Sections

Questions loom as stars leave

There will be good news waiting for Michigan football coach Lloyd Carr when spring practice begins today: nine of last season's 11 defensive starters will be there to greet him.

The bad news is that Carr will be trying to find replacements for receivers Amani Toomer and Mercury Hayes, linemen Jon Runyan and Joe Marinaro, and back Tshimanga Biakabutuka, which will occupy most of Carr's time.

There is also that pesky quarterback problem.

Sophomore Scott Dreisbach started the first four games of last season before injuring ligaments in his right thumb on his throwing hand, in a freak accident during practice.

Junior Brian Griese replaced Dreisbach and went 5-4 in finishing the season.

Heading into practice, however, positions are switched. Dreisbach is healthy and ready to go, while Griese is hindered with a sore right shoulder.

"I would like to see Scott take up where he left off, but improve on the fundamentals he needs to improve on," Carr said of his returning signal caller. "He's got all the physical attributes, he just needs to improve on the mental aspects of the game."

Before his injury, Dreisbach had completed 56 of his 106 passes and led Michigan to a 4-0 start. Griese passed for 1,577 yards while completing 53.4 percent of his passes.

While Dreisbach is favored to regain the starting job, Carr isn't looking to make the decision during the next three weeks of workouts.

"You don't become a quarterback over night," Carr said. "They both have a lot to improve on, a lot of fundamental things to improve on."

Carr also wants to take good looks at redshirt freshmen Tom Brady and DiAllo Johnson.

While Carr has plenty of quarterbacks to choose from, he's not sure to whom they will throw the ball.

The loss of Toomer and Hayes leaves the Wolverines with a very thin corps of receivers.

Only Tyrone Butterfield, Todd Brooks, Anthony Williams, Terrance Quinn and Tai Streets return for Michigan. That group combined for just 10 catches last season.

At the running back position, Carr will have to decide who is going to replace Biakabutuka, who is leaving school early for the NFL.

Don't expect to see just one player equal Biakabutuka's 303 carries last year, though.

"Biakabutuka carried the ball more times than any back I'd seen in a long time," Carr said. "He was physically capable of doing that. What we have to do this year is spread that part of our offense out."

That responsibility will fall on the shoulders of three backs: juniors Chris Floyd and Chris Howard and sophomore Clarence Williams.

The three combined for 642 yards last season. Williams led the way, rushing for 261 yards on 60 carries.

Carr's final problem will be filling in the holes left by the graduation of Marinaro and Runyan's early departure.

Runyan's hole at left tackle may be filled by last season's starting tackle on the right side, Jon Jansen. That would leave senior Thomas Guynes the starting spot on the right side.

"We have to rebuild," Carr said. "We have the makeup of a good offensive line, but we have some work to do."

Carr won't really know what he has until next summer, though, when the freshmen report to camp.

The performances of David Bowens, Charles Woodson and Clarence Williams proved that freshmen can make an impact, and the same could be true next season.

"We have to see where we are in terms of weaknesses and strengths to see what we need to do going into the fall," he said.