Quick thought on Funk
When it comes to Darrell Funk and the offensive line fusion cusine, I have no interest in arguing how bad the line is right now or exactly whose fault it is. That argument is older than the average age of the starting interior linemen at OSU.
My question is this: why did Patrick Kugler, whose Dad was the Steelers OL coach and is now the head coach at UTEP, come to Michigan to play football? I can't imagine his Dad and he didn't watch Funk coach during practices before deciding he was the guy they wanted to be Patrick's position coach. If Funk is Kugler and Son approved, where does this evidence play into the overall conversation in the "fire Funk" vs. "young line, not all Funk's fault" discussion?
November 19th, 2013 at 8:59 AM ^
while we have Miller and Glasgow doing a terrible job.
November 19th, 2013 at 9:00 AM ^
November 19th, 2013 at 9:36 AM ^
Most kids don't get their man strength until 21 years old. Give the testosterone time... Kugler will be likely starting by the end of next season, as a 20 year old.
November 19th, 2013 at 9:57 AM ^
IIRC, he also had shoulder surgery this year before reporting to Michigan.
November 19th, 2013 at 11:39 AM ^
November 19th, 2013 at 11:41 AM ^
November 19th, 2013 at 9:01 AM ^
November 19th, 2013 at 9:23 AM ^
I bet $1 in fake Internet money that Patrick Kugler is the starting center in 2014.
/onalimb
November 19th, 2013 at 9:41 AM ^
I was told by an M insider thats in the program, that "Braden looks like Tarzan, but plays like Jane" Id still play him, because he could morph out of it, on the field under fire. I think Braden shouldve been playing RT and kicking the experience (Schofield) inside to RG.
November 19th, 2013 at 9:30 AM ^
1. Kugler is a freshman.
2. Kugler was injured last year (torn labrum).
There is no way in hell that a freshman coming off of an injury will be getting a starting job, and if he's not starting theres really no reason to burn his redshirt.
November 19th, 2013 at 9:42 AM ^
November 19th, 2013 at 11:18 AM ^
torn a labia or two in my day, but never a labrum.
November 19th, 2013 at 12:33 PM ^
November 19th, 2013 at 2:39 PM ^
Maybe you should have made those dudes use some lube.
November 19th, 2013 at 11:33 AM ^
Love your logic here....because Patrick hasn't been inserted into a starting position that must mean that his father, who was an OLine coach for the Steelers, Lions, and the undefeated 2006 Boise State teams, doesn't know what good OLine coaching looks like?
November 19th, 2013 at 9:00 AM ^
November 19th, 2013 at 9:33 AM ^
By father’s death, I believe you’re thinking of Dawson, not Kugler.
November 19th, 2013 at 9:35 AM ^
...to Funk.
November 19th, 2013 at 9:37 AM ^
November 19th, 2013 at 10:59 AM ^
something tells me that with the death of Funk's dad, and everyone seems to forget the death of Adam Stenavich's infant child, that their has been some real distraction between the o-line coaches.....obviously they should improve and it is not an end all excuse, but the death of Funk's dad happened the day of or after the MSU game, and it was almost like it just added to the already tragic death of Stenavich's son. The coaches do have real lives they deal with too. I however did see a little improvement against NWestern, hopefully it builds confidence.
I still have faith in this staff....although Borges makes me nervous.
Great point about the Kuglar family and how they probably did evaluate Funk's coaching.
November 19th, 2013 at 9:18 AM ^
November 19th, 2013 at 10:30 AM ^
November 19th, 2013 at 10:48 AM ^
I thought it was. I wasn't quite sure if the person she responded to was an idiot or not, but her response solidified in my mind that he is, in fact, an idiot.
So +1 Insightful, and +1 Helpful to MGoBrewMom from me.
November 19th, 2013 at 9:12 AM ^
I agree and don't know the answer. Aside from having a young line, my only guess is that Borges is not calling plays that take into account how young/ bad our interior line is.
The other question is how does Glasgow as a walk-on, by all accounts look decent as a RS So? Clearly, he was coached up by somebody.
November 19th, 2013 at 12:20 PM ^
When you can't block for a run and can't pass protect, what plays can Borges run to avoid thos situations?
It's not an impossible situation, but it is one of the most difficult things an OC can face, and there are few guys out there who can find greater and more consistent success with a simiar situation.
November 19th, 2013 at 1:04 PM ^
Short passing game, screens, not play action on 3rd and long...
November 19th, 2013 at 9:13 AM ^
I came for a quick thought on the late 60's, early 70's rhythmic music form. Not a fan of either.
November 19th, 2013 at 9:26 AM ^
November 19th, 2013 at 9:57 AM ^
I realize people might feel that this is the official word of sorts in this article, but hearing Lewan talk about Funk as he does in this article provides an angle that we may not typically get into the situation. To hear Lewan say that Funk is one of the best OL coaches that he has had and to hear Lwean talk specifically about how Funk handles the youth situation is actually something that I find interesting.
November 19th, 2013 at 10:39 AM ^
To be fair, he's only had 2 OL coaches in college. At that point he's basically saying that Funk is better than RR's OL coach.
November 19th, 2013 at 11:19 AM ^
in the country. I have a hard time believing that Funk is a better OL coach than Frey.
November 19th, 2013 at 12:37 PM ^
November 19th, 2013 at 1:13 PM ^
Well, that and Taylor Lewan is going to get paid some money in about 5 months based on his capacity as a lineman. I would imagine his insight into coaching might be relevant.
Cue the "Taylor Lewan" regression meme.
November 19th, 2013 at 1:38 PM ^
Just because an athlete believes more in a coach doesn't mean that coach is more effective.
November 19th, 2013 at 3:50 PM ^
Than guy just saying stuff on a message board.
November 20th, 2013 at 2:25 PM ^
I don't think so. The athlete is usually too invested in his coach to be able to properly evaluate something like this.
November 20th, 2013 at 3:21 PM ^
Aren't too emotional or invested in their beliefs like those athletes are.
Go take a look at the Mathelete post where the actual numbers of Michigan on 4th down have been posted a half dozen times but people are STILL saying this Michigan offense only had a 0.0% chance of converting.
Fans are emotional and cling to their beliefs just as hard. They just know a lot less about football, too.
November 19th, 2013 at 10:08 AM ^
November 19th, 2013 at 12:37 PM ^
November 19th, 2013 at 10:46 AM ^
November 19th, 2013 at 11:02 AM ^
for advice? Damn!
November 19th, 2013 at 12:20 PM ^
Exactly. Who else remember's Lewan's Teboe-esque "We will never play harder" from earlier this season? What a crock.
November 19th, 2013 at 5:14 PM ^
At this juncture, a bunch of people who know at best very little about offensive line play have already passed a verdict upon Funck.
So whatever this Lewan fella is talking about is probably just a bunch of bullshit.
November 19th, 2013 at 9:47 AM ^
November 19th, 2013 at 11:34 AM ^
Games Solo Assist TFL Sacks PBU Hurry FF/FR
Clowney 9 22 10 8.5 2 2 7 1
Clark 10 16 20 9.5 4.5 1 7 2
arg, formatting
November 19th, 2013 at 12:07 PM ^
Do you see offensive coordinator designed gameplan to get away from Clowney and double team him? You don't see it from Clark. Another reason why stats are misleading at first glance.
Watch South Carolina game. Clowney often get into the backfield. The rest of the SC DL looks like they're running on quicksand compared to him. There is a reason why he's a top 5 NFL prospect.