Michigan Football: Spring Football -- Work To Be Done -- OL

GBMWolverine Michigan Football TidbitsPosted at 5:45am — 3/16/2015

Michigan Wolverine Football: Spring Football — Work To Be Done — OL

Michigan Reformulates Those Important Lines

Our own CoachBT is not the only sage who precipitates the notion that as a team’s line play goes, so goes the team. With all the sophistication, football is still a game of block, pursue, and tackle, the reward being that a team keeps the ball for four more plays, or forces the opposition to punt the ball.

More from Michigan Football

Just like the quarterback position, the offensive line is in a state of flux, hopefully this state is temporary as Coach Jim Harbaugh and his staff build for the future. The offensive line is not an issue, but a problem. But problems can be rectified, and that leads us to Michigan’s offensive coordinator / offensive line coach, Tim Drevno.

With proven success in developing a power running game envied by others, Coach Drevno faces a steep challenge of quickly turning around a mediocre running game. There are positives to highlight, the cupboard is not bare, the candidates are sufficient in number, albeit the recent loss of a starting center is not a plus, and the linemen seem willing to accept and are understanding of their new task.

There is a question of parts, at the tight end position, the offensive line, and also with the running back corps. Like Casey Stengel in his best Stengelese mentioned once upon a whatever: “You ain’t got no animals, you ain’t got no circus.” So, using the Ol’ Professor’s sound logic the question becomes: does Michigan have the animals on the offensive line?

Michigan Wolverines /

Michigan Wolverines

We will find out as the season progresses. But the machine and parts metaphor leads to several question-based observations. First, is there now enough experience on the team to cause an increase in performance? Some members of the group have started, albeit that does not guarantee success status. And other group members, such as the injured Chris Fox and Patrick Kugler, have nice credentials but have yet to see the field game after game. One must conclude that talent and performance now trumps experience as most of this group has now been on campus for three or more years. Experience is further diluted by the realization that a new system is in place and the slow process of developing a great line may suffer some early on in the process.

Second, Where are the tackles in this group? There seems to be a bunch of guys with guard skill sets. Coach Brady Hoke and Coach Darrell Funk finished second on several nice tackle prospects. They also found unexpected gold in Mason Cole, who is one of those guys that just seems to be a football player. He seemed to fit in well with the outside zone play, so how he adapts to the power game will be an important tenet for Michigan to succeed. Ben Braden and Logan Tuley-Tillman must be reclaimed and made into workable tackle parts. Any incoming freshman that could fill the tackle need would be a bigger surprise than Cole. Juwann Bushell-Beatty, by all accounts has made strides. His first drop step must show great progress in pass protection.

Live Feed

Rutgers vs. Michigan Prediction, Odds, Trends and Key Players for College Football Week 4 /

Betsided

College Football Playoff: Projected top 4 after Week 3Saturday Blitz

College Football National Championship Odds Following Week 3: Georgia Survives ScareBetsided

5 College Football Playoff contenders who haven’t played like it yetFanSided

Heisman Power Rankings 2023, Week 3: Shedeur Sanders' statement, Michael Penix Jr. moves upFanSided

College football rankings 2023: Projected Week 4 AP Top 25 after Tennessee upset, Alabama, Texas, Georgia struggleFanSided

The third question is does Michigan have sufficient tight ends to run the offense Coach Jim Harbaugh desires. Like all the other concerns, the fall will provide the answer. An underwhelming A.J. Williams and newcomer Ian Bunting, join one solid tight end, Jake Butt, and the tough but injured Khalid Hill. The loss of a former commit at this position does not help, but moot in discussion value. One could conclude that Drevno and Harbaugh may not run as many two tight end formations as they wish. Next year is a great opportunity for a couple of lucky tight end recruits to latch on at Michigan. But for now the cards are not exactly two aces in the hole in a poker game.

Still, even though the mission is not easy, it certainly will be undertaken. The line could indeed provide more real estate for the backs and the backs may actually find a hole or cut back with proper timing.

Next up, a group that could shine next year, the defensive line. With the new alignments, there will be more work than normal to be done.

More from GBMWolverine

If you want to comment on this article please visit our GBMWolverine Message Board and gives us your thoughts and read what others comment.

Just a reminder, you have to be a member to take part on the GBMWolverine Message Board. Here is the link GBMWolverine Register for those readers interested in becoming a member of the GBMWolverine Message Board.

If you have any questions about the site, an article, or just want to send us a comment please contact us at our e-mail address: GBMWolverine E-Mail

Written by GBMWolverine Staff — Doc4Blu

Go Blue — Wear Maize!

Home/Michigan Football