College football is by no means a three-man game. It takes the
effort and contributions of each player out on the field to build a
championship-caliber team. But sometimes, having a fearless
quarterback, a powerful running back and a big-time receiver could
prove to be all a team needs.

Michigan hasn't had a dominating combination like that since
2000, the days when Drew Henson, Anthony Thomas and David Terrell
roamed the Big House field, terrorizing Michigan's opponents in the
air and on the ground. The trio combined for more than 400 yards of
offense per game in what has been tabbed as one of Michigan's
strongest offenses in history.

The Wolverines haven't beaten Ohio State since that 2000 season.
In that game, Terrell caught five passes for 99 yards and scored
two touchdowns, Thomas ran for a difficult 60 yards on 29 carries
and Henson threw for 303 yards and ran for a touchdown with just
over one minute left in the fourth quarter to secure the win in
Columbus.

Over the past two seasons, a new Michigan trio has shown signs
of development. Can John Navarre, Chris Perry and Braylon Edwards
become Michigan's next "magnificent three?" Each has shown flashes
of brilliance, and each has the capability to lead a starving
Michigan team to victory. Is this the year Michigan's offense
returns to the smooth and simple style of 2000?

John Navarre

Probably no player has developed as much over the past three
seasons as John Navarre. Marked as a preseason Heisman Trophy
candidate, Navarre has taken major strides - and abuse - to be in a
position to lead the Wolverines.

"Development-wise, when I was young and inexperienced, I used to
try and get on by raw talent," Navarre said. "Once I grew into the
system, I realized that there is much more than that. Once I
matched up the mental part of my game with the physical, things
started working for me, and I was able to do my job consistently
and do what's expected of me as a Michigan quarterback."

After his sophomore season in 2001, in which Navarre struggled
to finish with a 53 percent completion rate, many people questioned
his composure and versatility in the pocket. His decision making in
pressure situations came under fire, as did his ability to look off
receivers and read the defense well. Of course, following Drew
Henson would be difficult for any quarterback.

Last season, under the tutelage of new quarterbacks coach Scot
Loeffler, Navarre proved he had the ability and drive to improve,
as his stats increased across the board. And with Perry slowly
emerging as a solid option in the backfield, Navarre had more time
to move in the pocket and follow through on his passing
attempts.

"He has been absolutely instrumental in my development in the
last two and a half years," said Navarre of Loeffler. "We work
hard. We study film and the offense just as hard as anybody. He has
been a great help and a great friend."

Navarre averaged 20 more passing yards per game last season,
finishing the season on a very high note in the Outback Bowl where
Michigan defeated Florida 38-30. Navarre threw for a career-high
318 yards and one touchdown in that game.

Brimming with confidence, Navarre will not only bring talent his
talent to the table this season, but experience as well.

"Navarre, make no mistake, is tough mentally, physically, and
he's talented and smart," Carr said. "I don't know what else you
need."

With the powerful offensive line Michigan could boast this
season, as well as strong performances by Edwards and Perry,
Navarre could bring the Wolverines back to the top of the Big Ten,
and possibly the nation.

Chris Perry

There is no player whose success is more crucial to the
Wolverines this season than Chris Perry. Since the departure of
Anthony Thomas, The Wolverines have lacked any sort of a running
game, and without that option, the overall offense has suffered. In
2000, Thomas rushed for 1,733 yards - an average of 144 a game -
and scored 18 touchdowns.

But Perry is ready for a big season. Like Navarre, the running
back is coming off a solid Outback Bowl performance, where he set a
Michigan bowl record with four rushing touchdowns.

Perry says the offensive line has improved greatly over the off
season, and it will be up to him to make things happen on the
ground.

"I think the reason we can be better this year is because the
line is more experienced," he said. "Everybody up front knows what
they are doing and I am better at reading defenses. So, it really
depends on how I run the ball."