Michigan Football: Can Ed Warinner fix the offensive line?
After missing out on Calvin Anderson, will new offensive line coach Ed Warinner be able to fix the issues that have plagued Wolverines up front?
It was a tough recruiting season for the Michigan football program, and this past weekend, the Wolverines got some more tough news on that front.
After missing out on some talented players in the 2018 recruiting class, Michigan football missed out on graduate transfer Calvin Anderson, who chose Texas over the Wolverines. The former Rice standout, who earned All-Conference honorable mention in Conference USA, probably would have been UM’s starting left tackle. Now, there is no clear-cut starter.
Which brings us to new offensive line coach Ed Warinner, who was announced just last week. Warinner coached at Ohio State previously and when hired, was supposed to just be an analyst. Yet, that all changed with the departure of Tim Drevno, the former offensive coordinator/O-line coach.
Warinner is now the offensive line coach and after missing out on Anderson, he has his work cut out for him.
No matter how break it down, Michigan football was terrible on the offensive line in 2017. In terms of sacks allowed, the Wolverines were ranked 110th in the FBS, giving up 2.77 sacks per game. That’s an atrocious number. Certainly, quarterbacks holding the ball too long didn’t help, but most of the time, the guys up front just got beat.
While that’s bad enough, the run statistics aren’t much better. Michigan ranked 49th in the FBS in rushing. UM averaged 177 yards per game and 4.37 yards per carry. That’s all well and good, but against good teams, the Wolverines couldn’t run it a lick.
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In Michigan’s five losses last year, UM averaged just 87 yards per game on the ground. The Wolverines got over 100 in three of the five losses, but didn’t rush for more than 103 yards and never averaged four yards a carry.
Those numbers aren’t just bad. They are horrible. Pathetic is another word that fits. Bottom line, it needs to improve, but does Michigan have the horses to do it?
The interior line positions aren’t in terrible shape. Ben Bredeson is a solid prospect and Cesar Ruiz might be the best offensive lineman on the team already. Michael Owenu is good player another that should start inside the Wolverines.
The bigger problem is at tackle, and it’s not just the left side that Warinner has to worry about. Nolan Ulizio, Jon Runyan Jr. and Juwann Bushell-Beatty are the three guys that played on the right side last season. Hopefully, one of them will lock down the job by the time fall camp rolls around.
However, on the left side, there isn’t even an incumbent, unless you count Grant Newsome. If you don’t remember Newsome, he was the starting left tackle in 2016, until he suffered a nasty injury. He’s hoping to be cleared by spring football or at least fall camp, but it’s still up in the air.
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If Newsome can play, the question is, can he return to the form he had in 2016? If so, Michigan football will be set at left tackle. Yet, that seems like a lot to ask of a guy who hasn’t played in a year and a half.
The other options are a slew of young players, probably headlined by Chuck Filiaga, a 6-6, 345-pound tackle who was a 4-star offensive tackle in 2017. He ranked 118th overall in the country and 13th among tackles.
Another 2017 recruit that could be in the mix is James Hudson, a 6-5, 305-pound lineman that used to play on the other side of the ball. Hudson came to Michigan as a 4-star defensive tackle, but moved to offensive tackle in fall camp last season. He’s athletic and with some coaching, could find his way onto the field.
Other possible candidates are incoming 4-star freshman Jalen Mayfield, who played well at the Under Armour All-American Bowl. However, he needs to put on 20 pounds or so to handle the rigors of the Big Ten. Andrew Stueber is another option and Ryan Hayes, another incoming freshman could also compete for playing time.
The key is going to be development and that’s where Warinner comes in. If Michigan football is going to improve and have a shot at 10 wins or a Big Ten title, he needs to get all these 4-star guys to reach their potential.
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Otherwise, whether Shea Patterson plays or not, things could get ugly up front in 2018 and no matter what else happens, that doesn’t sound like a recipe for success.