Michigan Football Tidbits: Offensive Line — Part 2

Michigan Football Tidbits: Offensive Line — Part 2

Mooseman: A year ago was pushed into starting rotation after season ending injury to Zirbel. Mooseman was one of the players Barwis likes to talk about when he says they are “fat”. Mooseman has always been a decent worker, but had a huge struggle with Barwis because old regime rarely did any “core training” or to be more specific did very little “ab” work.

For the past year, Mooseman has had a huge body transformation. Gone is the “beer gut” look and now has become one of the leaders in doing extra “ab” work. While he is going to be pushed hard this fall by Barnum, possibly Khoury, and outside shot Q. Washington. Moose had held on to his position by his ability to become an effective second line blocker.

Huyge: He was a kid who fully expected not to play at Michigan until maybe his redshirt-junior year. He was a late addition to Carr’s class and was very young in terms of his overall development.

Last year he was basically a non-factor. In spring he did play on second team, but at left guard and then got injured. But he kept at it and although Omameh was the favorite to win the right tackle position, Huyge just simply at this point is more consistent and solid in his performances.

With coach Frey (similar to coach Rod), potential is one thing, but performance takes priority. Huyge also is great to have around because he is versatile enough that he can play every spot on offensive line except offensive center.

Barnum: He is our #1 target in terms of watching when fall camp starts. Came to Michigan who was extremely homesick his freshman year, but received raves from coaches. Then injury, it has not effected Barnum that much except that it allowed others to get way ahead of him. He now has a big uphill battle and sometimes if kids perform, it is hard to get an opportunity.

Barnum will get his shot in fall and is preparing. Although performance is critical, potential does at least get you opportunity and coach Frey just loves his upside. When you see Barnum, the kid seems wider than he is tall, looks to be in great shape, and in practices a year ago he had somewhat of a mean streak in him.

Khoury: Will be our back-up offensive center this year. And could play offensive guard if needed, but is still spending most of his time at offensive center. Big reason, besides Molk, Khoury is really the only other kid who hikes the ball properly to quarterback’s.

Playing in the shot-gun, posters may think this is easy, but Michigan seems to have problems getting kids to do this consistently other than Molk and Khoury.

Khoury is just a bigger version of Molk. Khoury is very underrated in terms of his athletic ability and Khoury already has a reputation in practice of blocking past the whistle.

Omameh: Remember Omameh is still a pup in terms of football experience. That inexperience is his biggest obstacle right now and it causes inconsistency, but when he does something right, he does it very well.

His progress is the most pronounced of any of the offensive linemen and it is just a matter of time until he is a starter. Big question right now, will coach Frey decide to move Omameh to left tackle this fall.

With Ortmann being a senior, it’s possible that if Huyge is determined to be the starter, that Omameh moves. Big reason they feel others can fill in at right tackle, but Omameh right now is the best candidate to replace Ortmann next year.

Now this may change with the emergence and development of Lewan. Lewan may show enough this fall to convince coaches to keep Omameh competing at right tackle, but as of now, we predict Omameh moves eventually.

Those are the top eight. And any of the eight could start and be effective. The depth at offensive line is something we were sorely missing a year ago, but now is probably one of our deepest positions.

Other offensive linemen observations:

Q.Washington: By the time Barwis is done with him, he is going to look like Barnum on steroids. The kid is huge and wide and is always smiling. Even though he is going through torture right now.

We know we keep saying this, but unless you actually get to see workouts you do not realize what a toll it takes on the bigger players. The V. Smith’s of the world seem to breeze through the workouts, but Q. Washington, Big Will, Sagesse, the bigger kids, its tough. But he is doing fine, although he has been extremely sore and has limited his running somewhat. Think his dreams of starting this year is just that, a dream. But we could easily see him red shirting and being game one starter a year from now. He is one of our top pro prospects on team with his size and athleticism are impressive.

Schofield: He may prove us wrong, he may end up being another Huyge, but as of now, we see him playing a back-up role at Michigan at least in the first 2-3 years. He is kind of a tweener in terms of being a offensive tackle or a offensive guard. His best spot may be right tackle and think that is where he will start his snaps this fall.

Some may think they will move him to defense because of depth concerns there? Maybe down the road, but this year he is an offensive linemen all the way and hopefully by next year our recruiting will be dominated by defensive players.

Lewan: Left tackle in the future? That is his plans and it is going to be hard for coach Frey not to find a place for him if he plays as well in practices that he does in workouts.

He is just one of those kids who seems to never get enough and is always working. Has a very high motor. He just has that presence about him that says he wants to play football.

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Written by MaizeMan, CoachBt and ErocWolverine