ESPN College Football

During the course of spring practice, Big Ten bloggers Adam Rittenberg and Brian Bennett visited 11 of the 12 league schools, getting an up-close look at the players and coaches who will shape the 2012 season.

Now it's time for them to share their thoughts on what they saw and learned this spring, and you can follow along as they exchange emails. Check out the Leaders Division exchange here. They now turn their focus to the Legends Division.

Adam Rittenberg: Let's take a look at what I believe to be the stronger division in 2012. You spent a lot of time in the Mitten State last month, and while you didn't gorge yourself like you did in America's Dairyland, you got the money quote of spring ball from Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, who said, "We're laying in the weeds. We've beat Michigan the last four years. So where's the threat?" How spicy is the Michigan State-Michigan rivalry getting, and how good do you think these two teams will be this season after visiting both campuses?

Brian Bennett: Oh, there was some serious gorging going on at Zingerman's in Ann Arbor and Sparty's in East Lansing. Good thing there's only one spring practice session per year.

Anyway, I went into the spring thinking Michigan and Michigan State were the two strongest teams in the league, and I didn't see anything to change my opinion. While the Wolverines are more focused on Ohio State and even Alabama, they know they have to end their losing streak against Michigan State. And the Spartans take serious pride in that four-game run while bristling at all the offseason accolades thrown toward Brady Hoke's team. Oct. 20 can't come soon enough, as far as I'm concerned.

If the two teams played right now, I'd definitely take Michigan State. Dantonio has done a terrific job of developing depth on both lines and all over the defense. There's not a deeper team in the Big Ten, and the Spartans' physical play has given Michigan fits. The Wolverines still need to figure some things out in the trenches, especially on the defensive line, but that's one area where Hoke and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison excel. I believe these two teams will be neck and neck all year for the Legends title.

Of course, there's another team lurking in the division, and that's Nebraska. You went to Lincoln this spring, and it sounded like the Cornhuskers are feeling mighty ambitious this season. Do they have the necessary tools to back up their lofty goals?

Adam Rittenberg: It was interesting to see a team openly discuss the national title, Brian, especially in a league like the Big Ten. Huskers safety P.J. Smith even went so far as to say a Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl championship would be "kind of disappointing." That's bold. Nebraska would have to skip a step or two to reach that point, but I can see where the confidence stems from. There's a greater comfort level between players and coaches in Lincoln, and also between the coaches and what they face in the Big Ten. Offensive coordinator Tim Beck was candid about the difficulty of preparing for so many new opponents, particularly since Nebraska's offensive and defensive systems are a little different from what we see in the rest of the league.

Quarterback Taylor Martinez received good marks from the coaches, and his focus on footwork could translate into a more consistent passing attack. Beck certainly wants to be a bit more balanced, and Nebraska returns pretty much everyone at wide receiver and tight end. We often hear the cliche that it's all about the quarterback, but it holds true with Nebraska. If Martinez actually makes strides as a passer -- he'll be operating in the same offense as the starter for the first time in his high school or college career -- the Huskers will put up points this fall. But after watching Martinez last season, it's fair to have some doubts about No. 3.

The defense expects to exploit a schematic advantage we heard a lot about last season but didn't see much on Saturdays. I like coordinator John Papuchis, and Bo Pelini made two good staff additions in D-line coach Rick Kaczenski and secondary coach Terry Joseph. They're all about details and accountability, and they believe they'll be able to replace star power with greater depth in certain areas. Nebraska also should be strong in special teams. Do the Huskers have a unit better than Michigan State's defense? Not right now. But Nebraska could end up being the division's most complete team by season's end.

Getting back to Michigan State and Michigan. Both teams lose tremendous leaders from 2011 (Kirk Cousins, Mike Martin, Jerel Worthy, Joel Foreman, David Molk, Ryan Van Bergen). Who do you see filling those roles this year?

Brian Bennett: That's a good question, and one that will have to be answered this summer. For Michigan State, Andrew Maxwell impressed me as a guy who can lead in a similar way as Cousins did; he'll just have to play well at quarterback and battle through adversity. The Spartans have some seniors on defense who can lead, like Anthony Rashad White and Johnny Adams, but they also have some highly respected juniors in Max Bullough and William Gholston.

But they are replacing some very valuable leaders, just as Michigan is doing. Denard Robinson has worked on becoming more vocal and sounded like a different guy in interviews this spring. There's no question he has the respect of his teammates. Craig Roh and Jordan Kovacs seem like natural leaders on defense, and offensive tackle Taylor Lewan says he wants to take on that role as well. But leadership can't be forced, and it remains to be seen if either team can find such strong captains as guys like Cousins and Martin were.

Speaking of question marks, I feel like Iowa and Northwestern are two of the bigger mystery teams in the league. Both have talent and potentially potent offenses, but they'll also need some players on defense to rise up out of the shadows. What did you take out of your visits to Iowa City and Evanston this spring?

Adam Rittenberg: Let's start off with Iowa, which underwent some major changes this spring with a new offensive coordinator (Greg Davis), a position coach promoted to defensive coordinator (Phil Parker) and several more assistants shuffling, arriving or being promoted. The players seemed to embrace the changes, and coach Kirk Ferentz basically said the team needed a fresh start even though he didn't want to lose his previous coordinators. There's a lot of excitement about Davis' offense, which will be more up-tempo than what we've seen in the past from Iowa. Quarterback James Vandenberg really seems to get it, but will he have enough weapons around him to execute? The running back curse struck again this spring with Jordan Canzeri's ACL injury. Iowa needs young and/or unproven players to step up there, and wide receiver isn't a deep group. It'll be a big summer for Keenan Davis.

The feeling I had coming out of Evanston is that Northwestern will be a younger team but potentially a better one. The Wildcats say goodbye to an accomplished senior class that featured some outstanding players like quarterback Dan Persa. But was it the most talented group? I don't think so. Northwestern has improved its recruiting efforts in recent years, and the team could begin seeing the benefits this year. There are a lot of new faces at spots like defensive back and defensive line. I was impressed with cornerback Nick VanHoose and end Deonte Gibson. The wide receiving corps should be one of the Big Ten's best, even if Kyle Prater isn't eligible until 2013. The Wildcats might not have many familiar names at receiver, but they boast incredible depth there. This team still has question marks -- secondary, pass rush, running back, quarterback -- but the talent level is getting a bit better.

Neither of us made it up to Minneapolis this spring, but we both talked with Gophers players and coaches. What was your sense of the second spring under coach Jerry Kill?

Brian Bennett: We swear it's nothing personal, Gophers fans. Both of us would have enjoyed a trip to the Twin Cities, but the schedule just didn't work out.

Anyway, I did sense more confidence from the Minnesota players and coaches we interviewed. That's not surprising, given that it's the second year for Kill's staff and more familiarity almost always brings a better comfort level. MarQueis Gray really started to come on late last season and appears to have made strides as a passer. He could be one of the league's top playmakers this year. Overall, the Gophers look to have a little more talent this year, thanks to some junior college imports, youngsters who got experience last year and Troy Stoudermire coming back at cornerback. The defense should have more speed, though it remains undersized. The big question for me is who will emerge as weapons alongside Gray, especially at receiver.

But I think that, with a manageable nonconference schedule, Minnesota has a chance to win five or more games this year and it will be much more competitive in Big Ten play than it was early last season. The Legends Division looks more balanced top to bottom than the Leaders and should be fun to follow all year.

Let's check that May mail.

Matt from Sidney, Neb., writes: Adam,Total speculation here, but your article with playoff possibilities had the "Top 6" set-up been in place got me thinking of Delany's possible ulterior motive for his proposal (he wouldn't propose it if it didn't offer the B1G an advantage). Wouldn't this scenario put Notre Dame at a disadvantage for being independent? With that set up, a top 4 ND team would be left out if a conference champ was in the top 6 (if the other 3 in the top were champs). So...Top 4 = ND + 3 conference champs;#5 or 6 is a conference champ;ND is left out.So the whole point: a disadvantaged ND has more incentive to join a conference, with the assumed destination being the B1G. Lots of speculation, but that Delany fella is wiley. Thoughts?

Adam Rittenberg: Matt, I think the details still would need to be worked out on access for independents like Notre Dame, and it's really interesting to think about how much power, if any, Notre Dame has at this stage in terms of playoff access. That said, I think the Notre Dame-to-Big-Ten ship has sailed, as far as Delany is concerned. Has he totally written it off? No. He can't do that. But the growing sentiment is if Notre Dame joins a league, it will be the ACC, not the Big Ten. And Notre Dame's preference is to remain independent in football. From talking to folks in the Big Ten, it's clear to me that the Big Ten won't actively pursue Notre Dame again. If the Irish want to be part of the B1G, they need to do the courting this time.

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Mike from Boston writes: Now that you've seen the new upgrades to PSU's strength program, how do you think it compares to the best programs in the Big Ten like Iowa?

Adam Rittenberg: Penn State is undoubtedly moving closer to the cream of the crop in the Big Ten. It's clear the strength program needed to be modernized, and Craig Fitzgerald has been an excellent addition in State College. The new approach already has yielded positive results, particularly with the offensive linemen. It's hard to say this strength program is better than that one, but I think it's safe to say Penn State is more on par with the programs throughout the Big Ten than it was before.

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Todd from Peoria, Ill., writes: Adam,I like your analysis of Jim Delany's proposed playoff format. I would suggest one change and am interested in your thoughts. If a team that didn't win their conference, or even their division falls in the top two, they should still get in ahead of a conference champion ranked 5 or 6. That would ensure you would always have the top two in the playoff while rewarding conference champions over others to fill the remaining two spots, as long as they are in the top six.What do you think?

Adam Rittenberg: Todd, I like your idea. As I pointed out in Monday's post, there would be a lot less outcry about a No. 5 conference champ replacing a No. 4 than a No. 6 league champ leapfrogging a No. 2 non-champion (league or division) like Alabama in 2011 or Nebraska in 2001. I can't see a system being approved that would potentially leave a team like last year's Alabama squad out of the playoffs. The discussions remain fluid and the selection procedures likely will be the trickiest part going forward now that a four-team model seems fairly set.

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Carlton from Chicago writes: Agree with your sentiments that Michigan will not have as dominant of a D-line this year, but don't you think Michigan has enough excellent coaching to put them in the right spots this year? It seems that Hoke and Old Man Mattison were excellent in doing this last year. Can that cover for the majority of the weaknesses the line has shown?

Adam Rittenberg: It's very possible, Carlton. Michigan has no shortage of expertise in defensive line coaching, and Brady Hoke, Greg Mattison and Jerry Montgomery know what it takes to develop players. It wouldn't surprise me to see a star develop from the D-line this fall. I'm very interesting to see how a bulked-up Craig Roh performs at the strongside defensive end spot. And there's always the Will Campbell watch.

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Boston Bucky from Jamaica Plain, Mass., writes: I'm a life-long Badger fan with a family that has season tix to the UW slate. I pick one game to go back for every year. It has been pretty easy to pick which game in the last few years (Nebraska's Big 10 debut last year was a no-brainer).Should I attend the MSU game on Halloween weekend or the OSU game just before Thanksgiving?MSU has become the most relevant rival over the past two years, but this off-season recruiting beef has certainly spiced up things with OSU.I'm leaning one way right now, but would love your opinion.

Adam Rittenberg: Both good choices, Bucky, but I'd pick the Ohio State game and have no regrets. While it'd be great to be in Mad-city for Halloween weekend, the Ohio State game carries more excitement in my view. It's a division home game against a Buckeyes team that will be improved under Urban Meyer. You have the Meyer-Bret Bielema subplot after the recruiting spat. You have the two teams that have won the past seven league titles. While Michigan State should be a fun one too, I think the Ohio State game will mean more for the Badgers in their quest to repeat as division champs.

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John from Austin, Texas, writes: Adam,I think I'm lost on the whole "That team" comment. Am I lost or do those of us that live in the South just perhaps miss the finer points of the English language. Granted, I didn't see the actual question before his statement, but it looks to me like someone asked him about "non-conference winner" or division, or something like that and he then used "that team" referencing the non-conf winner. To read "Alabama" out of a reference to "non-conf winner" seems like Washington politics more than anything else.

Adam Rittenberg: John, I definitely see your point, and while I could make some snide remarks about southerners, I'll resist. I think by using the phrase "that team," months after a team fitting the description captured the national championship -- a team from the Big Ten's rival conference, no less -- Delany made it easy for folks to form the link to Alabama. Had he used the phrase "those teams," and mentioned several of them, like Stanford from 2011, the backlash wouldn't have been so severe. But it was a poor choice of phrase, given the timing, and Delany paid the price.

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Brandon from Ann Arbor, Mich., writes: Hi Adam, the link Brian posted about abandoning the National Championship in favor of the Rose Bowl piqued my interest. Personally, I think it's a terrible idea, and will only further the perception that the Big Ten is falling behind in college football. Incoming players want to play for championships, and the Rose Bowl just doesn't have the pull that it used to. More and more players will decide not to play in the B1G or the P12 because of this. My question is, what percentage of B1G fans agree with abandoning the National Championship? Perhaps you could set up one of those nifty polls.

Adam Rittenberg: Brandon, this is a great question/topic to discuss, given the shifting environment in college sports. There's a portion of Big Ten fans I talk to who remain traditionalists. They love the Rose Bowl, want the Big Ten championship in Pasadena every year and don't really care about the SEC and its national championship streak. But the younger generation of Big Ten fans seems more championship-focused and less obsessed with the Rose Bowl and the history. They're ticked off by the SEC's bluster and want to see Big Ten teams start raising the crystal football again. Many of the Big Ten players also fit into this category. Will it mean more Big Ten teams enter that mix for national titles? We'll see. But that's the key, for the Big Ten's depth at the top to get closer to what the SEC has right now.

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Matt from Dallas writes: What is with all this faith in Mich St? I cannot see them beating Michigan or Nebraska this year. In fact Mich St has never beat Nebraska and this year I would argue Nebraska will be better than they were last year and Mich St will not be as good as last year when Nebraska handled them. Where is the logic????

Adam Rittenberg: It's all about the Spartans defense, Matt. Right now, the Michigan State D looks like the single best unit in the Big Ten entering the season. Michigan State has All-Big Ten candidates in all three levels of the defense and should be extremely stingy this fall. The Michigan game will be tough for the Spartans, but Michigan State has won four straight in the series. While Nebraska handled the Spartans easily last year, remember where that game fell for MSU: at the end of a stretch featuring Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin. It's not a shock that Michigan State had a letdown in Lincoln. And Nebraska failed miserably in its two marquee Big Ten road games last year (Michigan, Wisconsin). While both the Wolverines and the Huskers could win the division, Michigan State is my favorite entering the season.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan's Craig Roh has been ingesting about 5,000 calories per day this spring, trying to bulk up by about 10 pounds to play strong side defensive end. He's eating six meals per day, and says there are days when he feels like throwing up all the time.

Yet, this offseason has been a lot easier to stomach for Roh than last year, when another transition didn't get off to the smoothest of starts. During last spring and summer, Roh was steadily getting criticized by new defensive coordinator Greg Mattison as he moved from linebacker to weakside defensive end.

"I'd have those moments like, 'Does he even think I'm worth anything?'" Roh told ESPN.com. "He broke me down to my core and built me back up. It was one of the hardest things I've been through in my life, but also one of the most rewarding."

After a slow start last year, Roh improved to finish with 32 tackles, including eight for loss, on one of the best defensive lines in the Big Ten. Now, he's the only starter back on the line, moving over to the spot where Ryan Van Bergen starred a last season.

The Wolverines are counting on him to be a playmaker and a leader, two things he accomplished in spring practice.

"I think the move of Craig Roh was a very, very good move," Mattison said. "He had one of the best springs of any of our guys. I think the thing that would bother him was open spaces. We felt that moving him inside gives him a chance to show his ability."

Roh will be right in the middle of the action on the strong side, and often will have to face more than one blocker. Hence the need to build up from last season's listed playing weight of 269 pounds.

"It's great because the ball comes to you, and you don't have to run far to get to it," he said. "You just have to be strong and throw off blocks, be explosive. That's what I am. It's an exciting transition, and I've been able to make a lot of plays in spring practice. It's been fun."

Fun hasn't always described Roh's other moves. In Rich Rodriguez's 3-3-5 scheme, he played outside linebacker and, like much of the defense during that era, struggled mightily at times.

"At linebacker, I did not know what was going on at all," he said. "I know what I'm good at and what I'm not good at. I'm not good at linebacker. I know I am good at reading and reacting on the defensive line."

It took a couple of games last season before Roh started feeling comfortable in Mattison's system. He told the media last fall that he broke down in tears in front of his family after the opener against Western Michigan. He had to get used to the high standards Michigan has for its defensive line. After all, Mattison and head coach Brady Hoke are defensive line coaches at heart, and Jerry Montgomery is a demanding position coach.

"The pressure is immense," Roh said. "You have three different people critiquing what you're doing. They're not always going to give you compliments. Most of the time, they're not going to give you compliments."

But they have been complimentary of Roh's play so far this offseason, with Hoke telling ESPN.com that Roh "can be a big plus for us this year." A bigger plus, if he keeps up his high-calorie diet.

Bennett vs. yours truly in the circle drill. Who ya got?

• The Big Ten's primary playoff interests -- maintaining the Rose Bowl's prestige and having semifinals on campus -- don't seem to be catching on, Teddy Greenstein writes. Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez is intimately involved in the BCS playoff discussions. The Big Ten will have a big voice in this week's BCS meetings, Dennis Dodd writes.
• Big Ten ticket prices are on the rise, Matt Charboneau writes. The Star Tribune's Phil Miller wraps up spring ball in the Big Ten.
• The man likely to be named Minnesota's next AD knows his hoops but raises some doubts on the football side.
• A story I can't read enough -- the amazing comeback of Michigan State's Arthur Ray Jr. More on Ray here. Spartans DT Anthony Rashad White adjusts to the 3-technique.
• It won't happen this year, but I agree with Angelique Chengelis that a Michigan State-Michigan night game would be amazing.
• After winning over many Penn State fans, Bill O'Brien needs Ws on the field this fall. A poor spring game performance could hurt Rob Bolden in Penn State's quarterback race, while Paul Jones is certainly in the picture. Penn State will host UMass in 2014.
• Ohio State center Corey Linsley is a changed man. The circle drill set the tone for Urban Meyer's first spring game at Ohio State. Everything about the game showed change has come to Columbus.
• Illinois' three coordinators weigh in on their groups after the spring. Young offensive line coach Luke Butkus has a challenge ahead of him.
• Quarterback Joel Stave worked with Wisconsin's first-team offense for all of Saturday's scrimmage. Wisconsin's reputation as an offensive line factory has reached north of the border.
• Iowa had a productive weekend on the recruiting trail. The "bubble" is no more, and Iowa's facilities plan is moving forward.
• Nebraska's Alfonzo Dennard thrives on proving people wrong, and he'll have to do it again after this weekend's mishap. The Huskers pick up another recruit from the alma mater of Bo Pelini and Tim Beck.
• Linebacker Brandin Hawthorne looks comfortable as Michigan's man in the middle. Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison helped boost Mike Martin's draft stock.
• Six storylines for Purdue's offense coming out of the spring.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan's players must have felt pretty good about themselves at the end of last season. The Wolverines won 11 games, captured the Sugar Bowl championship and ended a seven-year losing streak to Ohio State.

But head coach Brady Hoke delivered some sobering news in the first team meeting after the Sugar Bowl in January. Team 132, he told the players, failed.

"It probably surprised some of them a little bit," Hoke told ESPN.com about that message he delivered. "But if you have a goal and you don't achieve that goal, then you fail."

Hoke has made it clear that as long as he's the Michigan coach, the Wolverines will always have one main objective: win the Big Ten title. So even though his first team erased a lot of the bad memories from the three-year Rich Rodriguez tenure in a major bounce-back campaign, it still finished as the runner-up in the Legends Division.

"Oh, man, sitting at home watching the Big Ten championship game felt kind of weird," quarterback Denard Robinson said. "We're supposed to be the 'leaders and best,' so we sold ourselves short not being in that first one."

The motivation for Team 133 this offseason, then, became quite obvious. Michigan got back on track last season, winning 11 games for the first time since 2006 and bringing some momentum to the program. The Wolverines could enter this season ranked in the top 10 and might well be the favorite to win the Big Ten in Hoke's second year. Asked if he'd view any season that didn't end with a Big Ten title as a disappointment, Hoke didn't hesitate to answer, "Yep."

Does Michigan have what it takes to repeat and even build upon last season's success? This spring offered reasons for optimism and pessimism.

The biggest difference between Hoke's first year and the RichRod teams was the surprising defensive resurgence. After three years of futility on that side of the ball, the Wolverines finished 17th nationally in total defense and sixth in points allowed. Fueling that effort was a dominant defensive line led by seniors Mike Martin, Ryan Van Bergen and Will Heininger.

By Week 4 against San Diego State -- a 28-7 victory -- safety Jordan Kovacs started to notice a major difference.

"I was getting bored as a defensive back because our front seven was controlling the game," Kovacs said. "One I realized our defensive line was pretty special, I knew we were going to have a heck of a team."

With three seniors gone and the lone returning starter, Craig Roh, switching from weakside to strongside defensive end, the D-line underwent some predictable growing pains this spring. The defensive tackle spot is a particular concern, with the undersized Jibreel Black moving in from end and senior Will Campbell getting one last try to live up to his once-immense recruiting hype. The line was inconsistent at best at stopping the run in practice this spring.

While the Wolverines should have more talent and experience at the linebacker and secondary positions than they did a year ago, there's little doubt where the focus lies for Hoke and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, as both cut their teeth as defensive line coaches.

"You can't have a great defense if you're not strong up the middle," Mattison said. "We need that position to become very, very strong."

On the flip side, Martin and Van Bergen were nowhere near the players they'd become at this time last year. Mattison said he expects his linemen to make a jump in the summer.

"Last year, it was a much uglier spring ball," Kovacs said. "That's what I try to remind myself."

Depth is also a major worry, not just on the defensive line but on the offensive front. True freshmen are likely to crack the two-deep on both lines, which is not a great sign in the Big Ten. Michigan was fortunate last season to stay quite healthy in the trenches until the Sugar Bowl, when Heininger was out and David Molk played on a bad leg. Can the team get some luck on the injury front in 2012?

It may need to with a schedule that looks far more demanding than last season. The Wolverines had eight home games in 2011, including the first five contests of the season. That number dips down to six this season, with challenging road games at Notre Dame, Nebraska and Ohio State. And of course, there's the opener against defending national champion Alabama in Arlington, Texas.

"All this offseason work is pointing toward that game," receiver Roy Roundtree said. "Everybody knows who we got. It's not like it's some cupcake opener; they're the national champions. We've got to bring our A-game."

The good news is that Michigan found ways to win without its A-game last season, especially in the Sugar Bowl against Virginia Tech in which offensive coordinator Al Borges said, "we played really awful." Hoke proclaimed after the spring game that the Wolverines are much tougher than they were a year ago.

Robinson and running back Fitz Toussaint, who each ran for more than 1,000 yards last season, give the offense two special difference-makers in the backfield. Coaches say Robinson's throwing mechanics and decision-making looked greatly improved this spring, while Toussaint may get some help from emerging power runner Thomas Rawls.

Michigan figures to stay in the thick of the Big Ten race all season long, but getting close won't be good enough. Bo Schembechler's famous phrase, "Those who stay will be champions," wasn't referring to Sugar Bowl titles. The Wolverines won't be satisfied with anything less than their 43rd Big Ten championship, which is why veteran players weren't stunned by Hoke's failing grade in that January meeting.

"I think it was kind of the elephant in the room," Kovacs said. "At the end of the day, we didn't do what we wanted to do. That's what we've been about and what we'll continue to be about. And that's what is fueling us for this season."

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Blake Countess had a pretty good 2011 season, especially for a true freshman playing cornerback in the Big Ten.

But there was one thing missing from Countess' résumé last year, a point that he was often reminded of by his coaches during Michigan's spring practice: He did not have any interceptions.

"I was second on the team in pass breakups [with six], but a lot of those could have been interceptions if I had been in better position," Countess told ESPN.com. "It's just knowing interception points, focusing on the ball. Little things like that."

It's the little things that Countess is working on this spring in an effort to go from promising freshman to standout sophomore. While he played well enough to earn a starting job for the final six games, he was part of a Wolverines secondary that wilted a bit in the regular season finale against Ohio State and in the Sugar Bowl win over Virginia Tech.

"The last couple of games, we gave up big plays," Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said. "That can never happen in our defense."

Countess wasn't the only culprit, but he blames himself for making some bad reads and getting lazy with his techniques. He watched film of those last two games over the offseason to try and correct those mistakes.

Mattison has noticed his diligence.

"The thing I look for is, how does a young man work from an adequate freshman year toward improving throughout the spring?" Mattison said. "Blake has worked very, very hard. Sometimes when you start as a freshman, you have that lull, thinking, 'I've arrived.' But he's a very motivated player who wants to be as good as he can be. I'm excited about what I believe his progress will be."

Mattison ultimately played a role in making sure Countess made it to Ann Arbor.

Countess committed to Michigan in December 2010 when Rich Rodriguez was still the head coach. He didn't know the new staff and was a little unsure what to expect. New head coach Brady Hoke visited his house to help reaffirm things. But "what sealed the deal," he said, was when Mattison paid a visit shortly afterward.

Countess is from Owings Mill, Md., just outside of Baltimore where Mattison had been coaching for the NFL's Baltimore Ravens. Though Countess was not a Ravens fan -- he grew up rooting for the Dallas Cowboys -- he was well aware of the Ravens' defense and loved watching Ray Lewis and Ed Reed play.

"I figured he had been with some of the best players around the world," Countess said. "And if I could get a little bit of his knowledge, that would be great for me."

Since coming to Michigan, Countess has tried to improve his own knowledge base as much as possible. During his first fall camp, he roomed with senior Troy Wollfolk and peppered him with questions after practices. He got a grasp on how to play cornerback at this level last year. Now, he says, the goal is to learn what every member of the secondary does on every play, and then eventually understanding how the entire defense fits into the scheme.

And if that knowledge leads to some more interceptions, even better.

"When you have a good play, it might be a pass breakup, it might be a stop," he said. "But an interception changes the momentum, and that's a big thing we need as a defense."

My Michigan adventure continues (cue Eminem song, and I am actually driving a rented Chrysler). But time for a pit stop and your emails in the always delightful Thursday mailbag.

Tony from Iowa City writes: Now that you guys have completed your ultimate 2012 road trip schedule, are there any changes that you would make looking back? Maybe you didn't realize early on how much you would get to see some teams and would rather change some early games to other match-ups or teams on the field?

Brian Bennett: Looking back, I feel like I picked too many games involving the Michigan schools (an ironic thing to say as I'm spending a week here in the big ol' Mitten State). I could have spread it around a little more. But for the most part, I tried to choose the best games each week, and try to see a lot of teams. I just happen to think, today, that Michigan and Michigan State are the two top teams in the league for '12. In reality, my actual road trip itinerary this year will end up being a lot more diverse.

Tony from Denver, Colo., writes: Hey Brian, was reading your post about Ricky Barnum replacing David Molk at center, and it got me wondering. With you and Adam always headed to spring practices, do you see guys who graduated or decided to leave for the NFL show up at spring practices, to kinda help out/give advice for guys that are taking over for them. Especially in Barnum's case where he is switching positions.

Brian Bennett: That definitely happens. Maybe a little less now at this time of year, as so many guys are getting ready for the NFL draft in other locations. But players do hang around and offer a valuable resource to the current players. I saw, for example, that Aaron Henry was at Wisconsin's practice earlier this week.

Paul S. from Canton, Mich., writes: I have a couple questions. I'm curious about your opinion regarding Denard Robinson. I don't expect the most in-depth answer, but being 6-1, 193, according to ESPN, do you think it's a good idea for Robinson to put on maybe 10 more pounds so he's more ideal size-wise for a QB? Secondly, who do you think will have a better year: Iowa or Wisconsin? I ask that because they both are going through coaching changes and are bringing in new people for the positions.

Brian Bennett: Ideal for what, when it comes to Robinson? He's not going to play quarterback at the next level. He's been pretty good in college at his current size. Maybe a few more pounds would help him endure the pounding of a Big Ten schedule more, but Fitz Toussaint is the best insurance for that. Robinson pretty much is what he is in his physical stature at this point. I definitely foresee a better year for Wisconsin, simply because the Badgers have far fewer questions on both lines and at running back. I actually wouldn't be surprised to see both teams have similar records, but Iowa has a tougher path to get to the top of the Legends Division than Wisconsin does in the Leaders.

HP from St Louis writes: In regard to Rose Bowl and Playoffs, what about moving Rose Bowl to the beginning of the season? Since B1G and Pac12 are already going to be playing head-to-head each season anyway, so why not give conference winners right to open the next season at Rose Bowl. Now I understand that it means the players who did everything they can to get their team there might not be actually playing in Pasadena since they graduated or left for NFL, but Rose Bowl can still invite them and honor them. Any thoughts?

Brian Bennett: Well, that's certainly creative, but no game in September is going to have the same type of appeal as New Year's Day. And certainly not the Rose Bowl, where parade organizers are still gasping for air after reading your suggestion. I do think you could see the Rose Bowl used as a way to kick off the season as part of the upcoming Pac-12/Big Ten series, and that would be a great way to get things started.

Southern Spartan from Houston writes: Brian, 5 years ago MSU had one of the worst pass D's in the nation for 3 years. Out of nowhere in '10 we had a terrific pass D. Sure upgraded talent, experience, and development can help, but that much? I looked deeper and realized 10 out of 13 QBs we played against were rookies. We were clearly overrated as evidenced by the Iowa and 'Bama losses. My point is, UM goes from the worst 3 years of Defense ever to top 10 and every one is giving Mattison and Hoke all the credit. But honestly what quality offense did they shut down? The best 4 offenses in the B1G last year were Wisconsin, UM, MSU, and Iowa. They didn't play Wisconsin or themselves, and lost to both MSU and Iowa. Wake up, UM! Every team you beat last year was one dimensional or you luckily outscored them yet you are talking national champs!

Brian Bennett: Ah, rivalry smack talk. Truth is, Michigan did very well against some decent offenses, flustering Nebraska and shutting down Northwestern in the second half. But anyone who watched the Wolverines defense last year could easily see how much it had improved from the RichRod days. Before Hoke and Mattison arrived, mediocre and even bad teams had no problems scoring against Michigan. That definitely changed. The concern for Michigan's defense isn't who it played last year but who is no longer around -- mainly, those three very valuable departed senior starters on the defensive line.

Samuel C. from Iowa City, Iowa, writes: I'm not sure where you stand on the playoff. I think Adam has been pretty clear he's in favor of a selection committee to pick teams. Also, wouldn't a selection committee negate this nonsense about teams needing totally overwhelming records to be included? Sure, the teams with the best records might be the best teams. But I'm concerned. Will the best teams (no matter what their record) be picked or will a selection committee just rubber-stamp the undefeated teams?

Brian Bennett: I'm wholly in favor of a selection committee. Would it be perfect? Of course not. But it sure would be better than the current computer formulas whose methodology is secret and whose programmers' qualifications are sketchy at best. Such a committee would have to be diverse and hail from a wide array of backgrounds and regions to avoid the appearance of conference bias. But I'd much rather argue about what an informed group of former coaches, administrators, writers, whoever decided than a combination of two highly political polls and questionable computer data.

The committee could still have standards to follow, just as the NCAA basketball tournament selectors consider strength of schedule, RPI, etc. The odds are strong that there wouldn't be four undefeated teams every year, but there will be times when teams from weaker conferences have perfect records and could be selected against one-loss teams from power conferences. So be it. If you can't finish in the top four in the eyes of a representative selection panel, then you probably don't deserve to play for the national title, anyway.

Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison talks about the Wolverines' defense this spring.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Greetings from Maize and Blue country.

I'm on the ground here in Ann Arbor, catching up with Michigan as the Wolverines wind down spring practice in Year Two of the Brady Hoke era. I'll be talking to several players and coaches in the next couple of days and will have frequent updates and videos on the blog.

A few questions loom large over this team this spring. How will Hoke and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison rebuild the defensive front after losing three starters, including tackle Mike Martin? How will the offensive line take shape without Rimington Trophy winner David Molk at center? Does the offense have enough depth and playmakers at receiver? And will anyone spill the beans on what's going with the Devin Gardner receiver experiment this spring?

Hopefully I'll get some solid answers to these questions and more. Stay tuned.

Mail time. Let's do this.

Joel from Bismarck, N.D., writes: Last fall I seem to remember you saying that the league parity hurt its national perception. When it came to B1G basketball, however, it seemed analysts were touting its parity as an example of how strong the conference was (e.g., every team in the bottom half of the standings beat someone in the top half). My question is if you perceive different standards being used in the sports, and why do you think it is? Or is it less a matter of which sport is being analyzed but which league, and commentators will grab onto whatever stat they want to in order to reinforce their own perceptions (e.g., the B1G football teams underperform)?

Adam Rittenberg: Joel, while some analysts will apply different standards whenever it's convenient, there are some important differences between Big Ten football in 2011 and Big Ten basketball in 2011-12. For starters, the league had more nationally elite teams in basketball and two squads -- Ohio State and Michigan State -- considered legitimate Final Four contenders. Aside from Wisconsin, no Big Ten football team ever fit into this category in terms of national perception. Another difference is that football had one of the worst BCS programs (Indiana) and another (Minnesota) that looked like the worst early in the season. While Big Ten basketball had its doormats as well -- Nebraska and Penn State -- those teams also rose up to record some nice victories, even in league play.

Finally, one important difference is that basketball doesn't have one dominant conference like football does with the SEC, which happens to be the Big Ten's chief rival. I really think if another league was dominating college football -- Big 12, Pac-12, etc. -- the Big Ten's perception wouldn't be quite as bad as it is with the other bigwig conference winning championships year after year.

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Dave from Delafield, Wis., writes: Adam,Thank you for your commentary on the atmosphere in Boston for the Wisconsin/Ohio State games.I've been to NCAA Basketball Tournament games and several bowl games, and I don't know how anyone that has personally attended both could possibly want a football playoff.The early rounds of the basketball tournament feature half-full arenas, and small numbers of fans from both teams, along with plenty of locals that tend to cheer for the underdog, or the team from the next town over. Unless a team is local or a great game takes place, there is just no electricity. I would hate to see a team that won a conference title, have what was a dream season end in a dull, half-full stadium, because fans are waiting until a bigger game to travel to, or because the game is a home game for a superior opponent. (Think of UCLA at Oregon last year in the Pac-12 title game.)No matter what round of the tournament it is, until the final game is played, there is always the next game. Syracuse players and fans didn't have long to celebrate their win against Wisconsin because they had to prepare for Ohio State. A bowl victory, no matter what bowl, is almost euphoric. It is what makes a good season great, and it sets the tone for the entire spring.

Adam Rittenberg: Totally agree, Dave. I remember covering the NCAA tournament first and second rounds in Minneapolis in 2009. First of all, college basketball in domed football stadiums is never good, especially when it's not even a regional round. The stadium was never going to be close to full. Although Michigan State played there, we had only one "local" team in North Dakota State, which played admirably in the first round but fell short. At that point, the dome pretty much emptied out and there was very little atmosphere for the remaining games.

Any football team strong enough to qualify for a playoff -- most likely a four-team deal -- should play in an atmosphere fitting the significance of the game. Even if it's on the road. I'd rather see a Big Ten team play in a packed SEC stadium for a playoff than watch the game at a neutral site in front of 35,000 people. The event deserves better.

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Chris from New York writes: "He knows his strengths and doesn't try to coach everybody. He'll coach the defensive line, he'll coach the defense, but he's comfortable with his role and he's very good at his role." - Gerry Dinardo about Brady HokeHow come this exact sentence was such a nightmare for Rodriguez? What's the difference that Hoke gets it as a compliment and Rodriguez gets it as a major diss? Is it only success? If the offense struggled a lot this year would people be saying Hoke can't only pay attention to the defense?

Adam Rittenberg: Chris, I think there were different standards for Rodriguez, which could have been changed had he had more success on the field at Michigan. Rodriguez's work with Michigan's offense had little to do with his firing, as the Wolverines set records in his final season. But his handling of the defense, particularly when it came to hiring coordinators and assistants, ultimately led to his downfall in Ann Arbor. The perception that Rodriguez didn't care about the defense is false, but his decision-making regarding with the unit left much to be desired. Hoke should be held accountable if the offense struggles this fall, but the truth is the turnaround he and Greg Mattison facilitated on defense in 2011 helped the offense deal with some growing pains in its transition. And Michigan's offense still ranked second in the league in scoring and third in yards.

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Misplaced Gopher from Fargo, N.D., writes: Adam, last year Minnesota football fans were presented a laundry list of reasons why the Gophers couldn't win in Jerry Kill's first year: physically unfit personnel, academic nonperformance, poorly chosen recruits (blaming the previous regime), personnel mismatched to the incoming system, lack of opportunity to coach. This year, coach Kill is making no attempt to keep expectations down. He is praising the players effusively, bragging about the incoming recruits, and he says that this year he's getting to coach the players instead of spending all his time teaching them how to hustle, how to behave, and how to play. Coach Kill seems to be building up the expectations of the 2012 Gophers. Why do you think he's doing this, and how much better can Minnesotans expect our team to be this year?

Adam Rittenberg: Two questions from North Dakota in the same mailblog -- nice! I don't know if Kill is inflating the expectations too much, Gopher. I think at times last season he talked too much about the problems with the previous regime and the uphill climb he faced. While much of what he said is true, his statements sounded like excuses after a while. Kill clearly is more comfortable after going through a full offseason, but he also has addressed the odd roster makeup, which still includes small senior and junior classes (not counting the juco arrivals). But it's natural for coaches to feel more comfortable after they're established, and after they bring in more of their own players. What should Minnesota fans expect this season? Definitely more than three or four wins. It's not unreasonable at all to expect the Gophers to get back to a bowl.

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Jonathan from Athens, Ala., writes: RE: SEC Teams venturing away from the southeast to play games, don't let the facts get in the way of your agenda but Alabama played at Penn State last year and has a game scheduled in a few years at Michigan State. You claim that it's the SEC that keeps home and home games from happening. Got any facts to back that up with? I bet Urban Meyer would LOVE to play a Nick Saban team again, right? Make sure you have the ambulance ready for when Saban puts him back in the hospital. Maybe, just maybe it's that you guys don't want Bama to choke the football down your throat like we did Penn State and Michigan State recently. You're pathetic.

Adam Rittenberg: Jonathan, I should have noted that Alabama has been the exception in the SEC as far as scheduling Big Ten teams. The Tide deserve credit for being willing to venture to both State College and East Lansing, in addition to facing Michigan at a neutral site. But on the whole, how many other SEC teams would dare play a game in Big Ten territory? Florida certainly wouldn't. Vanderbilt is playing at Northwestern this year, but Vandy, while improving, isn't viewed as a premier program. The Big Ten and SEC both get heat for nonconference schedules, and both leagues are to blame for the lack of non-league games against one another. But if SEC teams play squads in the ACC and Pac-12, why can't they play more against the Big Ten? It'd be nice if more SEC programs follow Alabama's lead, just as it would be nice if more Big Ten programs followed Michigan State's lead.

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Chip from Savannah, Ga., writes: My question for you is regarding OSU and PSU, why is everyone expecting OSU to have a much better season than PSU. They're both putting in new systems in regards to offense, but I think PSU's defense is still better than OSU's which is going to be both's stronger unit. I know you have a proven commodity in Meyer, but it still doesn't take away from the fact that they have to transition as well.

Adam Rittenberg: Both defenses should be strong, Chip, and while Ohio State's will be improved with more experience, I agree that Penn State's appears to have the stronger unit because of its strength at linebacker and in the front seven. One big omission in your note is quarterback Braxton Miller. While Penn State is still looking for a clear-cut starting quarterback, Ohio State knows Miller is its future. While Miller is far from a finished product, he showed impressive skills as a true freshman in 2011 and looks like an excellent fit for Meyer's offense. Both teams need to develop more options in the passing game and Penn State has a better running back in Silas Redd, but the quarterback play separates the two in my mind. Both programs are going through transitions, but Ohio State players are a little more accustomed to it after what happened last year. That's not saying Penn State won't be fine, but the coaching change in State College has been more dramatic because of the unique circumstances.

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Mochila from Grand Rapids, Mich., writes: Adam, while you were out on vacation, Brian wrapped up the Postseason Top 25 players. I was wondering if you could explain your reasoning for why Still was placed ahead of Mercilus. For the record, I'm an MSU fan and have no horse in this race; I just thought Mercilus was more deserving given his absurd numbers, primarily in sacks, TFL, and fumbles forced. And for bonus points, what prompted your trip to Istanbul (as opposed to say, Hawaii), and what was your favorite part?

Adam Rittenberg: It was a tough call, Mochila, as both defenders had outstanding seasons. Brian and I actually differed on our Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year endorsements, as he picked Still and I picked Mercilus. As I pointed out then and as you point out in your note, Mercilus' numbers blow away the competition. That said, few positions on the football field are more significant than a dominant defensive tackle, and Still fit the description in 2011. You can't judge defensive tackles strictly by individual stats, as theirs rarely will stack up with those of the top defensive ends. The defensive tackles deal with more double teams, and their roles are more significant in run-stopping. Still was as good or better than another Penn State defensive tackle, Jared Odrick, in 2009. Odrick finished No. 2 in the countdown that year, and Still was deserving of his position in this year's rundown.

Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison is happy to see some familiar faces this spring.

The Wolverines return seven starters and many other reserves who played roles in orchestrating one of the more impressive one-year turnarounds for a defense in recent college football history. Mattison remains grateful for their contributions.

He also guarantees them nothing for the coming season.

"Nobody has a right to any position," Mattison told ESPN.com on Monday. "It doesn't matter if you've started for three years, four years, one year. Every practice and every week is judged. We are always going to put the best football players on the field."

While this is a common refrain for coaches, who want to maintain as much competition as possible, Mattison finds himself doing more than paying lip service in spring ball, which kicked off Saturday. The scheme is no longer new. Neither are the expectations.

The learning curve for players hasn't so much been accelerated as it has been evened out. Other than three true freshmen who enrolled early and are practicing this spring -- linebackers Joe Bolden and Kaleb Ringer and safety Jarrod Wilson -- Michigan's defenders all have gone through a full year in the system.

"If a guy was a veteran, he would have picked up the new scheme at a certain rate," Mattison said. "If he was a younger guy, it would have taken him longer to pick up the scheme. Now, they've both had it, and there shouldn't be that learning factor that sometimes separates younger guys from older guys.

"Now it's who's playing the best and understanding the defense."

Mattison didn't shy away from using young players in 2011. Michigan started three freshmen -- linebackers Jake Ryan and Desmond Morgan, and cornerback Blake Countess -- for much of the season. Although all three earned invaluable experience playing for a successful defense, they're not assured of anything in 2012.

Consider what Mattison had to say about the linebackers, a group that returns all three starters (Morgan, Ryan, senior Kenny Demens).

"Those positions are not solidified in any way," said Mattison, who stressed the need for the linebackers to improve in zone coverage. "Every day, those are evaluated."

The same standard is applied for veterans like safety Jordan Kovacs, who many expect to become the undisputed leader of the defense.

"I was really proud of what he did a year ago," Mattison said, "but it's the same thing, and he knows it, and it's why he's such a great young man. ... He knows he has to improve. He knows that if he just goes out there and plays like he did last year, that may not be good enough."

Kovacs will provide leadership, but Michigan needs more after losing standout linemen Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen. Team 132 raised the bar on defense after it has sunk to historic lows.

But simply maintaining the level won't be good enough.

"That season, Team 132, is over," Mattison said. "Some of them had a big part in that, but they're 133. What are they going to be? Just because you played on that team does not mean you automatically will play on this team."

The reproving process is under way in Ann Arbor.

The 2012 Big Ten season doesn't kick off for six-and-a-half months, but spring football is just around the corner. All 12 Big Ten squads will hit the field next month for the first of 15 spring practices. There are plenty of new faces, as the winter months brought an unprecedented number of coaching changes to the Big Ten. Should be a fun and exciting spring around the conference.

Let's take a quick look at the Leaders Division:

IOWA

Spring practice start date: March 24
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• New coaching flavor: For the first time in the Kirk Ferentz era, Iowa will welcome new coordinators on both sides of the ball. Phil Parker isn't exactly new, having served as Iowa's defensive backs coach throughout Ferentz's tenure, but he now takes charge of the defense for the first time. Will he continue running Norm Parker's scheme or shake things up? Iowa also will have a new offensive coordinator (yet to be named) and several new position coaches, including Reese Morgan, who moves from offensive line to defensive line.
• Running back auditions: Iowa once again needs to identify a featured back after Marcus Coker transferred to Stony Brook in January. Coker basically was the team's rushing attack in 2011, accounting for 77.3 percent of the rushing yards and 61.9 percent of the carries. Jordan Canzeri and Jason White will compete with several other unproven players this spring. The good news is Iowa has had little trouble developing backs. Keeping them is another story.
• Reloading the defensive line: The running backs might get more attention, but defensive line is Iowa's most pressing need entering the spring. The Hawkeyes lose three starters from last season's squad, including NFL prospect Mike Daniels at defensive tackle. While D-line historically has been a strength for Iowa, the Hawkeyes haven't had so much uncertainty in quite some time. Morgan, who hasn't coached on the defensive side, has his work cut out this spring.

MICHIGAN

Spring practice start date: March 17
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• Defensive line rotation: It's a good thing coach Brady Hoke and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison focus so much on the defensive line. The unit needs some extra attention this spring after losing standouts Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen. The defensive tackle spot will be particularly interesting. A lot of eyes will be on Will Campbell to see if the big man can finally blossom. Quinton Washington and others are in the mix.
• Receiving orders: Michigan needs to develop more options in the passing game this spring. The team loses top wideout Junior Hemingway, and Darryl Stonum was dismissed from the squad in January following another legal issue. Roy Roundtree needs a big spring as he looks to re-establish himself as the team's No. 1 wideout after a production drop-off last season. Tight end Kevin Koger also departs, creating an opportunity for others.
• Al Borges' offense, Take 2: The new offense had some highs and lows in Year 1, and Michigan will be looking to establish greater consistency this season. It'll be interesting to see how a full year in the system impacts quarterback Denard Robinson. Robinson must cut down on his interceptions after tossing 15 last season. The Wolverines also are looking for an offensive line anchor following the departure of All-American center David Molk.

MICHIGAN STATE

Spring practice start date: March 27
Spring game: April 28

What to watch:

• Take it to the Max: Andrew Maxwell's time has arrived as he steps in for three-year starter and three-time captain Kirk Cousins at quarterback. It's a tall order, but Maxwell has been groomed for this moment and has shown good potential in practices. He'll be working with a new set of leading receivers, including Tennessee transfer DeAnthony Arnett, who hopes to be cleared to play for the upcoming season. Maxwell must establish himself as a team leader this spring.
• We're not Worthy: All-American Jerel Worthy is gone, and Michigan State needs a replacement for the standout defensive tackle. While Anthony Rashad White returns at the other D-tackle spot, the Spartans don't have much overall depth at the position. It'll be interesting to see what the coaches do with Micajah Reynolds, who has bounced between defensive line and offensive line during his career. It's a big spring for Vanderbilt transfer James Kittredge and a host of players who redshirted last season, including Damon Knox.
• Receiving orders: Arnett seemingly would be Michigan State's No. 1 receiver if he's ruled eligible by the NCAA, but there are no guarantees and the Spartans must identify other options this spring. Bennie Fowler showed promise in 2010 before being slowed by a foot injury last season. He needs a strong spring. Michigan State also is moving Tony Lippett back to receiver from cornerback, where he started several games last season. Lippett is an excellent athlete who can provide a boost on the edge. The Spartans also will be looking for more from tight end Dion Sims.

MINNESOTA

Spring practice start date: March 22
Spring game: April 21

What to watch:

• The search for a pass rush: Minnesota should be improved on offense in Year 2 of the Jerry Kill era, but the team could sink or swim depending on the defense. It starts up front with a defensive line that hasn't generated much pressure for several years. Coordinator Tracy Claeys wants to be aggressive, but can he find difference-makers? The Gophers haven't had an elite pass-rusher since Willie VanDeSteeg in 2008.
• Supporting cast on offense: Although quarterback Marqueis Gray had his ups and downs last season, he accounted for most of Minnesota's offense, leading the team with 966 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. Gray needs more help if the Gophers intend to take the next step this season. Minnesota will be looking for a featured running back this spring, as Donnell Kirkwood and others are in the mix. The Gophers also need more options at receiver after losing Da'Jon McKnight.
• Troy Stoudermire: Stoudermire turned heads last spring with some big hits from the cornerback spot. After receiving an additional year of eligibility from the NCAA in January, he'll look to deliver more punishment. Minnesota desperately needs leaders and playmakers to emerge in the secondary, and Stoudermire's return could be huge after he missed most last season with a broken bone in his forearm.

NEBRASKA

Spring practice start date: March 10
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• Star search on defense: No Big Ten defense loses more star power than Nebraska, which must replace linebacker Lavonte David and cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, the league's top performers at their respective positions. David's departure is especially critical, as Nebraska lacked depth in its defensive midsection last season. Although Nebraska played most of the past season without defensive tackle Jared Crick, it needs some difference-makers to emerge in all three levels of the defense this spring.
• Papuchis takes over: Like Iowa, Nebraska promoted a position coach to defensive coordinator, as John Papuchis takes control of a unit that fell short of expectations last season. Papuchis is young and energetic, and his rapid rise mirrors that of his boss, Huskers head coach Bo Pelini. Although no system overhaul is expected, it will be interesting to see how Papuchis puts his imprint on the defense this spring.
• Taylor Martinez's maturation: Despite two years as the starter and the support of his coaches, Martinez enters a pivotal spring. Although Martinez remained healthy last season and showed improved decision-making at times, he also completed just 56.3 percent of his passes and didn't break off as many long runs. A full year in Tim Beck's offense could pay off for Martinez this spring, but he needs to continue to make strides. It will be interesting to see if the coaches even entertain the possibility of a competition, or if backup Brion Carnes gets more reps.

NORTHWESTERN

Spring practice start date: March 3
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• Colter and the QB race: Northwestern will have a quarterback competition this spring as it looks for Dan Persa's replacement, but the hope among many is for Kain Colter to take control. Colter stepped in for Persa last season and emerged as the team's best all-around offensive weapon. But he needs to improve his arm strength and his accuracy and show he can be a more complete quarterback at this level. Although Colter will be on the field no matter what in the fall, he has the opportunity in spring ball to solidify himself as the starting quarterback.
• Young defenders: The defense has been a big problem for the past year and a half, and Northwestern needs to identify more playmakers before September. The good news is the Wildcats played a lot of young players last season, particularly late in the season. Northwestern needs its youth to mature, beginning in the spring. Keep an eye on players such as defensive end Tyler Scott, safety Ibraheim Campbell, linebacker Collin Ellis and cornerback Daniel Jones. Northwestern needs several of them to take the next step.
• Spotlight on the secondary: Few Big Ten units struggled more than Northwestern's secondary did last season. Making matters worse, the Wildcats lose three starters, including All-Big Ten safety Brian Peters and cornerback Jordan Mabin, a four-year starter. If Northwestern ever intends to turn the corner as a program, it needs to build better depth in the secondary, whether it's through recruiting or from moving players from other positions. It'll be interesting to see how the group performs this spring.

We covered all the offensive position groups in our postseason rankings series here, here, here and here. Now it's time to turn our attention to the defensive side of the ball.

Defensive tackle was the strongest position in the league in 2011, so that makes this a competitive situation. There are some major changes from our preseason order as well. Remember this is about overall production, and depth matters along with star power. The top four on this list are really, really strong.

Here we go:

1. Michigan State: The Spartans finished with the top total defense in the Big Ten and one of the best in the nation, and it all started with a dominant front. All-American tackle Jerel Worthy commanded extra attention inside and was joined by Kevin Pickelman and Anthony Rashad White as forces inside. William Gholston was brilliant at times, never more so than in the Outback Bowl win over Georgia. And freshman Marcus Rush turned in an outstanding season at the other defensive end spot. The Spartans had no weaknesses at this position in 2011.

2. Michigan: We projected the Wolverines would make a significant leap in '11, but the amount of improvement still surprised us. The combination of head coach Brady Hoke and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, both defensive line coaches at heart, and valuable seniors Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen made this the backbone of Michigan's Sugar Bowl run. The Wolverines were especially tough in short-yardage situations because their defensive front was so stout.

3. Penn State: Big Ten defensive player of the year Devon Still wrecked just about everybody's game plan with a huge senior campaign. Jordan Hill had a solid, underrated year next to him inside. Jack Crawford stayed healthy and contributed 6.5 sacks, while Eric Latimore and Sean Stanley combined for another 7.5 quarterback takedowns.

4. Illinois: Defensive end Whitney Mercilus was a consensus first-team All-American who led the nation in sacks and forced fumbles. Nobody saw that coming. He had good company along the line as well, with guys like Akeem Spence inside and Michael Buchanan at the other end spot. The Illini may have faltered down the stretch as a team, but the D-line stayed strong throughout the year.

5. Wisconsin: The Badgers didn't have many household names on the defensive line, and certainly no one stood out like J.J. Watt the year before. But Bret Bielema relied on a solid group of veterans that helped the team finish third in the league in total defense and fifth in sacks. Patrick Butrym, Louis Nzegwu, Brendan Kelly and Ethan Hemer were part of a group that played better than the sum of its parts.

6. Ohio State: The Buckeyes had one of the best defensive players in the league in John Simon, who had 16 tackles for loss and seven sacks in a breakout season. Tackle Johnathan Hankins emerged as a disrupter at 335 pounds. But Ohio State didn't get its usual production elsewhere on the line, got beat up as the season went along and lacked depth, which is one reason why Urban Meyer went out and signed so many pass rushers in his first recruiting class.

7. Nebraska: The biggest disappointment from the preseason, as the Huskers tumbled from their No. 1 ranking last summer. Jared Crick's season-ending injury hurt the production, but he was not putting up huge numbers before he tore his pectoral muscle. Cameron Meredith, Baker Steinkuhler and Eric Martin had some nice moments, but Nebraska wasn't nearly as fierce up front as we thought it might be.

8. Purdue: Kawann Short turned in his best season, with 17 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks from his interior spot, while Bruce Gaston and Gerald Gooden provided solid support. But the Boilermakers' pass rush off the edge lacked explosiveness until freshman Ryan Russell started to come on late in the season. Everyone except Gooden returns, and with a new position coach Purdue hopes this unit can go from decent to great in 2012.

9. Iowa: Another disappointing crew, as the Hawkeyes proved it's not easy to replace three draft picks off the defensive line and simply reload. Mike Daniels and Broderick Binns were the senior anchors, but Iowa's pass rush was sluggish until late in the season. And there wasn't a whole lot of depth behind them. This group loses three starters and will be extremely young in 2012.

10. Northwestern: We ranked the Wildcats 10th in the preseason as well, but we still expected better things out of this group. Northwestern generated very little pressure on opposing quarterbacks and ranked last in the Big Ten in sacks. Vince Browne, a projected all-conference pick in the summer, had a subpar season with only 3.5 tackles for loss after putting up 15.5 in 2010. It's clear this group needs to get better for Northwestern to take the next step.

11. Minnesota: The Gophers weren't as terrible on the defensive front as they were in 2010, when they finished last in the nation with only nine sacks. In fact, they more than doubled that total with 19 last season. Still, it was a mostly anonymous crew that gave quarterbacks too much time to carve up the secondary in the passing game. Jerry Kill still needs to find more playmakers at this position.

12. Indiana: The Hoosiers had problems all over the defense, and the line was no exception. Adam Replogle and Larry Black gave the unit some veteran leadership in the middle, but Indiana resorted to playing a lot of kids at the defensive end spots. The results were about what you'd expect.

When Illinois decided to retain head coach Ron Zook after a miserable 2009 season, it gave him a nice allowance to hire new coordinators.

Paul Petrino, who Zook hired to run Illinois' offense, became the Big Ten's highest-paid assistant in 2010 at $475,000. No other Big Ten aide earned more than $400,000 that year. Petrino's salary increased to $525,000 in 2011.

Illinois defensive coordinator Vic Koenning earned a little more than $325,000 in 2010, making him the league's third highest-paid assistant. He received a $17,000 raise last fall.

Both Petrino and Koenning are gone after Illinois' coaching transition, but the school remains willing to pay competitive salaries for its coordinators.

According to The (Champaign) News-Gazette, Illinois will pay a total of $1.2 million in 2012 for its three coordinators: Tim Banks (defense), Billy Gonzales (co-offense) and Chris Beatty (co-offense). Each coach will earn $400,000.

Assistant coach salaries are on the rise nationally, and the Big Ten had been lagging behind other leagues in paying its top assistants. Michigan changed the game a bit in hiring defensive coordinator Greg Mattison for $750,000. Urban Meyer's new staff at Ohio State is making nearly $1 million more than the previous staff, and Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi, who nearly left for the same post at Texas A&M, has a sizable raise coming his way.

Illinois fans should be encouraged that their program remains willing to pay up for assistants. More Big Ten programs need to take this approach to remain competitive.

It's a bit surprising, though, that both Gonzales and Beatty are earning so much as first-time coordinators. Banks has been a defensive coordinator since 2007.

Here are the salaries for Tim Beckman's assistants at Illinois:

• Billy Gonzales, co-offensive coordinator/receivers: $400,000
• Chris Beatty, co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks $400,000
• Tim Banks, defensive coordinator/safeties $400,000
• Luke Butkus, offensive line $200,000
• Mike Ward, linebackers $200,000
• Keith Gilmore, defensive line: $200,000
• Tim Salem, special teams coordinator/running backs: $200,000
• Alex Golesh, tight ends/specialists/recruiting coordinator: $150,000
• Steve Clinkscale, cornerbacks: $150,000

Earlier today, we took a look at the recruiting needs of every team in the Big Ten Leaders Division. Now it's time to turn our attention to the Legends Division and see what positions each team needs to restock before next week's signing day:

Iowa

Running backs: Iowa's problems with keeping running backs in school has been well documented, and the Hawkeyes lost leading rusher Marcus Coker and backup Mika'il McCall after off-the-field problems last season. The team really needs some more depth in the backfield, and don't be surprised if incoming freshman Greg Garmon pushes for playing time immediately.

Defensive linemen: Iowa had three defensive linemen drafted off the 2010 team and now loses its top two guys up front in departing seniors Broderick Binns and Mike Daniels. That's an awful lot of talent to replace in a couple of years, and the Hawkeyes can't expect to improve their defense without doing so. Finding some more pass rushers off the edge will be key.

Wide receivers: Marvin McNutt had a wonderful senior season, but the passing game often stalled whenever he couldn't wiggle free. Now he's gone, leaving a void at the position. Kevonte Martin-Manley and Keenan Davis have shown promise, but James Vandenberg could use some more weapons. Iowa has secured commitments from three receivers in this class.

Michigan

Wide receiver: The loss of Darryl Stonum, who was dismissed following another run in with the law, created a void at receiver, especially with top pass-catcher Junior Hemingway out of eligibility. The Wolverines will have to hope Roy Roundtree can bounce back with a big season, because all other wideout options are unproven at this point. Three receivers are committed to Brady Hoke in this class.

Defensive line: Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen were key cogs in Michigan's run to the Sugar Bowl title in 2011, and they have both moved on, along with starter Will Heininger. Hoke and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison are defensive line coaches at heart and will want to grab as many difference makers as they can at that key position. Ondre Pipkins, a 325-pound tackle, is the highest rated defensive lineman in the Wolverines' class right now.

Offensive line: While the Wolverines should be fine on the O-line in 2012, even without Rimington Trophy winner David Molk and starting right tackle Mark Huyge, they signed only four offensive linemen total in the past two classes. Since linemen are often slow to develop, they need to refill the cupboard now. Michigan has four offensive linemen committed in this class, including standout Kyle Kalis.

Michigan State

Offensive tackles: Thanks in large part to injuries, Michigan State had to move a defensive lineman (Dan France) to tackle last summer and plug in a junior-college transfer (Fou Fonoti) into the other tackle spot. That the Spartans won the Legends Division title despite that is kind of amazing in retrospect. France will be a junior in 2012 and Fonoti will be in his final year of eligibility. They need more depth at the position, and they've got commitments from two offensive tackles so far in this class.

Wide receivers: Two of the most successful receivers in school history are gone as Keshawn Martin and B.J. Cunningham finished off wildly productive careers. Tennessee transfer DeAnthony Arnett is seeking a waiver to play immediately and will help the future even if he has to sit out a year. Michigan State is looking to sign three other receivers in this class to fill out the future two-deep.

Running back: Edwin Baker's early entry to the NFL draft came as a surprise. Michigan State is still in good shape at tailback for 2012 with Le'Veon Bell and Larry Caper. But after not signing a running back in last year's class, Mark Dantonio could use at least one more option in the backfield.

Minnesota

Defensive backs: It was no secret that Minnesota's pass defense was brutal at times in 2011, and top tackler Kim Royston leaves a hole at safety with his graduation. Getting Troy Stoudermire back for an extra year helps, but Jerry Kill needs to upgrade the talent in the secondary. That's why he has signed three junior-college defensive backs and secured commitments from four high school safeties so far.

Defensive tackle: One of the reasons the pass defense was so bad was a lack of pass rush applied by the front four. The Gophers had only 19 sacks this season, a year after registering just nine. Making matters worse, both starting tackles were seniors this season. Kill signed a junior-college defensive tackle and has two prep tackles committed. He needs to find guys who can find their way to the quarterback.

Overall talent and depth: Kill has said there are gaps in the Gophers' classes, and depth issues could plague the team during his rebuilding efforts. Including six junior-college players signed to help right away, Minnesota has a class of 28 right now. Minnesota simply needs more bodies everywhere.

Nebraska

Linebacker: Lavonte David leaves some rather large cleats to fill. Not only was he Nebraska's leading tackler the past two seasons, he was the only linebacker who played at a consistently high level. The Huskers' starters at the other two linebacker spots will be seniors this year, and depth is thin behind them. So it's little wonder why Bo Pelini has used four spots so far in what is expected to be a small class to fill that position, led by four-star prospect Michael Rose.

Tight end: Three of the top four options at tight ends will be seniors in 2012, leaving very little behind them. Sam Cotton, son of offensive line coach Barney Cotton and younger brother of current Huskers tight end Ben, is on his way to help.

Quarterback: Taylor Martinez is entrenched as the starter going into his junior year, and Nebraska never had to worry about playing Brion Carnes in a big spot this year after Bubba Starling opted for baseball. Still, it's dangerous to not have depth at quarterback, and so the Huskers need to add at least one signal caller in this class.

Northwestern

Defensive backs: The Wildcats were burned repeatedly in the passing game in 2011, and their best defensive back (safety Brian Peters) won't be around next season. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald has commitments from three safeties in this class already.

Defensive playmakers: Northwestern was shockingly short on guys who could blow up another team's offensive play in 2011, so Fitzgerald's main mission had to be finding more guys who played like he did in college. That aim got a big boost when stud defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo committed to play in Evanston. That's a good start.

Wide receivers: Highly productive star receiver Jeremy Ebert is gone, along with starter Charles Brown. Venric Mark and Christian Jones have a lot of potential as the next big passing targets, but Northwestern's spread offense feeds off of speed and depth at the receiver position. Four receivers have given the Wildcats their pledge in this class.