Michigan Football: Can the offensive line deliver on potential?

Here’s a breakdown of Michigan football’s offensive line as we continue our position previews heading into the 2021 season.

The Michigan football season is now one week away. In seven days, “Hail to the Victors” will be blaring as the Wolverines run out to a packed Big House.

Hopefully, we’ll hear the fight song quite often and many more times after Michigan runs out of the tunnel. Western Michigan will be the opponent and after not winning a game in the Big House in 2020, U-M is long overdue.

As we move closer to the opener, there are tons of questions about this football team. Can Cade McNamara get it done at quarterback? What about the skill guys? The secondary? The D-line?

Another position group that didn’t meet expectations last season was the offensive line. It struggled to protect the quarterbacks and open holes for the running backs who were often stymied near or at the line of scrimmage.

Can this group improve under the direction of Sherrone Moore, who moved over to coach the group after Ed Warinner was let go. There are reasons for optimism about this group and here’s our look ahead to how it will play in 2021.

Projected Michigan football offensive line depth chart

Starters: Ryan Hayes (LT), Trevor Keegan (LG), Andrew Vastardis (C), Zak Zinter (RG), Andrew Stueber (RT).

Backups: Trente Jones, Karsen Barnhart, Chuck Filiaga, Greg Crippen. Nolan Rumler.

Breakdown: I’ll admit that I’ve been hoping the coaching staff would bump Zinter over center which would allow Karsen Barnhart to start.

Yet, Andrew Vastardis has taken a step forward in camp, at least according to all the reports and he’s going to start the opener. He will need to hold up better than he did a year ago but he’s experienced, plus you can do a lot with smarts and toughness at that position.

The key for this unit is Zinter. Whether he plays guard or center, he’s been called the best player on the offense and he’s got to play like it.

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When Michigan football is good, at least historically, it’s been dominant in the trenches. And if Zinter can develop into a guy with early-round NFL potential, it would be a boon.

Ryan Hayes has the ability to play on Sunday’s but he needs to be more consistent. Yet, he’s another guy Jim Harbaugh has mentioned and is a top O-lineman on this team.

Stueber isn’t flashy but he’s consistent. I’d almost rather see him at guard and he could bump inside if needed but he’s played well on the outside too in the past.

If you talk about talent, Trevor Keegan and Trente Jones were both high-ranking four-star recruits and are pushing for time. Keegan should start and Jones probably could if needed.

Nolan Rumler and Greg Crippen have also made noise in the offseason and top to bottom, the depth is there. So are the makings for a really good offensive line.

Game-by-game predictions for 2021. dark. Next

It’s all about getting the talent to realize its potential, which is a reoccurring theme for Michigan football this season.

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