O/U- Number of Hoke recruits on 2017 O-Line

Submitted by jimmyshi03 on

Looking at the current depth chart by class, the news from this weekend, and Brian's post-OB piece and the podcast, I'm wondering how many Hoke recruits you expect to be starting next season on the O-Line.

Not counting Newsome, who occupies a kind of gray area of committing to Hoke initially and then reaffirming for Harbaugh, or Runyan (a legacy in a similar situation) you are left with Cole, JBB and Kugler. How many do you think are on the field against Florida? Just Cole? All three? 

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bamf16

January 3rd, 2017 at 4:50 PM ^

Cole at C, then Kugler has the next best chance at one of the guard spots (likely RG), with I'd think JBB a distant 3rd.

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bamf16

January 3rd, 2017 at 9:47 PM ^

Nothing odd about it.  

I thought he outplayed Bredeson when they split snaps against Hawaii, as did UFR (+1.5 to -4)

http://mgoblog.com/content/upon-further-review-2016-offense-vs-hawaii

 

Bredeson then -6.5 gainst UCF.   http://mgoblog.com/content/upon-further-review-2016-offense-vs-ucf

 

Kugler also was rated higher by UFR against Rutgers.

 

Again, we don't get to see these guys nearly as much as the coaches, in whom I trust, but this does go to show that those of us who watched Kugler in the opener against Hawaii in perhaps his best chance to audition for a starting job and thought he did well seem to have their opinions validated.

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bamf16

January 3rd, 2017 at 9:13 PM ^

Kugler's staying through Spring ball.  He doesn't have to worry about going through what guys like Morris, Canteen, Dawson, etc. do because if he transfers, he's going to play for his father at UTEP.  

 

If after Spring ball he's out of the rotation, that's when we'll see him make his decision to graduate and go right down to El Paso.

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slysowski

January 3rd, 2017 at 8:59 PM ^

I agree that is what it will look like in the Spring but come fall the 5 best will play. I have a hard time seeing JBB being better than Ruiz. Granted, different positions but Ruiz at LG and Bredeson at RT with his versatility is what I see.  No way Cole comes back to play LT when his future is inside and you want leadership inside out.

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YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

January 3rd, 2017 at 4:58 PM ^

Just a wild ass guess that the staff wants more size and the addition of Ruiz and Filiaga puts two guys over 320 lbs with Big Mike and Bredeson goes LT. all PL spots help Cole's draft worth ...

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YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

January 3rd, 2017 at 8:47 PM ^

choice and the reason for my "wild guess" caveat. Plus Harbaugh is a little bananas if you hadn't noticed. The label of true frosh is less accurate with Ruiz being an early entrant and two years at IMG. Cole beside him all spring and fall camps to help with line calls and Speight is very experienced to help with any protection calls.

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YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

January 3rd, 2017 at 10:08 PM ^

guard easier than Ruiz. If your goal is minimal position "learning", than you can move Cole back to LT, keep Bredeson at G and insert Ruiz at C - they would all be playing the positions that they are most experienced playing. Cole was solid at center, but not fantastic. Plus, ifexperience is also the main criteria, then Dawson (and possibly Kruger) wouldn't get the firm handshake.

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LDNfan

January 4th, 2017 at 4:11 AM ^

The center in a pro-style O is absolutely critical and you don't move a vet out that position for a Tr. Freshman unless there's an injury involved or the vet just flat sucks. A year at Guard for Ruiz would give him a chance to get aclimated to the speed/size of the game at this level w/o having to process nearly as much info.

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maize-blue

January 3rd, 2017 at 5:18 PM ^

The big whiff of the 2013 class is similar, although probably not as bad as the dearth of OL recruiting from Rodrigez that Hoke faced. We'll have a hole in depth but if we can get through 2017 relatively well then I think everything will be ok.

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stephenrjking

January 3rd, 2017 at 5:57 PM ^

Eh. It's a dud thread. A poor way of looking at an already-analyzed problem (it featured heavily in Brian's game column just yesterday, for example) that has already been rehashed and reheated.

Don't take it personally. Dust yourself off, pick yourself back up, and do better the next time.

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Billy Ray Valentine

January 3rd, 2017 at 7:00 PM ^

Receives a ton of well-deserved flak for his head coaching stint. That said, this topic is beyond worn out, and the OP deserves ALL of the negs. I think every time someone takes a gratuitous shot at Hoke, I think we just need to remember that he has a much-deserved 1997 Michigan National Championship ring on his finger. His 1997 DL unit was one of our best (Steele, Renes, Feazell and J. Williams).

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Ty Butterfield

January 3rd, 2017 at 7:21 PM ^

Yes, the O-line recruiting was bad. HOWEVA, you can only use this excuse for so long. If the O-line is still sub par in 2018 then it is on the current staff.

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