This section examines the reasons that Michigan has started this season 0-2. We are not going to delve into the institutional or larger-picture problems that exist within the program. Instead, we offer these observations as the answers to the question "What's wrong with Michigan?"

Chad Henne

Entering this season, senior quarterback Chad Henne appeared on watch lists for the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and All-America team.

Now he's on the injured list.

But that's not where his problems started.

So far this season, Henne has looked more like the sophomore who struggled without security blanket Braylon Edwards than the junior who excelled despite a young and oft-depleted receiving corps. Throws have been long, short, wide and behind - landing in just about every spot but his receivers' hands.

Against Appalachian State, Mario Manningham beat his defender deep at least four times. Henne under- or overthrew him on each of those, including Manningham's late-game, 46-yard catch that set up the game-winning field-goal attempt.

More inexcusable for a fourth-year starter, Henne committed several severe mental errors in the final quarter. Chased out of bounds, Henne threw the ball across his body, directly into safety Leonard Love's hands. At the time, Michigan trailed by just five and sat at the Mountaineer 25-yard line.

Henne later took a delay-of-game penalty on third-and-five rather than calling one of the two timeouts Michigan - leading 32-31 at the time - had saved. That created a third-and-10 at the Appalachian State 30-yard line, making for a tough third-down conversion and adding difficulty to the potential, and eventually blocked, field-goal attempt.

Henne finished the game 19-of-37, barely better than a 50-percent completion percentage. He wasn't any better against Oregon, completing 12-of-23 passes before leaving with an injury.

And with running back Mike Hart battling injuries, Henne's struggles have been magnified. The gameplan couldn't have been designed with 37 pass attempts in mind.

But it's not all Henne's fault. The offensive line has struggled to pick up blitzes, and the younger running backs lack Hart's pass-blocking ability. Not good when you have a quarterback who has never passed accurately on the move.

It's been an unexpected regression for the player many considered a key reason Michigan could contend for the National Championship. That's now out of the question.

Michigan coach Lloyd Carr says Henne will return sometime this season. When he does, one question remains:

Will this season be remembered as true freshman Ryan Mallett's first, or all-time passing leader Chad Henne's last?

Linebackers

Last season, Michigan's linebacker trio ranked as one of the country's best, dominating opposing offenses and anchoring one the top defenses in the nation.

Now one of the players has been stuck out of position on the defensive line, while his former colleagues have been replaced by linebackers almost as bad as Prescott Burgess and David Harris were good.

New starters John Thompson and Chris Graham have struggled to tackle soundly, blitz effectively and shed blockers in the Wolverines' first two games this season. In addition, Michigan's insistence on fielding three linebackers (including Shawn Crable) on every down has forced the linebackers to match up with wide receivers and running backs the duo lacks the talent to cover.

Graham - in his fourth year playing - appears to be simply overmatched and outclassed.

Thompson's situation, however, is a bit more complex

In his sophomore year, Thompson filled in for an injured Graham against Iowa, playing out of his normal middle linebacker position. Recording eight tackles - three for losses - Thompson seemed ready to make significant contributions.

But last season, Michigan's leading tackler, Harris, rarely left the gridiron (for instance, he was still on the field during the fourth quarter of Michigan's 34-3 blowout of Indiana). Although Harris's ability to contribute on every down helped the team, it meant Thompson sat on the bench, missing out on his chance at meaningful playing time.

Thompson's lack of experience has shown this year. He's been unable to win sole possession of the middle linebacker spot, even though his competition is redshirt freshman Obi Ezeh - a late addition to the recruiting class who came to Michigan as the 51st best running back in the nation.

That leaves Crable, who has spent most of his time this season in a three-point stance on the defensive line. He has played well, but it's clear constant battles with the offensive tackles are wearing the captain down.