[Bryan Fuller/MGoBlog]

This afternoon's Media Day marked the unofficial start of Michigan football season. Over the coming days we'll be posting several interviews with players and coaches—and, of course, Harbaugh's presser. First up is Kyle Kalis, who had some fascinating things to say about the new way of doing things under the new staff. Oh, and some thoughts on shirtlessness. Note: several of these are MGoQuestions, but not all or them. I'll note in other posts if I had an actual one-on-one.

What's been the biggest change for you from Hoke to Harbaugh?

Really not much has changed team-wise. It's great to know we have a coach like Coach Harbaugh. Going through spring with Coach, learning how he likes to do practice, seeing how intense he is—I think just his intensity alone drives us and makes us practice harder which in turn is going to make us a great team. Especially going into camp, it's going to be a long camp, it's going to be a grind, but we've put in the work all summer and we're ready for it.

It sounds like Harbaugh is keeping you guys on your toes. Do you guys know the schedule or...?

Oh, yeah, Coach's deal is he doesn't like us to know, he doesn't like us to be able to prepare for things. He wants us to be able to react. That's what we're doing so far. Like coming into today, we didn't even know we had media today. We walked through the door and here we are talking to you guys.

So you guys didn't know this was going on today?

We knew something was up. When we got the schedule, there was no practice today, so were like, "Oh, something's up. It's going down."

[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the interview.]

What's been your experience with Tim Drevno as a coach and how comfortable are you with him?

I'm really comfortable, I love Coach Drevno. Going through spring, I learned a lot personally, and not just me, our whole line gelled together. We have a good group of guys right now and we have everything we need to be successful. It's just a matter of putting it together, fitting the puzzle pieces together, and having a great season.

As a position group, do you guys have a set goal for this year?

First and foremost, this is Michigan. The goal is always higher and the standard is always higher than anybody else. Obviously we want to—we are going to be a more dominant line than we have been in the past few years. It hasn't really been a product of talent level or practice level intensity. It's just the circumstances weren't right and things didn't happen the way we wanted them to, but there's no more of that. That's over and this is a new year.

What might Drevno bring to the mix that will enhance that process?

The thing with Coach Drevno is he obviously came from the NFL, he has a very extensive background. Bringing that to us, us seeing that aspect and us seeing those details that he brings with him that you might not know. There's tricks in the league that, you know, we watch NFL tape, that you learn, that you don't really see in college. To see those techniques and those tricks, I think that's what's got us so smart this year.

Somebody said his schemes are even more complex than even NFL teams. Is that how you see it?

Not really. At this point I'm old enough now and I've played enough football to the point where football is football. It's going to be inside zone or outside zone or we're gonna pass the ball. The thing that changes the most with coaching changes is just the words you use. That's basically it. It's not that complex. We'll be fine.

What has it been like having Jim Harbaugh as your head coach?

The savior is here. (Laughs.) I mean, Coach Harbaugh is awesome. We saw him here and there during the summer, he was doing the camps, he was traveling, he was doing everything he should be doing. But through spring ball that's where we really got to know him and gel with him, and he's just an intense guy, and I love it. He's my kind of coach and I'm just happy I get to play under him.

What do you think when you see the shirtless photos?

I love it. I love it. Because I walk around with my shirt off all the time. He's my kind of guy, he's not afraid to put it all out there, and I think that's exactly what we need.

Why do you believe he can turn things around?

Just talk to him. I believe every single word he says one hundred percent. He is the most passionate guy I've ever met. If you don't believe everything he says on how we're going to be this year, you're not listening.

Do you get a sense that this is more important to him and this is more personal because it's his school?

I'm sure in his head that's in the back of his mind somewhere, especially because it has to be cool coaching at your alma mater. That's an awesome feeling, it has to be. But I think with him, all he wants to do is win. That's all he wants to do is get us in the best position to win and make us winners, not just for him because he thinks he has to, but for both our team and for Michigan.

There's been a lot of shifting around on the offensive line the past few years, different lineups. Do you guys feel like you're getting closer to a set group of five?

Every time we go to camp, we have a first, second, and a third line. Guys will get told in the individual meetings, coaches telling you where you stand. There's a ranking now of one through 115, 120 guys, however many we have, and I think everyone knows where they are and everyone knows what they have to improve on to get to where they want to be.