Coach’s Corner: Breakdown of the Offensive Line:
Posted at 8:00am — 8/5/2010
Coach’s Corner: Breakdown of the Offensive Line:
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Offensive Line:
Left Tackle:
1) Taylor Lewan – In our opinion, Taylor is the only true left tackle on the roster. He is noticeable bigger and thicker. Adding weight did not affect Taylor’s movement skills and he plays with a nice edge to his game. Still, Taylor (a red-shirt freshman) could use another year of S&C under Coach Barwis and add more weight before hitting his true stride. If Patrick Omameh is not the next great UM lineman, Taylor might be.
2) Ricky Barnum – Ricky is undersized at offensive tackle, but has the athletic ability to perform many of the duties of offensive linemen.
Left Guard:
1) Steve Shilling – Steve is a rock solid offensive guard, good at all phases of line play. He is the type of player that is underrated until you try to replace him. Then everyone will realize exactly how good he is. Steve has been a solid player for Michigan for several years.
2) Ricky Barnum – Ricky is a very good overall athlete but he needs to continue adding weight and stay healthy while learning the system.
Offensive Center:
The offensive center position is the key to zone teams. It is the toughest job on the offensive line.
1) David Molk – Despite not practicing this spring, offensive center is still David’s position to lose from what we saw this spring. He is very physical and plays the game with an edge. Despite wearing a heavy brace he was at practice and working on snaps when the coaches allowed him.
2) Rocko Khoury – Rocko is an okay back up, nothing more or less at this time. He struggled with snaps during the spring, but not as much as the previous year, so that is a positive.
3) Elliot Mealer – He is still working off the rust from missing an entire year. You have to admire this player’s guts and fortitude with everything he has been through in such a short period of time. Anyone who talks to Elliot immediate concludes that here is a truly class and upbeat young adult.
Right Guard:
1) Patrick Omameh – If the staff had two votes for most improved on offense, Patrick would get one of them. He carries his 300 pounds really well. The attribute we like most is the nasty edge Patrick plays with. Very possibly Patrick is UM’s next great offensive linemen.
2) Quinton Washington – Quinton is a huge, physical offensive lineman with considerable upside. He still needs to get in better overall shape, but the ability is present, that is for sure.
Right Tackle:
1) Mark Huyge – Mark is noticeably bigger and thicker and his footwork has improved. He still loses leverage at times and his feet must keep improving. His improvement over last year is very noticeable. At this point Mark may best be described as an adequate big program right tackle, a description linemen hate. Here is hoping Mark has a great year.
2) Perry Dorrestein – Perry is a big, strong physical offensive tackle. He is possibly the best drive blocker on the team, but not an ideal fit in zone blocking and his pass protection must improve.
3) Michael Schofield- Michael, the GBMWolverine staff believes, is the future at right tackle. His physical improvement in one year is amazing. Michael just needs a bit more experience and another year under Coach Barwis in his S&C program. Then, in our opinion, he will be tough to keep off the field next season.
Side Note:
Do not be surprised if Huyge acts as a swingman again, filling in at right guard, left tackle or other positions if starters are injured.
Comments:
Any football program is only as good as the offensive and defensive lines. Everything starts up front and games are usually won at the line of scrimmage.
This is the roster group that has improved the most, talent wise, besides the quarterback position, in Coach Rod’s tenure. Unlike the first year when 5 or 6 players formed a piecemeal line, UM now has 7-10 players probably ready to play significant minutes if called on. It is obvious that the talent level and athleticism is improving, case closed.
This spring GBMWolverine observed the offensive linemen indeed are bigger and not as lean like the previous season. Being in the Big Ten might have adjusted the thinking of the coaches and the direction of the offensive line development. This group will not be as big as Wisconsin or Ohio State lines, but the group is big enough to handle the defensive lines in the Big Ten and still be quick enough to get to the second level, along with pulling when needed in the Michigan spread offense.
One thing this group needs to do is stay healthy. If that happens the offense will benefit by having the same five guys protecting the quarterback and creating holes for the running backs. An offensive line gets better continuity/cohesiveness staying together and acting as one group — not five independent offensive linemen.
Recruiting side note:
Looks like this 2011 recruiting class Michigan will be attracting a fairly big class of offensive linemen, anywhere from three to even six. Tackle, at this point is still a recruiting need. Like the cover corner, the elite left tackle is not in great supply.
Written by GBMWolverine Staff
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