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Michigan Football: An Offensive Line We Can Rally Behind

By Tyler Fenwick

Oct 17, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines fullback Sione Houma (39) receives congratulations for a touchdown from offensive lineman Mason Cole (52) and running back Derrick Green (27) in the second quarter against the Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines fullback Sione Houma (39) receives congratulations for a touchdown from offensive lineman Mason Cole (52) and running back Derrick Green (27) in the second quarter against the Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan football has consistently had problems on the offensive line for years, but 2016 could be the season we’re able to safely rally behind the unit.

In an era of college football where everything is dominated by athletic quarterbacks and attacks that spread you out, Michigan football has been with an Achilles heel that’s been incredibly stubborn for years.

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Of course, I’m talking about the offensive line.

It became relevant when Brady Hoke was head coach because he was wanting to implement the traditional pro-style look. It’s especially relevant now with Jim Harbaugh because he’s actually doing that.

Last season’s offensive line looked pretty good on paper. From left tor right, the starters were: Mason Cole (sophomore), Ben Braden (senior), Graham Glasgow (5th), Kyle Kalis (senior), Erik Magnuson (senior).

Between the five of them there 148 combined starts on the offensive line heading into last season. Yet, when Michigan tried to play power ball against an above-average rush defense, you wouldn’t have guessed there was so much experience in that group.

To be fair, the Wolverines played many defenses that were well equipped to stop the run. Seven of those defenses finished inside the S&P+ top 50 in rush defense. But with such high hopes, seeing Michigan fall through on that front was disappointing.

The only blow the Wolverines’ offensive line is taking this season is the loss of center Graham Glasgow, who’s headed to the NFL. The most experienced lineman of the bunch, Glasgow was an anchor from the middle. How Michigan’s going about replacing him is interesting.

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During spring practice the Wolverines show all signs of having their unit pretty much set in stone, which is what you’d expect.

The first-team unit, from left to right, looks like: Grant Newsome (sophomore), Ben Braden (5th), Mason Cole (junior), Kyle Kalis (5th), Erik Magnuson (5th).

Between them they’ve been with the Michigan football program for 20 years. They’re almost old enough to drink.

You’ll notice Cole moved inside from left tackle to center, and his spot was filled by Newsome. We’re looking at a few different things here.

First, Cole is, as expected, capable of going just about anywhere on the line; Harbaugh’s said that. Second, Newsome is in fact coming into his own as a sophomore; he appeared in four games last year as a true freshman and made one start. Third, Patrick Kugler, who was last year’s backup center, is versatile enough that he’s been used in practice as a sixth man who can go between both guard spots and center.

So far, so good.

As I’ve already pointed out, we’re way too early in the season to be making serious evaluations on the offensive line. Everything looked good in the practice game that was played in Florida, but that was one bit of exposure.

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If we can look back at the experience of this unit and see how very clearly versatile they are, I think we’re looking at a lot of good signs. That gives me reason to believe this is finally an offensive line we can buy into.

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