Insights on our OL from a former college OL player

The thing about OL that makes them hard to rank in high school is that their bodies have to go through the most change to be field ready.  5 stars are 5 stars because their bodies are already ready or theyre freaks in some manner like petit frere last year. 100-1000 shows correlation, but it is definitely hard on scouting services.

I largely agree with the general statements made by your friend, but I don't understand the argument that Michigan's offensive line wasn't "big" enough for the Big 10.  Last year's line averaged 6'4", 316lbs, which is larger than the national average and a solid 10 pounds more than average in the conference.  I eyeballed OSU's depth chart, and their offensive line averages around 6'5" and 310 lbs; PSU came in a tiny bit shorter (6' 4") but heavier (323 lbs, which is apparently a record).  Michigan is around 6' 4" and 320 lbs, though a lot of that is Onwenu being listed at 350 lbs and being 6' 3".  And even in PSU's case, I'm not sure how much it's helped them on the ground; while they average about a half-yard more a rush than Michigan, their second leading rusher is Trace McSorley, which is mostly on scrambles and designed runs that I'm not sure matter all that much in terms of size.  

There was a nice diary a couple of years ago that mapped out the average weights in the conference, and outside of Iowa and Wisconsin virtually everyone was bunched together around the same weight.  So maybe a half-inch here or a couple of pounds there matters to someone in the trenches, but to my uneducated eye that doesn't strike me as all that relevant.  

So again, it's always good to hear outsiders' views on the state of the program, and I'm sure he picks out really interesting nuances in how the line has played.  I just was surprised about the size comment, unless he really believes that the size difference is a major detriment to the type of offense being run.

I like what you're saying OP so I'm choosing to believe every word of it.

Having 2 OL coaches last year was probably a big mistake.

Also sounds like we need some of those required meals.

We just need to trust Harbaugh. He can't bend the rules or bring in quick-fix JUCOs, so it will take time.

It's nice to see validation of his methods by "professionals"

Also, this likely explains why he's not putting the young guys out there just yet. He knows they need to gel and playing in cupcake blowouts is just part of that process

I have a friend who grew up in Ann Arbor in a Michigan family close to the football program who believes he's heard enough to "guarantee" to 20-40% of every scholarship roster should technically be ineligible for banned substances. He says it used to be institutional (forced "food" (?), I'm not sure, but university-santioned) but now is driven by individual players scared to get behind -- and perhaps that is less safe.

I'm skeptical, but my skepticism is mostly based on hopes, dreams, and the observation that there are precious few annual PED suspensions in NCAAF. But when confronted with the same observation, this friend strongly contends that the explanation is in enforcement/testing being famously lax, rather than in PEDing because proportionally low.

Lame if true.

oral-only steroid cycles are high-risk, low-reward. A team that just dumps crushed-up Anavar into its training table meals is not going to accomplish much

I can completely believe that last part and don’t think it’s just an SEC thing either.  Drug testing is pretty much a joke at this level.

2nd best OL in the conference?? If that turns out to be true, I'll eat some of that Auburn substance

OK, summary:

Our OL kinda better this year

But still needs a lot of work

And might be good by the end of year if everything is OK

Other programs cheat

I agree and disagree about the reliability of star rankings for offensive lineman. While it's true that most high school seniors need several years of weight training and weight gain to be division one game ready, the genuine 5 star line recruits are often ready to go as freshman or sophomores. Here, for example, is Alex Leatherwood as a high school senior. He needs neither roids nor weight gain, in my amateur opinion. 

No doubt it's correct that the whole of an Oline is always greater than the sum of it's parts, especially recruiting parts.

The key ingredient for a unit that relies so much on chemistry is leadership. And both Bredeson & Ruiz are better leaders on the Oline than they've had in some years, plus a singular voice coaching it ........(+warriner > drevno).

I like their chances to be a really good unit, with solid upgrades in the wings, by the end of the year.

How much blame should be placed not on the OL, but on the inability of the RBs and TEs to pickup the late blitzes/stunts?

Wilson has made a few key blocks that have accounted for some big plays.  I don't know if the same could be said for Higdon and certainly not Evans.

OSU does not have a great OL, but they have RBs that are solid in pass pro.  

this take is SPOT ON....  for years i have thought the same thing about our lines size... Michigan's lines of old were of Wisconsin's size today...big and menacing..then it went awry with the late RR years (although score a few for Lewan, and maybe Schofield, though he should have been kicked inside)...then onto Hoke, who puts Cole at LT...this was an abomination.... Cole was small to begin with and should be center...even at G he was small by old Michigan standards...  Harbaugh is doing the same thing with Runyan at T.....   

and i couldnt help but think that he was referring to Kalis, regarding his recruit ranking being out of whack...

re HGH, I bet harbaugh has them drink a ton of milk, which is full of HGH.

Ironically, I ran into a former college football coach at a Waffle House and his take on Urban Meyer is that he's a pompous liar who puts winning above all else.

One of the better board posts in a while, assuming it’s mostly true. Thanks for sharing.