Joey Burzynski & Erik Magnuson to start at guard vs. Indiana
From the Michigan football Twitter account.
October 18th, 2013 at 6:52 PM ^
It really matter their size if their asses play hard?
October 18th, 2013 at 7:16 PM ^
no it doesnt matter but it seems Miller size was part why he was replaced in favor of Glasglow.
October 18th, 2013 at 7:29 PM ^
Just couldn't get a push. We'll see tomorrow I guess.
October 18th, 2013 at 7:31 PM ^
He got benched because he wasn't good. Him being smaller than Glasgow was likely part of the reason he wasn't as good, but it's not like the coaches simply said "Miller is too small, let's put someone bigger there." There are guys at every position who don't have ideal size who are good. When a guy lacks ideal size and he isn't good, people like to point to his size as the reason. Molk lacked elite size but was a badass. Elliott Mealer had great size but really couldn't.
Point is, size is only one part of the equation. Miller's other attributes couldn't overcome his (slight) size deficit. Maybe the coaches feel Magnuson can. He seemed to do pretty well last week.
October 18th, 2013 at 7:39 PM ^
I know that and I agree with you. But all I'm saying is his lack of size and technique cost him his spot. And Mags technique was so good they would have found a spot for him earlier. yes he couldve gotten better during the year but all his play has been on the outside which is why if u wanna play him it would make since moving schofield back inside and play mags outside
October 18th, 2013 at 7:46 PM ^
I disgaree that if Mags was good enough he would have started from the beginning. Sometimes 4 weeks of camp isnt enough time to really see who the starters should be. It's possible Magnuson was close to getting a starting spot, was edged out, and now things have changed. And some guys look better in practice but not so in games. We'll see.
As far as moving Schofield instead of Magnuson - either way you're moving a tackle inside. Might as well keep 3 of the 5 spots in place rather than moving more guys around.
October 18th, 2013 at 7:55 PM ^
I didn't say he shouldve started from the beginning but why wasn't he the one instead of Byrant especially when Bryant was still battling some injuries? Schofield has played guard and at a high level and Mags has only worked in games as a tackle.
October 18th, 2013 at 10:31 PM ^
He was the first lineman off the bench for our jumbo package.
October 18th, 2013 at 10:15 PM ^
Yes, it matters. Face it, football is a grown-up man's game. When a smaller guy makes a splash, they make a movie about him, he gets laid by hot Catholic chicks, and he never has to buy another beer.
October 19th, 2013 at 3:55 AM ^
Is there nothing the SEC can't do?
October 20th, 2013 at 10:14 PM ^
I can't help myself. Given his recent troubles, I doubt many are buying Rudy beers. And as anyone on campus at the time knows--Rudy wasn't getting any chicks--Catholic, hot or otherwise. But the myths endure. :)
October 18th, 2013 at 6:55 PM ^
Look, I get that people are restless, but would you rather the coaches just keep the line that couldn't get fitz more than a yard a rush? After PSU, people criticized the coaches for their stubbornness. Now that the coaches have made a hange, we criticize the change. Stupid.
Do you have a better suggestion for TE starting OL? Who eould you start on the OL and why?
October 18th, 2013 at 6:58 PM ^
I agree with you. The coaches know we suck up front. Its obvious with changes.
October 18th, 2013 at 7:19 PM ^
yes change is needed but this is not a one year problem this is going on a 3 year problem. A lot of players in and out with the same results.
October 18th, 2013 at 7:31 PM ^
That's just not true. Molk's Oline was good. That makes it a one and a half year problem.
October 18th, 2013 at 7:40 PM ^
they were u are correct
October 18th, 2013 at 7:20 PM ^
There always needs to be a scapegoat responsible for all evil. Borges Must Be Criticized. No changes? Stubborn!1!!!1! Changing personnel? Desperate!!11!!
October 18th, 2013 at 7:27 PM ^
u are missing the point. u can change players but if the philosophy is the same, the change means nothing. As much a personnel needs to change, there is also a systematic problem that has not changed which is why we keep getting the same poor oline play.
October 18th, 2013 at 10:36 PM ^
Maybe...probably.
But then again, maybe not.
Its besides the point, really. We're not changing coaches midseason. We're not bringing out a whole new offense. What this change does is give some other guys a shot, show the team that no ones position is safe, and punishes guys for poor play. All good things. I don't think it will work, really, but it is good coaching nonetheless.
October 18th, 2013 at 11:03 PM ^
The play calling and offensive concept are basically making their job impossible.
Why Borges would not game plan to set his offense up for success is "mind bottling"...
October 18th, 2013 at 11:40 PM ^
List your credentials.
October 19th, 2013 at 8:44 AM ^
We need to show credentials with differing opinions? What are yours to say he wrong? I should hope UM would hire no less that an "expert" as OC - how's that been working out?
We all recognize Mattison's 2011 turnaround of the "same" defense as a testament to his coaching prowess - a textbook example of what good coaching can achieve. And yet it's crazy to think that a different OC could achieve more?
October 19th, 2013 at 1:17 AM ^
And come up with something new. You've repeated this same comment way too many times.
October 18th, 2013 at 7:35 PM ^
Size aint the problem. Bowling Green, Louisiana Lafayette, and the Ohio Bobcats' 260-pound linemen didn't have any problems creating space against Akron. Our four-star 300-pounders did.
October 18th, 2013 at 6:53 PM ^
Magnuson should have been on the field earlier. He is a future star.
October 18th, 2013 at 6:56 PM ^
If he's really 285 lbs, he hasn't gained a pound since he committed. Just fwiw
October 18th, 2013 at 7:05 PM ^
I doubt he was a rock solid 285 in HS, so he most likely just swapped a little fat with a little muscle and stayed the same on the scales.
October 18th, 2013 at 7:34 PM ^
And those numbers are also almost never accurate. If an OL recruit is 260, he's not going to say he's 260. At least not usually. This is why so many of our recruits come in shorter and lighter on the roster than they were as recruits.
Chris Wormley was reported anywhere between 6'6" and 6'8" as a recruit, but now he's 6'4". This is not the case with everyone, but it is with most.
October 19th, 2013 at 4:14 AM ^
Wormley has a case of the shrinks?
October 18th, 2013 at 7:17 PM ^
If memory serves me right he was 285 when I met him at the Army All American Bowl. Time for some. chalupa's and breakfast taco's....
October 18th, 2013 at 8:32 PM ^
He will hold his own. He will be one of the starting tackles next year.
October 19th, 2013 at 12:26 AM ^
But everyone, perhaps including Mrs. Magnuson, thought Kyle Kalis was a college-ready star-of-the-future.
We don't know a fucking thing until they have to block someone.
October 18th, 2013 at 6:55 PM ^
Why not try Terry Richardson at Guard...I hear he's up to 170 now. Maybe he can get a push on the line.
October 18th, 2013 at 6:58 PM ^
At some point you just have to let the guys play through the tough times so they can grow and mature. This constant shuffling does nothing but keep setting us back.
October 18th, 2013 at 7:20 PM ^
this is true.
October 18th, 2013 at 10:45 PM ^
There is no reason to be wed to any one guy. We all thought Kalis was a 4 year starter, but if he's beaten out and never plays, I would not lose any sleep over it. Will it harm this the cohesion of this year's line? Probably, but cohesion isn't as big a problem as taking the right step, being fast about it, and being strong enough to move a guy.
There will be 14 or so non-redshirting freshman fighting for 5 jobs next year. Let these guys get a live audition. It can't be much worse than what we've gotten so far. If nothing else, they will have gained some game reps, which might help them for next season.
The expectation is for the position.
October 18th, 2013 at 7:00 PM ^
It doesn't matter. I'm sure tomorrow we'll run the ball against a bad team. We won't be able to run against staee or Ohio or any other decent defenses. Not with what this staff wants to run. Not with these players.
October 18th, 2013 at 7:02 PM ^
The line wouldn't look so bad. I'm not trying to say changes aren't needed, but when a monkey could easily guess that Borges is going to run power into a stacked box on first down the Oline is at a distinct disadvantage. Is Al our Charlie W???
October 18th, 2013 at 7:03 PM ^
I may be wrong here, but I'm wondering if this means Michigan is going to run more of a shotgun/spread type of offense. Burzynski and Magnuson are guys more suited to zone blocking than someone like Chris Bryant or even Kyle Kalis, and Magnuson came out of high school as a solid pass blocker who needed to work on his run blocking. Maybe the coaches are (finally) saying "F*** the power and iso. We're running zone, we're gonna throw the ball, and we'll see what happens."
October 18th, 2013 at 7:08 PM ^
I sure hope you're right!
October 18th, 2013 at 7:09 PM ^
I think you're right. If it works early they will stick with the whole game and expand on it in the bye week.
October 18th, 2013 at 7:14 PM ^
After reading that, I can't decide if Borges is using his brain or if he's lost the last of it having said "F*ck it. Maybe these guys will be able to run block"
October 18th, 2013 at 7:14 PM ^
Pretty please.
October 18th, 2013 at 7:17 PM ^
Sweet baby Jesus a ray of hope.
And it comes from MAGNUS of all people!
October 18th, 2013 at 7:38 PM ^
Is that they're going back to that god-forsaken zone stretch.
October 18th, 2013 at 7:40 PM ^
Please be right Mr. Mangus
October 18th, 2013 at 7:54 PM ^
I had the same thought. Magnuson is pretty good at pass pro, Bryant is... not very good. We might be buying some more time in the pocket for Gardner at the expense of push on run (theoretically, Bryant was getting pushed, not getting push).
October 18th, 2013 at 10:23 PM ^
Magnuson = Son of Magnus. I now see the connection. Well played.
Seriously, though, I hope your reasoning is correct. I'll personally pen an ode to Magnus (haiku format) if this strategy comes to fruition and your instincts are correct.