As far as it relates to the Michigan football offensive line, it's not hard to figure out how the Wolverines are going to line up against Western Michigan, maybe with one exception.
Kyle Whittingham didn't name a starting five, even though he essentially admitted that the Wolverines know who they are. He isn't going to name a Week 1 depth chart, saying that other programs will figure it out soon enough, so let them.
It won't be that hard for other teams, or even us to figure it out. With Andrew Babalola sidelined recently, that basically tells us who will stat at left tackle.
The first game is two weeks away. A lot can happen. Hopefully, Babalola comes back and is pushing for the job. That one should extend into the season.
However, Babalola hasn't played in two years, at least in a real game. When he does get back to 100 percent, it feels much more likely that he will start off as the extra offensive lineman in blocking situations. There will come a time when he is needed. That's just the way it tends to work with the offensive line, so for now, Blake Frazier and Andrew Sprague will be the starting tackles. It would be surprising, at least if they weren't for the Western Michigan game.
The one spot left up in the air for Michigan football offensive line
Jake Guarnera has the center spot locked down. Evan Link has always felt like a perfect fit at left guard, so that's another easy prediction to make at this point.
Nathan Efobi and Brady Norton have also been competing for the other guard spot. Both players started games last season, and it wouldn't be surprising if there was some sort of rotation there, although Norton has been banged up, too.
Regardless of who ends up starting in that spot, there is even more encouraging news about the way the offensive line handled the defensive line. Whittingham has praised the defensive line numerous times in the spring and the fall. He has called it the strength of the team.
Well, according to Chris Balas of The Wolverine, the offensive line "held up." There has been more buzz about Bryce Underwood turning the corner, yet it feels like the offensive line has started to do the same thing, which should make the offense even more dangerous as the opener approaches.
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