CBs for Filiaga, Becton, Ruiz and Nico, Irving-Bey
December 16th, 2016 at 5:37 PM ^
December 16th, 2016 at 6:23 PM ^
Meh, just heave the ball up to DPJ and Black and let them do the rest.
December 16th, 2016 at 6:34 PM ^
3 step drop and sling it! Let Nico, DPJ, Wheatley, Kekoa, McDoom, Black and Perry do the rest.
December 16th, 2016 at 7:47 PM ^
at least a little bit of time that OTs will need to provide.
December 16th, 2016 at 5:45 PM ^
That's putting a lot of pressure on an inexperienced guy.
Let's keep Cole at center......that's where the NFL sees his best potential.
So who to take over at LT..........I like your "or" option more.
December 16th, 2016 at 6:20 PM ^
no doubt C is one of the toughest spots for true frosh to step in and really handle (though it does happen). all OL spots obviously require tough, athletic dudes capable of thinking on their feet and working flawlessly in concert with teammates but C carries heavier mental burden.
also ive seen many trying to count off the starting 5 for next year and while its obviously early, its still an interesting exercise for fans - but they actually need more than 5. all programs want to enter the season with 7-8 capable OL starters as most years injuries and whatnot will force teams to rely on the #6-8 guys on the chart at some point. and everyones seen how a weak link on the OL can affect the entire unit and O
December 16th, 2016 at 5:46 PM ^
I think there's about a 0% chance we have a true freshman starting at center.
December 16th, 2016 at 6:47 PM ^
I'll place $1 on Ruiz then. Seriously, it is a huge stretch to project a frosh at C, but Ruiz would have a slim chance of starting if he enrolls and Cole is needed at OT.
C typically has to make the calls, but Bredeson or the RG could make the calls if necessary. A few teams have used this approach to cover a greenhorn C who snaps & blocks well.
It's only a possibility because we are thiiiiiiin at OT and Cole can play there.
December 16th, 2016 at 11:15 PM ^
December 16th, 2016 at 5:54 PM ^
seems like kugler would be more likely to start at center than ruiz if we wanted to put cole somewhere else
December 16th, 2016 at 5:55 PM ^
December 16th, 2016 at 6:19 PM ^
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December 16th, 2016 at 6:24 PM ^
You don't think a revolving door at C is a problem next season? Because I do.
December 17th, 2016 at 2:33 PM ^
and so would a revolving door at LT. Maybe equally problematic? I keep thinking Kugler has to be a better alternative to Cole at C than any of the alternatives to Cole at LT but apparently not if we chose the LT revolving door over Kugler at C this year.
December 16th, 2016 at 7:41 PM ^
DON"T BE THAT GUY!!!
Wait...
December 16th, 2016 at 6:32 PM ^
Like it or not, but one of JBB, Dawson, Ulizio and/or Kugler will start next year. No matter who plays, Cole, Brederson, Onwenu and half a season of Newsome is a fantastic foundation.
December 16th, 2016 at 5:35 PM ^
Oh man if these guys committ I might have a heart attack. Najee, Nico and Filiaga and the rest of theses commits? I know all the cry babies get mad about people looking ahead on here but can you imagine this offense in 2019? It'll plant every offense you've seen in the past couple years. 2017 is coming up and kicking ass. 2018 is cracking skulls and domination. 2019 is complete annihilation of all.
December 16th, 2016 at 5:42 PM ^
A bit more consistency in offense
Better run blocking
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December 16th, 2016 at 7:03 PM ^
So close - edit out "in offense" and you're there.
December 16th, 2016 at 9:04 PM ^
December 16th, 2016 at 9:28 PM ^
December 16th, 2016 at 5:36 PM ^
While Wilson has the high ceiling. Not to say Filiaga doesn't have a ton of potential. Getting him is a must now, and maybe we get Becton and hope he's a home run.
December 16th, 2016 at 5:39 PM ^
December 16th, 2016 at 5:48 PM ^
They need to hit on the O line soon.
December 16th, 2016 at 5:55 PM ^
Exactly.
Which is why I think Ruiz and Filiaga are the two most important recruits to reel in. Followed close by Solomon and Tufele. Elite players in the trenches is the difference between 10-2 and 12-0. My "Wish List"
1. Filiaga
2. Ruiz
3. Tufele
4. Solomon
5. Harris
6-8 - Linebackers: Singleton, Gay, Anthony
9. Collins
December 16th, 2016 at 11:22 PM ^
December 16th, 2016 at 5:55 PM ^
will be an immovable object on the inside of the line. I think it's been decided already that he will be at one guard positions. He probably won't be pulling much, although chatter is that he is a great athlete for his size, but he can anchor a solid pass block and be a road grater.
Bredeson will be a very solid left guard and I we can feel comfortable with him pass blocking and pulling. He is not the overpowering pancaker we may want, but he will be very dependable.
I'm think Cole is a wild card here and could switch back to tackle if necessary. I know he projects as a center for the NFL, but I could see him moving back to tackle if the team needs it.
Newsome was a huge loss, devastating really. I dont think there is any chance he is back by next year.
If Kugler can play center, it allows Cole to move out to tackle. This could work out well.
December 16th, 2016 at 6:06 PM ^
Cole - Bredeson - Kugler - Onwenu - Filiaga (or JBB?)
December 16th, 2016 at 6:27 PM ^
That's not . . . . horrible. The depth behind it is pretty scary though.
December 16th, 2016 at 6:33 PM ^
I think this line makes sense because it gives us a definite strong side (we'd be very left-handed). I agree that the depth is a bunch of ???.
December 16th, 2016 at 9:21 PM ^
it's so tough to start a freshman. IfFiliaga is as good as ready as they say and beats out JBB than more power to him, but that will be the wildcard IMO. I think Cole has to be put at LT and hope Kugler can do well at center.
Do we have any other options assuming Newsome is not back?
December 16th, 2016 at 6:31 PM ^
Perhaps the question is whether or not Kugler can hold his own at center. Cole was ok but not great this season, and he got pushed around by quality DTs. Sometimes embarrassingly. If Kugler can hack it, Cole can move to another place of need.
But there's no way to sugarcoat this regardless of whether Michigan landed all of its OL targets or not: 2017's OL is going to be a patch job. Michigan is losing three starters from a line that was only OK last season and lost Newsome in an injury that he's still using crutches to recover from.
There's just no way that the OL isn't going to be a problem next season, and still a major question in 2018 when Ben Bredeson is (hopefully) the experienced one as a true junior.
We can hope that a guy or two surprises us with early maturity, and we can hope that guys like Onwenu mature and develop as we anticipate, and we can hope that Bredeson becomes everything his recruiting projection suggests he will become, but that's a lot of hope and not a lot of sure things.
December 16th, 2016 at 5:58 PM ^
gonna be even more red shirt burning in 2017
which is ok - they are extremely talented freshman
December 16th, 2016 at 6:00 PM ^
Cole-Bredeson-Ruiz-Onwenu-Filiaga
December 16th, 2016 at 6:07 PM ^
Replace Ruiz with Kugler and I think that's a solid line.
December 16th, 2016 at 6:47 PM ^
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December 16th, 2016 at 6:04 PM ^
December 16th, 2016 at 7:46 PM ^
December 16th, 2016 at 6:11 PM ^
that would make life a lot easier
then Brederson can play RT or G depending on how other things shake out
December 16th, 2016 at 6:19 PM ^
True frosh LT is kind of terrifying.
There are very few Jake Longs out there.
December 16th, 2016 at 6:21 PM ^
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December 16th, 2016 at 6:25 PM ^
Cole
JBB
FIliaga
Brederson
or someone else
once LT is decided the rest can be filled in
Onwenu seems locked in at one Guard position as well
December 16th, 2016 at 6:47 PM ^
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December 16th, 2016 at 7:16 PM ^
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December 16th, 2016 at 8:08 PM ^
December 16th, 2016 at 6:22 PM ^
December 16th, 2016 at 6:28 PM ^
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December 16th, 2016 at 6:36 PM ^
LT - Filiaga
LG - Dawson
C - Cole
RG - Onwenu
RT - Brederson
there - what do we need to solve next?
:)