The Michigan offense has already found a theme for the upcoming season: Please be better than last year.

Just about every position has made this rallying cry in spring practice, and the unit that could make or break the Wolverines' quest for improvement is the offensive line - a group that performed below Michigan's lofty standards last season.

The unit allowed 30 sacks, the most given up by a Michigan offensive line in more than four seasons, and the Wolverines' rushing attack produced just 143 yards per game - 72 yards fewer than in 2000, when future NFL first-round draft picks Steve Hutchinson, Jeff Backus and Maurice Williams manned the line.

Like last season, there is significant turnover on the line. Stalwarts Jonathan Goodwin and Kurt Anderson - the only holdovers from 2000 - are gone, and the makeup of this year's line remains uncertain.

"Last year, when times got rough, we stuck together," junior offensive lineman Courtney Morgan said. "We have to step it up from our performance last year. We just know we got a job to do."

The line's job description is simple, yet demanding: Resurrect a running game that averaged 3.6 yards per carry last season and protect a group of quarterbacks that desperately needs time to deliver the ball, while also learning offensive coordinator Terry Malone's new system.

Michigan coach Lloyd Carr has made the establishment of consistent running attacks paramount in preparation for this season. The running backs' goals are to average at least four yards per carry and to break out for more sizeable gains - the Wolverines didn't have one run for more than 30 yards last season.

The offensive line has "been improving the whole spring," tailback Chris Perry said. "They've been working hard, and I think they'll do better than they did last year. That's really going to help us out."

If this past Saturday's annual spring scrimmage was any indication of the group's improvement, the Wolverines still have some work to do. The rushing attack was held in check for most of the game by the swarming defensive line, as Perry, Michigan's leading rusher, ran 12 times for 34 yards - an average of 2.8 yards per carry.

"I thought our defense did a great job of getting off the ball, and we didn't sustain our blocks well enough," Malone said.

"I was a little disappointed in the way we blocked up front," Carr said.

The rushers were not the only group that was tortured by the experienced defensive front. The quarterbacks spent most of the day on their heels, avoiding pressure from ends Shantee Orr and Alain Kashama.

"We did not protect the passer as well as we'd like to," Carr said. "I think the truth is that there's a lot of guys in that (defensive) front four - about two or three deep - that are not easy to block. There's some great pass rushers there."

The turnover on the line has left Michigan's coaching staff with the task of evaluating seven redshirt freshmen and two sophomores who have not played in a game for the Wolverines.

"The biggest thing is getting out there and getting experience," senior offensive lineman Dave Petruziello said. "Everyone's improved, and that's the biggest thing."

Carr and Malone agree that freshman Adam Stenavich has "stood out" as a guy who is ready to play, even though he has put on some weight in the offseason.

"What he needs to do this summer is work on his quickness a little bit," Carr said. "Because he put on weight, he's not as quick as he was last fall. But Adam's going to be a good football player."

Malone, who coaches the offensive line along with his duties as coordinator, said that junior Tony Pape has impressed him this spring and will be an "anchor" for the line this season. Morgan has also raised some eyebrows with his strength and athleticism and has moved to left tackle for the moment to add some much-needed depth.

"Athletically, Courtney gives you something in terms of being able to protect the passer," Carr said. "And that is an issue for us with a left-handed quarterback and two right-handed quarterbacks."