What is state of OL?
Like many of you, I am looking forward to more real news about football. I am particularly curious about the current state of the OL, given Drevno's (and Harbaugh's) track record. The current two deep shows:
| LT | M. Cole | L. Tuley-Tillmann | G. Newsome |
| LG | K. Kalis | D. Dawson | D. Samuelson |
| C | G. Glasgow | P. Kugler | |
| RG | B. Braden |
B. Bars |
J. Runyan |
| RT | E. Magnuson | J. Bushell-Beatty |
How accurate is this? With the commitment palooza, there have been rumblings of medicals and attrition, and I have heard rumors of some of this coming on the OL. Are announcements like this made at any time, or at the beginning of practice in August, or the beginning of the season?
And with commitments from Ben Bredeson, Michael Onwenu, Eric Swenson, and Michigan in the running for Terrance Davis, there is obviously a strong emphasis on bringing in solid OL recruits. I'm thrilled to see this, and also wonder if looking to bring in 4 or 5 on the OL portends attrition on the line. Anyone who can shed light would be greatly appreciated. We want road graders to help both our running backs, and to give time for the passing game to get stronger.
Braden? Or do you mean Magnuson? I think there is higher than zero percent chance that Braden does not have a future in the NFL.
Did you read my comment?
I'm saying that "zero chance that Braden does not end up in the NFL" is a little over the top.
Not what was said...
I realize that was a lot of double-negatives. I almost confused myself as I was writing it.
We've been watching different versions of M football.
... Unless I'm looking at it wrong, that includes a lot of projected starters this fall (Darboh, Chesson, Wormley, Kalis, Braden, Henry). It seems like we should want a majority back for a fifth year unless I'm way off? Gant, Godin, Clark and the like make sense, but are the minority.
He's talking out of his behind. Don't pay much attention to what he said.
As opposed to what you do literally all the time?
For the record I didnt start this one. You did.
What you said above is false.
The end.
Eat shit.
a bar of soap for each of you!
I feel like daddy hit mommy at the dinner table. The offseason summer heat is getting the best of our mgopoint leaderboard. Take your shirts off bros.
.BOTH of you!
I could see a bunch not being asked back. You mentioned Gant, Godin and Clark, although I think Strobel is more likely not to be asked back than Godin. But beyond that:
Johnson: RB with major injury history. He's been good when he's played, but if he doesn't bounce back from injury he could fall behind Green, Smith and Isaac, plus we have a bunch of RB types coming in in 2016. He could definitely play his way into a 5th year, but he could also be the next Hayes/Rawls.
Bars: Hasn't played much at all and we're bringing in a bunch of OL in 2016, and he isn't projected to play this year.
Richardson: Has barely played, is behind Lewis, Peppers, Watson, and Stribling on the depth chart from what it seems, guys who are all younger than him. Plus there may be some CB's we bring in this year or some of the RB type guys like Enis or Evans who play corner.
Chesson: I honestly think even he's an option. He's made less than 30 catches in his time here, only has one career TD, and hasn't looked too explosive. He's a good blocker but I don't think that's enough to keep him for a 5th year. If he doesn't improve drastically this year, he could be behind a multitide of guys. Also, this is speculation on my part, but he's a very smart guy and could definitely pull a Jack Miller. Hell, the first article you see when you google Chesson is an MGoBlue one about him prepping for life after football.
So that's potentially 8 guys (Gant, Godin, Strobel, Clark, Johnson, Bars, Richardson, Chesson) who could leave. Do I think all of them will? Of course not. But if even 5 do, that's a lot, and brings us up to almost 20 openings for next year's class, which is looking to be bigger than that, so it could definitely happen.
Will eat a lemon and a lime on the internet if Chesson does not get his 5th-year. Hard-working, athletic, willing blocker...this guy fits Harbaugh's style.
Obviously I'm not hoping he doesn't come back, but if he puts up another year of 15 catches, 170 yards and no TDs while some younger players are outproducing him, it's a definite possibility.
And how were his stats compared to the rest of the WR corps? I don't think he's going to be Braylon or anything, but he's still just a junior and has played on teams with some of the worst passing offense in Michigan history.
2013 was one of the most prolific passing offenses in UM history.
Chesson is definitely a different animal. He turned out exactly opposite of what i percieved him as. I figured more Drake Harris (skinny outiside burner, not great blocker) and he ended up being one of the better blocking WR's in recent history, unable to create separation i figured he would be able to get.
But what a great, hard working guy. I would have to figure he comes back...simply put WR is possibly the weakest unit on the entire team. Who is more productive/experienced?
I really like Chesson even though he will never be a Manningham/Edwards type. But he is a solid player that i enjoy watching play, espectially his vicious blocking.
I thought Godin showed some flashes last year of being a guy on the rise. I don't see him being shown the door if he keeps improving this year. Clark was pretty rough overall, but it was his first year getting any meaningful minutes at a pretty tough position. Gant...meh.
EDIT: I meant all non-starters obviously. 5th years will be something earned, not given, going forward.
For what it's worth (and I have no problem with you) it wasn't obvious that you meant all non-starters because you said all or most 5th year seniors.
That has been the case as long as I've been following football.
Wait...do you mean that not all potential fifth years were given a fifth year by Brady Hoke? It's weird how the truth gets in the way of opinions sometimes...
I don't think we will have one fifth year guy next season who hasn't established himself as a starter. Even in the unrealistic scenario where no natural attrition occurs, Michigan has the room to take a recruiting class of 28 (which I think we will) in 2016 just through unrenewed fifth years.
Darboh, Kalis, Magnuson, Wormley, Henry - these are the only fifth year guys next year who I can see the coaches really feeling they need back.
They look fine.
Because you know what we know collectively. I doubt we'll be provided with a starting lineup until Utah week, although some attrition might occur I suppose. Drevno isn't likely to share.
current state: a sort of agglomeration of solid and liquid. Consistency not unlike that of a mature hog ready for slaughter. So I'm told.
Probably flip Braden and Kalis.
Beyond the starting 5 because (generally speaking) one of your starters or your top backup is flexible enough to move positions. Assuming an OT or OG goes down, the next guy in is usally going to be the next best available linemen regardless of position.
The above is not always true (especially when it comes to centers), but for our team there are a bunch of guys who are flexible enough to play OT or OG (or in Glasgow's case pretty much anywhere).
The real question for depth is who the 6th best OLmen is (ssuming the starting 5 is pretty set (if not positionally then in the personnel). If the "next man in" is Kugler that means Glasgow would shift wherever else he is needed. If it's Dawson, then Braden or even Kalis could bump outside.
All the above said -- we don't really know much without the team practicing and even then it's an unknown. There isn't a single guy locked into a single position. For a while Braden was considered a 'pure' OT and even he has moved around now. Furthermore, there is a new coaching staff who may love Newsome or Samuelson, for all we know.
Interested to see how Braden looks in camp if indeed he is playing guard..The previous staff did not seem to like him at that spot..I hope he comes into his zone this year because he has the size to be a mauler.
Chris Fox, I would love to see him succeed and he also has the size..Injury seems to be his obstacle..Wish him health
Wisconsin.
Last time I checked Wisconsin was the state of OL. Those boys are huge.
The top four 2016 prospects in the state of Wisconsin are offensive tackles.
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The way I see it the Top4 OL in no particular order are:
- Cole
- Kalis
- Glasgow
- Magnuson
I think the 5th OL spot will be fought out between Braden and Dawson, and possibly Bars and maybe Samuelson. The darkhorse could be Kugler who was very well thought of as an advanced recruit and could push Glasgow out to G.
Hopefully, if any of the incoming freshmen on the OL wind up as a starter next season, it's because they earned it through their play in practice, which is the way it should be. Part of our troubles in recent years with the offense has been a lack of good competition amongst our line personnel due to depth issues. We've started some guys not because they earned that spot by beating out 2 or 3 or players for it, but because we just didn't have any good alternatives. Mason Cole was a solid player last year, but the fact that he was able to win the starting job as a true freshmen embodied this problem.
Ideally, all the guys we bring in for the OL would redshirt next year and then those redshirt freshmen who wind up starting, are starting because they outplayed the upperclassman in front of them. This is a healthy model for a college football roster. I doubt any of our 5th year seniors are not getting asked back.
Awaiting phase resolution in the presence of Drevno and Harbaugh, catalysts. Flux throughout the season predicted to modest extent. I think we'll titrate to a winning solution.
O-lie-o?
/s
Bars is a prime candidate to be a 5th year tranny and I wouldn't be surprised if both Fox and Samuelson have to "medical".
But Strobel, Godin, Gant, Ricardson all could have diplomas with little PT coming there way.
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