Michigan Football: Spring Football — Chat Notes — Offensive Line

Posted at 12:00pm — 4/20/2014

Michigan Football: Spring Football — Chat Notes — Offensive Line

We are going to share some notes from our past chats. Not all the information will be available, but we will share some of our past Michigan football spring chat reports.

Offensive Line:

The offensive line had their moments this spring this year as well. As we saw in the TV practice they didn’t do a lot, but we saw them play well at times too. Remember one thing the defense should be ahead of the offense most of the time in the spring especially trying to learn new playbook, new scheme especially a simpler offensive line scheme and learning the footwork and technique is very important at this stage which we though was improved this spring.

Oct 12, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; Michigan Wolverines offensive linesmen Erik Magnuson (78) during the second quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Michigan 43-40 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O

We think the offensive line was put in some tough situations at spring game. It was basically running an offense without any game planning against a defense who were using stunts and blitzes like in a game situation while being very bland and vanilla as a offense could do.

Right now, we think Bosch and Kalis are the only sure starters on the offensive line after going through spring. As of today we think Magnuson, Bosch, Glasgow, Kalis and Braden our likely starting five at the offensive line positions.

Apr 13, 2013; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Drake Johnson (29) is wrapped up by linebacker Cameron Gordon (4) as offensive linesman Kye Bosch (65) blocks linebacker Joe Bolden (35) during the Spring Game at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Erik Magnuson (#78) is able to be healthy enough to participate in summer will go along way for this team and help set the offensive line. We need Mags to get healthy in a hurry. Everything we have heard was he will be fine this summer.

Kyle Bosch (#65) was very young even for his own class, so playing as a true freshman was even more than issue for him than for most freshmen. Bosch will be very good, starting this year. This kid is a man, and a mean one with how he plays at times. He was very impressive when they were practicing goal line. On first down, he was injured (looked like he got a stinger in his shoulder) you could tell he was in some bad pain, but he refused to come out of scrimmage and next play they ran right over him with Green carrying the ball for a touchdown. Bosch will be the starter for three seasons.

Graham Glasgow (#61) played offensive center, left guard, and right tackle. Glasgow is pretty good and he will play somewhere right now. Glasgow is very fundamentally sound.

Apr 5, 2014; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines offensive linesman Kyle Kalis (67) walks on the filed during the Spring Game at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Kalis (#67) we have seen a ton of improvement this spring from him, but last year at this same time we actually thought he was going to leave the program. His attitude and pouting was almost out of control, but this year he has listened and has really competed. He basically matured and Kalis, despite some opinions, actually had a very good spring with a completely different attitude and approach from last year. Kalis seems a lot happier with new offense and thought Kalis had a very good day on the big scrimmage and looked pretty good this entire spring to be honest. As we said earlier, but needs to be repeated, Kalis is much better than last year.

Ben Braden (#71) is better, but he needed to get tougher this spring. Coach Funk talked about that in one of the chalk talks.

Nov 30, 2013; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Devin Gardner (98) is lifted into the air by offensive linesman Ben Braden (71) after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY SportsThe good news is if Braden does not make it, we just move Glasgow to right tackle who played the position very well and then play Kugler or Miller at center. We have options at least this season and some much needed depth. Braden has all summer to work on things and they have told him he needs to really step it up, but going into spring they were concerned about his overall toughness, his willingness to compete and he showed he wants to play. So now it is just a matter of developing big improvement, still away to go with Braden, but has a lot of potential, getting pushed hard, will be okay by default.

Mason Cole (#52) is going to be very good, but lets hope they can red-shirt him. The guy is really good and he can push people off the line at times, but at this age like most high school seniors on the offensive line at the college level need to get bigger and stronger and think a red-shirt year would be great for him and this team down the road. Just not sure it will be possible, but lets hope injuries are few and not force guys into line-up before they are ready like what happened in years past. Cole is a player, no doubt, going to be pushed to play as a red-shirt freshman we hope he can red-shirt. There was 3-4 scraps in the scrimmages that we have seen and Cole has been in three of them.

Patrick Kugler (#57) is close. He is much thicker than people think and he is a great snapper. Kugler is going to be very good, but not for another year in our opinion. Kugler is very technical, very good pass protection, very good snapper.

October 20, 2012; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines offensive linesman Jack Miller (60) prepares to snap ball during the 1st half against the Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

David Dawson (#55) played both left guard and left tackle. Dawson is very close also, but he started out great then regressed as the spring went along. Dawson is “a player” and could develop at any position.

Kugler and Dawson are the first backups to play.

Jack Miller (#60) played offensive center and left guard this spring.

Blake Bars (#62) has come along way.

Always liked Chris Fox (#73), Bars and Dan Samuelson (#74) are playing the second-team. There have been some offense of line injuries and they going slow with Samuelson.

One of the biggest recruiting needs for the 2015 recruiting class is the offenses tackle positions.

Please comment on our GBMWolverine Message Board about this article and read what others comment and give us your thoughts, agree or disagree.

Just a reminder you must be a member to participate on the Message Board. Here is the link GBMWolverine Register for those people interested in becoming a member.

You can contact us at our e-mail address: GBMWolverine

Follow us on Twitter:
@ErocWolverine
@GBMWolverine
@JoelAGreer
@Mike Fitzpatrick
@YostMeister

Written by GBMWolverine Staff

Go Blue — Wear Maize!