blueheron

October 18th, 2013 at 9:16 PM ^

I hope Kalis stays for the duration of his eligibility, has a great career, and enjoys his time at the UMich art school. Just to get that out of the way ...

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Urban Meyer (a smart guy of interesting character) quietly reached out to Kalis at some point (in a scenario where Mr. K found himself 2nd/3rd-string for an extended period of time). If he could effect a transfer he would, for the price of a single scholarship, win himself some neat PR and possibly a significant contributor.

Low probability, sure, but interesting IMO.

Joined: 03/26/2009

MGoPoints: 30876

WolvinLA2

October 18th, 2013 at 7:37 PM ^

It depends on who you think is replacing whom.  If you look at it as Burzinki replacing Bryant, than our 5 star OG is being replaced by a near-5 star OT from his same class.  Both were Army All Americans.  We are replacing one blue chip RS frosh with another.  This is not that weird.

Joined: 11/13/2009

MGoPoints: 58191

robmorren2

October 18th, 2013 at 7:10 PM ^

I think they should just rotate all of the guys that have been in the conversation this year. After every snap, you go one position to the left, the LT goes to the sideline, and a new RT comes in. It'll give all 10 guys a chance to play. Rotate just like we do on the Dline. And Lewan will play TE the whole time, because who in their right mind plays an All-American LT at LT? That'd be too easy to scout. We might as well just give IU our playbook if we're gona start putting left tackles at left tackle.

Joined: 06/04/2011

MGoPoints: 2486

elm

October 18th, 2013 at 7:42 PM ^

There were five on the line and Schofield said, "Roll over!  Roll over!"  They all rolled over and Lewan came out.

There were still five on the line and Magnusson said, "Roll over!  Roll over!"  They all rolled over and Bryant came out.

There were still five on the line and Burzynski said, "Roll over!  Roll over!"  They all rolled over and Kalis came out.

Joined: 05/11/2011

MGoPoints: 1902

JonSnow54

October 18th, 2013 at 11:27 PM ^

I have read a lot of great comments on this board, but this one stands alone as the funniest one.  Great post, it caused me to laugh/cry/choke so hard that my wife was worried about me.

Joined: 08/26/2011

MGoPoints: 852

gwkrlghl

October 18th, 2013 at 7:11 PM ^

Don't know how we haven't found 2 guards out of like 8 options who aren't just terrible. Its not just youth, everything is just bad. Have to assume that goes to Funk

Joined: 04/13/2012

MGoPoints: 72

WolvinLA2

October 18th, 2013 at 7:41 PM ^

It might be Funk, but what 8 options are you referring to?  Assuming true frosh aren't really options, you sure don't have that many guys to choose from.  You have Kalis, Bryant, Burzinski, Bars, and then moving tackles over (which is what is happening with Magnuson).  Of that group, two are RS frosh, one is always injured and one is a walk on. 

I'm not saying none of this is one Funk, but he literally doesn't have a single upperclass OG on the roster, and only a small handful of underclassmen, with Burzinski being the only one who had even seen a snap before this season. 

Joined: 11/13/2009

MGoPoints: 58191

reshp1

October 18th, 2013 at 8:05 PM ^

If you count last year (which I think you should) you've got Barnum, Omameh*, Mealer, Kalis, Bryant, Glasgow*, Braden, Burzinyski, Bars, Gunderson. *players are serviceable.

2 serviceable guys in 2 years out of that pool screams bad coaching or extremely bad luck. I think it's becoming clear that it's the former.

Joined: 10/31/2011

MGoPoints: 34177

STW P. Brabbs

October 19th, 2013 at 9:58 AM ^

I don't know enough (read: anything) about the specifics of O-line coaching, so I'm only making vague inferences here.  But at the moment, the only truly successful O-linemen under Hoke have been players who matured under Greg Frey - Lewan, Schofield, and Molk.  I understand that part of the issue is a transition in scheme, and some of this may be related to Al flailing about wildly in terms of the running game.  Much of it, certainly, relates to the youth at the position. 

Still, the results so far have certainly given some cause for concern, and the performance of Kalis raises a red flag for me.  A kid with all the plaudits in the world - based not only on upside, but on physical readiness and superior technique for a HS kid - struggling this badly in his second year in the progam is troubling, OL recruiting uncertainty be damned. 

Next year, there are certainly enough bullets in the chamber, recruiting wise, that some grouping of five of them should be at least serviceable.  If not, we're going to quickly begin to resemble Sparty East, only with about 3x the raw talent on offense.

Joined: 08/27/2008

MGoPoints: 3861

Schembo

October 19th, 2013 at 10:29 AM ^

Kalis might be struggling so far in his first year, but I don't think we can make conclusions about the staff based off one freshman player.  Glasgow has been a pleasant suprise and has exceeded everyones expectations thus far so we shouldn't just point at the faults and ignore the positives.  This offensive line might just be too young to handle all of the offensive scheme changes this year. 

Joined: 01/06/2011

MGoPoints: 6374

Yeoman

October 19th, 2013 at 12:08 PM ^

....relative to unreasonable expectations.

Of the seven five-star offensive linemen in that class, five are not starting in their second year of their respective programs. In most cases we don't even know how badly they're struggling, because they don't even see the field until garbage time. That is probably not a sign that the offensive line coaches at Stanford, USC and Georgia are incompetent.

In a functioning program that had bothered to recruit offensive linemen he'd be an understudy to some reasonably competent RG, with the opportunity to compete against him and beat him out, if things worked out surprisingly well, but with the stronger likelihood that he'll simply learn his trade for a couple of years.

There's maybe one Cyrus Kouandijo per year, if that. If you get one of those guys, great. Counting on it is absurd.

Joined: 06/08/2011

MGoPoints: 21390

blueandmaizeballs

October 18th, 2013 at 7:23 PM ^

All these OL came in with high regard but not one has really shown anything so der if its talent or Funk?  I seem to think it is on funk and Borges.   You can even put some blame on Hoke cause he hand picked these guys.   Al has never had good offenses has he?  The best he had was in Auburn and it had NFL talent and that offense wasnt considered great.   Home needs to quit putting so much trust in fat Albert.   Hello he couldn't even get  job till Hokeman called so to me that says something right there.

Joined: 01/10/2013

MGoPoints: 3681

TESOE

October 18th, 2013 at 7:38 PM ^

This game was going to be confidence builder.  Now I think it's a game.  I honestly can't wait to see the product on the field.  There's no place to hide on the gridiron.  

Kalis has looked fine for his first year IMO.  I don't feel good about that move.  Bryant was the right fit in my mind as well.  He is huge has basically only had two starts, looked OK vs. Minne and got knocked on his duff by a quality D line.  That is how you learn.  I didn't like this move but I'm looking forward to looking dumb.  Make it so Mags and Joey.  

Joined: 09/21/2009

MGoPoints: 8492

Blarvey

October 18th, 2013 at 10:42 PM ^

I also feel Kalis has played well for his first year starting. Last week was tough for all of the linemen, especially the interior. I still think he will be a starter by the end of the season.

If this is for competition's sake, then I am fine with it. If this is for building depth, then I am fine with it. If it is a scheme change, then I am fine with it. As long as Michigan wins, of course.

Joined: 11/21/2011

MGoPoints: 3472

Reader71

October 19th, 2013 at 12:41 AM ^

But, but, but, but, but... Wouldn't leaving underachievers in the game be like doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome? Isn't that the very precise, exact definition of insanity? Wouldn't that be like running the ball 27 times for 27 yards, which is the worst thing that has ever happened? Isn't this an effort to find the right "fit" between scheme and player ability? Isn't this exactly the kind of change that people were calling for (kind, folks, not the exact changes you want)? No? Oh yeah, Borges probably had something to do with it. I love you guys, but you've gotta control your emotions enough to be able to keep your brain clear.

Joined: 08/30/2009

MGoPoints: 22968

nofunforfu

October 18th, 2013 at 7:52 PM ^

Although the insertion of two brand new Olinemen in the middle of the year is not good, could this signal that Borges will abandon the power run scheme for more spread? Both Bryant and Kalis have not proven up to the task on the stretch plays run so far - and clearly not in the power run game either - so the insertion of lighter, more agile players would make sense if we see more spread looks and runs. 

With that said, I reserve the right to change my mind if Borges runs MANBALL to start the game tomorrow.

Joined: 07/22/2010

MGoPoints: 294

MBloGlue

October 18th, 2013 at 8:33 PM ^

I'm thinking Jehu Chesson deserves a shot at one of the guard spots.  Dude has leveled some people this year.  While  you're at it, fire Funk and put Hecklinksi in charge of the offensive line.  No denying that we've had some kick-ass blocking receivers the past few years.

#BringBackTayOdoms

Joined: 01/09/2013

MGoPoints: 1872

jdub55

October 18th, 2013 at 8:36 PM ^

Just get your best guys on the field be it tackles playing guard, true freshmen, walk-ons whatever. But coaches also need to give them help by keeping the defense honest and not getting in in 2nd and 12s and 3rd and 9s with crappy no win plays.

Joined: 06/01/2012

MGoPoints: 179