Lloyd Carr and the Wolverines celebrate to "Hail to the Victors."

In the most entertaining bowl game to date, Michigan showed the promise of an offense that was the basis for many placing them in the nation's top five preseason. Today was a reminder why. When this Michigan offense clicks, it's scary. A strong-armed quarterback, a trio of big, talented receivers, a 6'5, 250-pound tight end and a dependable do-everything-type back.

For anyone who watched the game, it would be easy to see how a layman unfamiliar with the college game could watch the Capital One Bowl and assume that if there was a Heisman Trophy winner on the field at the quarterback position it was obvious - Chad Henne. While Tebow's numbers were neither terrific nor pedestrian, he looked, at many times, like what he is - a super-talented sophomore college quarterback. Frequently, Timmy Heisman looked flustered and vulnerable, lacking that supreme confidence he showed so many times during the season.

While Tebow has at least one more year to hone his skills, the Wolverines will not only say goodbye to Carr but a handful of talented seniors that will be heading to the NFL. The question is: just how good will Hart, Long, Henne and Manningham be on Sundays?

I am neither a scout, nor a UM alum or Big Ten Network subsriber, but all four of these guys look like, if things fall right, they could have quality NFL careers. Long is a consensus top-10 pick who appears to be one of those cornerstone left tackles that can help anchor a line for decades. Big as a house. Quick-footed. Long arms. A thinking man, with a mean streak. Checks across the board.

Henne, Manningham and Hart are each significantly less of a "sure thing." That said, watching a game like today it's easy to think these guys may have the ability to succeed at the next level. There aren't a lot of college quarterbacks I've watched this year who throw the ball down the field (particularly the deep out) with more authority than Henne. He also throws frozen ropes down the middle of the field.
Of course, a strong arm does not equal success at the next level, but, considering folks like Matt Moore, A.J. Feely, Shaun Hill, Tarvaris Jackson and John Beck have been starting behind center for NFL teams this year, who's to say Henne couldn't do the same in the right situation?

Manningham is an interesting one. Is he Braylon Edwards? No. But he's probably not Jason Avant either. My bet would be on Manningham being a longtime NFL second or third receiver type who can grab you 50-60 catches a year and make some big plays.

Hart is the wild card. Why? Channeling Mel Kiper and those types, everybody points to his height. At 5'9 (maybe) and less than 200 pounds, Hart is not the prototypical every down NFL back. Yet, you can't help immediately think about the execptions to the rule...and two backs who've had long and distinguished NFL careers immediately come to mind - Brian Westbrook and Warrick Dunn. Hart's built the same way as those two and shares the ability to run, block and catch the ball out of the backfield. He's also been consistently productive and helped Michigan win many a game over the course of his career.

It will be interesting to see where they all wind up. But seeing the Wolverines compete today must've been a painful reminder to UM diehards of just how much potential this 2007-08 team possessed.

posted at 6:41 PM