October 9th, 2017 at 2:28 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 2:31 PM ^
I just don't understand how coaches create giant holes on rosters like this. You have 85 scholarships. You only play 5 lineman. You can't find one competent right tackle? Wtf.
October 9th, 2017 at 2:43 PM ^
I thought Brian explained it pretty well:
* Hoke. Ideally Kugler would have some 2013 5th-year senior classmates left. 2014 was a small class and JBB looks like one of Hoke's many misses.
* Newsome. Damn.
* Very abbreviated 2015 recruiting period. Ulizo. Probable miss.
* 2016: To date, the low point of Harbaugh's recruiting (not reeling in any OTs).
October 9th, 2017 at 3:38 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 4:30 PM ^
And in that 2015 class Jim/Tim also reeled in Newsome from Penn State.
2016 is bad cause its nothing but guards (even though Bredeson was labeled a OT on the recruiting sites) but that calss had to fill A LOT of holes. LB, DL, DB, TE, RB etc.
ANd look at how many of those kids are contributing now: Hudson, Hill, Long, Bush, Bredeson, Big Mike, Evans, McDoom, Metellus, Gary, etc.
The main problems with that class are not replacing Hamilton and losing Asiasi to home sickness.
2017 got four OTs and a center to address the OL. So the future of the oL is pretty well set.
2018 he has 3 OL so far (IF Ekiyor sticks), and 2019 has a top 100 OT in it already with Rumler.
October 9th, 2017 at 9:45 PM ^
I (and everyone else) was suuuuure that was finally going to be the bedrock of Michigan O-lines being dominant again
4* Kyle Bosch flamed out, 4* Patrick Kugler took 4 years to become an ok center, 4* Chris Fox had to retire, 4* LTT did bad things, 3* Dan Samuelson transferred?, and 4* David Dawson never did anything.
An elite looking OL class which has given us precisely one guy starting in his 5th year. Where would we be if half of them pan out?
October 9th, 2017 at 2:34 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 2:59 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 2:37 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 2:56 PM ^
Pretty much everyone expected the O-line to be an issue this year. Unfortunately, they can't just go sign a guy off of another teams practice squad.
October 9th, 2017 at 4:04 PM ^
weren't we looking at grad transfers....really wish they could have reeled one in.
October 9th, 2017 at 5:05 PM ^
Miami (YTM) OT grad transfer Sunny Odogwu went to UCLA over Michigan. Mora promised that Sunny would start, Harbaugh would not make that promise.
October 9th, 2017 at 11:09 PM ^
Torn on this one....I probably would have gone ahead and made that promise. You ideally rotate lineman anyway, so what harm is that promise? Especially seeing what we have now....
October 9th, 2017 at 4:52 PM ^
I didn't...for I expected Harbaugh/Drevno history and gave it the benefit of doubt.... what was so annoying was in the past recruiring classes, every time there was a "Hello" post for an OL, each time I'd be disappointed to learn that the player was suited the interior, time and time again. It just didn't seem right, and don't know how this one got by Jim. Granted he lost Newsome, but still, theres nothing on the other side, nor any depth. Ball dropped.
October 9th, 2017 at 4:46 PM ^
You thought our OL was problem-free until Saturday?
October 9th, 2017 at 2:46 PM ^
Well when in there . Watched the game again and paid attention to him when in there . Did his job blocking and communicating
October 9th, 2017 at 2:57 PM ^
The only player on the bench that should be inserted into the lineup is Runyan. He has looked good when he has played. Not sure what else you can do. It's not like the players are suddenly going to get better.
October 9th, 2017 at 3:02 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 3:05 PM ^
Next year is year 4. Who is going to be here next year that is going to make this OL better than this year?
Iowa State used a walk on quarterback to beat Oklahoma, yet 3 years with QB Guru Harbaugh and we have zero QBs.
For what Harbaugh, Drevno, Hamilton and Frey get paid, there should be zero excuses on why they can't field an average offense.
Our young defensive backs seem to be playing just fine as well as that young Bush guy at MLB.
Let's just take it for what it is, the recruiting misses on offense are apparent as well as an issue with coaching.
October 9th, 2017 at 3:15 PM ^
I don't get the Pep hype either. The fact is the Browns QBs totally sucked when he was there and Kizer is doing better (albeit complete shit) than any Browns QB in the last 7-8 years.
October 9th, 2017 at 3:30 PM ^
Pep Hamilton was with Cleveland for one season - 2016. His QB options were Cody Kessler, Josh McCown and Robert Griffin. What he did with them has nothing to do with what a new OC is doing with a QB Hamilton didn't have on his roster.
But since you brought it up, Kizer is barely completing 50% with 3 TDs, 9 INTs and was just pulled and benched by the 0-5 Browns after he blew ass against the Jets. Yeah, he's awesome.
October 9th, 2017 at 3:42 PM ^
Josh McCown sure looks a lot better on the Jets.
It's not all about stats. Kizer looks a lot better than any Browns QB in awhile (I will agree it doesn't say much).. It might not be Pep's fault, but both O'Korn and Speight do not rely on fundamental football when they do 3-5 step drops. Neither one steps up into the pocket etc... Speight throws off his back foot. O'Korn scrambles laterally, but not like Rodgers and makes it like 2-3 yards before he forces a throw. O'Korn never throws check downs etc...
It's pathetic QB play.
FWIW the Jets are 3-2.
October 9th, 2017 at 3:55 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 12:02 AM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 3:06 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 3:39 PM ^
Lewerke's mobility kept him from getting sacked not a frosh OG
October 9th, 2017 at 3:14 PM ^
I don't want to make a new thread and get neg bombed...but would Morris be better than O'Korn?
October 9th, 2017 at 3:22 PM ^
We need to run power with this O-line. They can do that at an acceptable level IMHO.
Also, we have exactly 1 NFL caliber player on our offense. His name is Khalid Hill. FUCKING USE HIM!!
When the rain came our game plan should have consisted of pulling a guard, handing to Hill, and turning their LB's spines into a fine paste.
October 9th, 2017 at 3:43 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 3:56 PM ^
Gentry and McKeon could plausibly have NFL futures. A bit early to say. But yeah, your point remains.
October 9th, 2017 at 4:56 PM ^
Sorry but I disagree... Isaac, Black, Cole, Ruiz, DPJ, Gentry, all will play on Sundays. And maybe Bredeson. And I am holding out for Speight, too. He is just as good as Rudock and Rudock is playing. Oh, and Hill.
October 9th, 2017 at 8:30 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 3:25 PM ^
How many offenses in college football wouldn't be at least 4-1 with this defense and our schedule so far?
October 9th, 2017 at 3:28 PM ^
The line issues are being exaggerated. For everyone complaining about why they didn't pass more, I thought they were relatively successful mashing in the I until they spread it out or tried to pass in a monsoon. You can mitigate and develop through scheme or you can suck and make excuses. This entire year on offense has been terrible. I hope it gets better. I doubt it will this year.
October 9th, 2017 at 3:45 PM ^
I agree, we seemed to running the ball decently until it became came increasingly clear we weren't going take any shots down field. Although our pass protection wasn't very good, some of that can be on the receivers failure to get open.
October 9th, 2017 at 3:30 PM ^
TBH, I'm not so worried for the rest of this year...it is what it is based on recruiting failures/coaching failures, etc. But how does it get better for NEXT year? Will Ruiz be any better than Keugler? Who is our left tackle if we can't count on Newsome returning? Can Ulizio improve to something acceptable?
October 9th, 2017 at 3:32 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 3:56 PM ^
Is it wrong of me to say that while this probably gets called instantly, I like where that kid's head is at with innovation in blocking / tackling?
It probably is wrong to think that, but I can't help myself here - I was impressed. Never would have expected something like that.
October 9th, 2017 at 3:51 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 3:54 PM ^
Harbaugh at least rectified them atter by taking for OT last class.
October 9th, 2017 at 4:06 PM ^
that we scored two TD's last week with Runyon at G and didn't even try it once this week to see it might have worked.
October 9th, 2017 at 4:11 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 4:10 PM ^
Two things:
First, I am not an insider and I don't play one on TV, but IIRC, we have the OL split between two coaches. I don't have the slightest idea how that works, I can only say I hope it is not part of the problem, and I trust Jim to make sure it isn't a problem.
Second, Jemele Hill was suspended for two weeks, so there's a little schadenfreude for your Monday.
That is all. Go Blue.
October 9th, 2017 at 4:13 PM ^
if Newsome is healthy in 2018 then I think our OLine will be better. I had a lengthy talk with Grant in Dallas and I can tell you he believes he will be 100% ready for Spring ball (in fact, he thinks he's fairly close now). Many of our concerns go away if he's fully recovered.
Criticize all you want but Harbaugh has had to restock a completely depleted OLine. The failings have come in our ability to recruit top end Tackles who can step in and help immediately. The Hamilton flip and Becton surprise really cripled us. But at least Jim is building depth with young talent like Ruiz, Filiaga, Stueber, Hudson, Hall, Spanellis and Honigford.
Wouldn't a grad transfer RT be nice?
October 9th, 2017 at 7:09 PM ^
coming all the way back from that injury. Don't be surprised if the news breaks one day that he takes a medical and leaves football, or if he stays will never play another down (just symbolic jesture to be on the team until graduation).
Really if I'm wrong I will be extremely glad!!
October 9th, 2017 at 4:17 PM ^
because it screws up their stance and footwork especially if they're not trained to go from left to right. It's not easy for say, Bredeson to move from LG to RT because he has to get comfortable with the stance and footwork/techniques which is a complete opposite from the other side.
For example, you've been batting right handed for most of your career and all of the sudden, the coach asked you to start batting left handed. It's hard to master right away because your brain and body arent' used to it. It takes a lot of practices and reps to get it down.
I rather have OL to stick with one side.
October 9th, 2017 at 4:24 PM ^
Well, if Frey can't get it done, Chris Foerster is looking for a job.
October 9th, 2017 at 5:19 PM ^