Positive comments from Kugler
Sam Webb is that you?
Is this an ad without paying MGoBlog?
See, THIS is why the revised site is slow in coming, all these ads over the years and they forgot the whole payment thing.
In all seriousness, I was just curious as to whether or not the OP would eventually link us to the story itself so that we might read it. We ask so little here, after all.
The offensive line will be better this year.
-Everyone, every off-season ever
This will be the best offensive line in the history of offensive lines, maybe ever.
Freddy, shouldn't you be concentrating on the o-line at Ypsi?
This is almost as big a cliche as defensive players or coordinators saying the defense will be more aggressive this year. Every damn year every defense in the country supposedly gets more aggressive.
if you ever heard the opposite?
"You know, we went a little too hard last year, a little too aggressive. We're gonna scale it back a bit, play more conservative, blitz less..."
Yeeaaaaahhhhhhh, not gonna hear that one.
You mean supposably?
the same as " that guy is going to be a BEAST!!!!!".
I know we don't talk about points, but this has to be a record for most points on a first post. Congrats, you're in the Mgorecord books.
Why would they be more "serious" this year? Don't think Kugler hasn't been seeing the field because of summer workouts. Regardless, hope he's right.
Maybe (just pure speculation based on nothing but my own experiences as a student/non-athlete) it's more serious this off-season because HE is taking them more seriously. When a light bulb goes on, as it did for me junior year, the same effort and work seems more serious, more productive, more useful, with better outcomes.
I agree - he's more accountable now that he is being looked to as the guy at center. Last year it was understandable if he didn't crack the starting 5. Now he doesn't have an option but to play like it's his only season left, because it is.
Major/consistent injuries can also lead to natural complacency. You spend a long time doing working with defined limits on what you can do, and it can take a while to take the regulator off mentally, if you will. Can help create that "waiting for my turn" mindset and you have a natural excuse for yourself for why you got beat out.
I've always liked Kugler in his comments and I'm thrilled he's pushing hard and accountable now. I have no idea if the above is part of his deal but it's a factor people don't consider enough.
There are many factors, many of them psychological, that can contribute to a player underperforming in comparison with his recruiting ranking. Many people are quick to dismiss them as poorly scouted, but usually it's a result of a bevy of other factors that happened once the kid got to college.
I hope Kugler does finish out camp beating out Ruiz for the starting Center job. For one, this means that Kugler is at least better than a near-five star freshman OL. This doesn't mean he will be great, but it probably means he won't be a liability. Secondly, it gives the staff the ability to redshirt Ruiz. This probably won't happen as he will be the 6th or 7th lineman (and there's still the chance he starts at Guard if Onwenu isn't in adequate shape or if Bredeson kicks out to RT), but he can at least be brought on slowly in his Freshman year instead of being thrown into the fire as a starter.
Your scenario would be more plausible to me a year or two a go after he would have presumably came to the realization that seeing the field wasn't maybe the sure thing he imagined. You could be right, but we hear things like this from some player or position group ever year, so I guess I've grown skeptical about comments like these.
I believe positive comments from Kugler should be called "Kuglies" from now on. For example, "I could really use a few Kuglies to pick me up today and brighten my mood!"
Except that that looks like it ought to be pronounced like "ugly", and maybe refer to something you might "bump" with a suitably inclined partner.
Keith Jackson used to call offensive linemen "big uglies." Not sure what to do or where to go with that factoid, but there you go.
In the context of gbdub's statement, no one has ever referred to me having a big ugly.
Is it pronounced like ugly or like ooglie?
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I'm guessing it's because they had a couple of clowns in that room last year. I mean Kalis and Magnuson were two guys that loved to have fun. It could be as simple as that. They were seniors so they set the tone and maybe it was a little more layed back. It could also have to do with the addition of Coach Frey.
As far as the more serious part i believe Kugler is talking about himself. I have heard him say that he finally realized what it was going to take for him to crack the starting lineup. He is talking about his overall training in general. I do believe the o-line will be more athletic, which I hope translates to a better running game.
Wait, last year's workouts were less serious? How is that possible?
Not suggesting that Kugler is wrong, but... last year's team didn't show signs of issues with work ethic or anything. Sometimes players are just saying what they know is supposed to be said.
There was a Freep article today about him starting Yoga. He says that helped him improve his flexibility and helping to fix his "waist-bending." Maybe he considers adding that as being more serious.
I guarantee the class is full of hot chicks.
***Guarantee only valid in hot yoga classes
In hot henhouses
better today than yesterday, better tomorrow than today.
the entire team (including the o-line) is now 179 days better than last year.
Wonder how much he coaches the entire unit versus just the tackles?
I'm going to reserve judgment until the Florida game. But I hope he finally comes into his own this season. I remember back when he committed, he was supposed to be the surest of sure things. He is the son of the former OL coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, so who could've blamed anyone for thinking that?
I think every other OL recruit from that class fizzled out or transferred. I hope he bucks that trend.
Well, that was a blast from the past.
Not all of his observations were garbage (he liked Taco Charlton, and of course like Taylor Lewan; he admired a DL drill) but the tone of that post (consisting of Dinardo tweets) was all optimism. And that optimism was misplaced. Wasn't that the year that we couldn't block Akron?
Saturday Sep. 14 |
Akron Zips Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI |
Won 28-24 | ||
Saturday Sep. 21 |
at Connecticut Huskies Rentschler Field, East Hartford, CT |
Won 24-21 |
ugh...
Where's the bleach
This is very depressing for some reason.
Ugh that all makes me shudder. How did it all fall apart so fast?
I think this O line will be an example of addtion by subtraction.
Except those guys you are subtracting were beating some players from this squad.
I'm continually encouraged though by Ben Gedeon.
I was never impressed by Joe Bolden, probably due in large part to Brian's UFRs constantly pointing out his deficiencies. When Bolden, Morgan & Ross left after '15, their was large concern for the the LBs because if Ben Gedeon couldn't beat out Joe Bolden, then expectations for his play should be set relatively low.
And then I thought Gedeon had an outstanding 2016 season.
So for some reason, Gedeon was overlooked in favor of Bolden in 2015. That was either because Gedeon hadn't figured it out yet or because the meritocracy is less wide open than we are led to believe and upper classmen matter. Or maybe Don Brown made LBs look better. I don't know.
But it's not impossible for a Senior to finally get the call, step up and outperform expectations. We saw it happen just last season.
This is the most generic offseason hype ever.
Couple this fantastic news with a whole lot of good weight gain, and a whole lot of good weight loss, and it should be an magical season.
"I fully expect this offensive line to be punishing"- Taylor Lewan, 2013
Does that mean I'm not going to buy in? You bet your ass it doesn't! Can't wait to see a physical, punishing o-line who can blow d-lineman off the ball again!
Sitting through that season was certainly punishment for the viewers.
Pretty sure Lewan was talking about punishing anyone a kicker chooses to assault.
Does the set-up of the offensive coaching staff seem odd to anyone else?
- Offensive Coordinator/OL - Tim Drevno
- Associate Head Coach/Passing Game Coordinator - Pep Hamilton
- Running Game Coordinator/OT/TE - Greg Frey
I know it is a minor point, but why not just make Drevno the OC, and Frey the OL coach. The current set-up seems like a recipe for "too many hands in the cookie jar."
Those are just titles. Coaching duties don't overlap so it's not an issue. Drev coaches Guards and Centers, Frey Tackles and Tight Ends, Jay Backs, Pep Receivers, Jim Quarterbacks. They all coordinate on gameplan with Jim getting the final say on play calls. Pretty simple.
Sounds like a good plan to me!.
I also suspect the line will be improved this year, able to allow us to move the ball in big games on the ground more than last year. It may be a difference maker.