Sam Webb 1-on-1 w/ Al Netter on Offensive Line & Tyler Friday 4* DT Nugget

Submitted by ColeIsCorky on

For all the negativity going on around the Offensive Line play, particularly in pass protection and also regarding the future with how recruiting is going with OL, I thought this would be well received.

For those who are not aware, Al Netter is an offensive line assistant on the staff. I believe he's been with the staff since Harbaugh arrived. Here Sam Webb is interviewing Al Netter on the offensive line play and the young depth behind the starters. Lots of good tidbits in here.

Coach speak or not, this may at least help relieve some concern about the future of the offensive line. Depth is extremely young, and it sounds like the young guys in particular are showing a ton of promise. Probably the guy to watch for the most based off these podcasts, especially next season, is James Hudson. Sam mentions him at the end of the interview as well. Sounds like he could be a star in the near future. Other good notes on Stueber and many others.

And quick recruiting note - In the recruiting roundup, Sam goes into a short discussion on Tyler Friday (High 4* DT out of NJ - #67 247 Composite). Sounds like the staff really likes their chances of getting him (listen to the podcast and youw ill understand). While browsing his 247 profile, I also noticed Steve Lorenz has a note up within the last day regarding his recruitment. My guess is some info has leaked, but I don't have anything else to add other than that. A couple other recruits noted in the podcast as well that's worth listening to.

As has been said before, it would be unwise to give up completely on the 2018 class as far as picking up notable commitments goes. Michigan is also going after a couple top 100 kids in Florida's class which have shown mutual interest. No matter what, Michigan is coming off two top 5 classes in a row, with 2019 priming to be another top 5 class. I wouldn't be concerned about the future of Michigan football, and these podcasts will help relieve the biggest worry of most of us with the future of the Offensive Line play.

Links for today's "Inside Schembechler Hall" podcasts (Part 2 & 3 w/ Al Netter) and Recruiting Roundup

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Recruiting Roundup

MGoBoard
Football

stephenrjking

November 3rd, 2017 at 1:09 PM ^

I want to believe.

*And if Hudson can drop in and play to the level of Michael Onwenu (raw, makes mistakes, lots of talent, noticeable growth through the season) next year that's a huge plus. 

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20143986

Jimmyisgod

November 3rd, 2017 at 1:11 PM ^

Here's the way I see it.  We have a below average O line, probably a 5 or 6 on a scale of 1-10.

We have two players on it who play at the level of 7 or 8, we lose both of these players to graduation.

We have 1 other player there in Onwenu that plays between a 5 and an 8 depending on the day.

We have another player that is between a 4 and a 6 at LG.

Our RT is between a 2 and a 5.

So, most likely case next year, we have a consistent 8 at RG.  We have a 6 at LG.  And we have 3 question marks at LT, C, and RT.  O line should be no better next year than this year, and probably a little worse.

Joined: 01/24/2012

MGoPoints: 10342

stephenrjking

November 3rd, 2017 at 1:50 PM ^

There has been steady, visible progress since the bye week, obscured in the eyes of casual fans by crushing losses to MSU and PSU.

But the MSU game was a weird one and the questions about playcalling exist in large part because Michigan was actually moving the ball when they ran in the second half. And the PSU game had issues but the running game showed promise. In both, the flaws of the passing game really hurt the run. Yet the OL was still opening holes and the RBs were hitting them.

Pass protection problems? You bet there were. But the offense's problem is no longer a whole-offense problem; it's a passing game problem. 

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20143986

Fezzik

November 3rd, 2017 at 4:27 PM ^

Improvement does appear to be happening. That is something we never could say this point of the season during the Hoke years. After a couple more games under our belt Wisconsin and osu will be the true tests to see if this improvement is fools gold (O'Korn vs Purdue) or legit (MC Hammer).

Joined: 09/11/2015

MGoPoints: 5552

TrueBlue2003

November 3rd, 2017 at 5:52 PM ^

with scores of 8 and 6, that seems like a combined solid to me.

I think it's a stretch so assume Ruiz will be "good" next year, given how difficult that is as a first year starter and true soph on the OL. The chatter is that he's practicing with the 2's as a guard and Spanellis is playing C.  In the near term I think that's a positive that's for the C position as Spanellis has another year on Ruiz.  I assume Spanellis would be average at least, but again, good might be optimistic.

And yeah, the "options" at tackle are a guy that is very bad at pass pro and guys that are worse/younger than him.  It's not like we have promising guys stuck behind Cole at tackle that could potentially represent an upgrade.  The wild card is RS freshmen:

Us being better next year will depend largely on two of the current freshmen being good tackles (or perhaps Ulizio makes a huge leap).  This current OL has turned the corner in run blocking  but is still bad in pass pro and as the poster points out, we lose the best OL and another solid performer.

Joined: 01/05/2010

MGoPoints: 38075

stephenrjking

November 3rd, 2017 at 6:18 PM ^

Ruiz practicing at guard, if true, doesn't tell us much about him as a center next season. If this is correct, he is almost certainly practicing at guard because if he were to play this season it would be at guard rather than at center. It just means that he's not ready to step in and replace Kugler right now, not that he won't do so next year.

Which means that in a catastrophic situation Cole will move to center and someone else will move to LT before Ruiz plays center. That doesn't seem stupid to me.

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20143986

Fezzik

November 3rd, 2017 at 4:09 PM ^

This is a logical and realistic take. Here at Mgoblog we are neither of those things, hence your negs. I believe Owenu will be very good next year, Bredeson - probably good, possibly above average, Ruiz - unknown, but my fingers are crossed, JBB - major pass liability, and LT is a complete question mark.

I like Runyan and if players shift around I could see him eventually getting starts on the interior line if say Bredeson ever shifted to tackle.Or he may also push Ruiz at center, who knows. If a young buck steps up I believe it will Stueber, if not him than Hudson. Otheriwse we may be on the grad transfer hunt again.

I can't wait until we recruit and develop offensive lines like we used to. I hope we are at the early stages of it but after a decade straight of sub-standard line play I'm forced to believe it when I see it.

Joined: 09/11/2015

MGoPoints: 5552

BlockedAccount

November 4th, 2017 at 8:33 AM ^

bredeson should be "ready to go pro" good next year. that will be his 3rd year starting in harbaugh system. he is either ready to go pro after next year, or he just wasn't what they had how'd he was. I won't say a bust, because that'd be 4 years starting, but if you're starting as a true freshman, at guard, you should be good enough to leave after your junior year.

Joined: 10/22/2017

MGoPoints: 247

BlockedAccount

November 4th, 2017 at 9:38 AM ^

it's not made up. If someone is good enough and as highly rated as Ben was, it's not made up or unrealistic to expect him to leave after next year. and if that's the case, then he's probably going to be the top lineman next year. that means he's going to make a huge growth. If he makes that huge growth, the line will be better than this year.

Joined: 10/22/2017

MGoPoints: 247

bamf16

November 4th, 2017 at 9:52 AM ^

Yeah, it kind of is.

 

You can admit it; there's nothing necessarily wrong. But you have a position, and you're looking for something to support it. So you came up with your if/then to try to bolster it.

 

But now you're moving the goalposts to try to make it seem that your position is a bit more easily supported, and I have no interest in playing this game.

 

Go Blue.

Joined: 01/05/2014

MGoPoints: -100000

ColeIsCorky

November 3rd, 2017 at 1:23 PM ^

Another guy Sam mentioned not to forget the other day is Nicholas Petit-Frere, near 5* LT. Apparently the staff likes where they are at with him as well. That was as of a few days ago. Probably not to the same level as Tyler Friday, but it sounds like we have a real shot.

Joined: 11/15/2016

MGoPoints: 4627

ak47

November 3rd, 2017 at 1:32 PM ^

And the oline was the most improved position group this, wr was a strength and the cornerbacks were a sore spot. Also John O’Korn was the best qb on the roster and joe bolden was going to be a star. Practice hype for players who haven’t seen the field means about as much as a recruit committing two years before signing day, it’s nice but doesn’t really mean all that much.

Joined: 05/05/2011

MGoPoints: 33614

UMich2016

November 3rd, 2017 at 1:44 PM ^

OL will be a top 25 unit next year.  At least 3 future pros in Ruiz, Onwenu, & Hudson/Steuber/Honigford.

Need to grow up fast, but interior will be strong and tackles will come to form later in the year.

2 of Hudson/Filiaga/Steuber/Honigford/Newsome/Hall will be just fine with high upside.  Thats a lot of competition for the offseason.

Reviewing all position groups in 2018 you can finally see the increased competition coming.  Look at WR: DPJ, Black, Collins, Martin, McDoom, Crawford, Perry.  LB: Bush, Uche, Hudson, Singleton, Anthony, Ross among others.

Finish this season strong and 2018 offseason hype is going to be immense.  ND/M top 10 matchup to start the season?  I need to get to South Bend for that.

Joined: 10/01/2013

MGoPoints: 2589

funkywolve

November 3rd, 2017 at 2:02 PM ^

It's similiar to a lot of preseason predictions on this board that most of the offensive groups in 2017 (oline, wr's, etc) were going to be better than those position groups in 2016 even though we were replacing a bunch of seniors who had started multiple years with guys who had hardly ever played a college game.

Joined: 10/08/2008

MGoPoints: 20265

Elwood

November 3rd, 2017 at 1:38 PM ^

Over the 2018 class is nuts. They've filled it with solid guys. The coaches have found ways to make their way into final lists of top recruits towards the end of the cycle in the last two classes as well.

Joined: 01/16/2010

MGoPoints: 5087

BlueWolverine02

November 3rd, 2017 at 2:48 PM ^

Anytime, on any Michigan football board, that someone says something negative about the program and questions the coaching/direction, they get slammed by the masses.  i've questioned recruting undre RR and Hoke and been slammed for it.  I've questioned S&C under Carr and Hoke and gotten slammed for it.  Yet when it becomes apparent that we in fact don't have a good S&C coach, or do have a huge hole at OL/LB/S, then everyone is quick to say the coaches screwed up and forget how they treated that poster three years ago that was telling people this was going to happen.

Yes there are chicken little who don't actually follow recruiting that closely and only look at he overall rankings and don't understand how recruiting works.  But I find what is much more common is the fan who says trust the coaches, they know more than you, it's going to be fine and our team will be loaded with future NLF players and thinks every recruit is going to be an instant upgrade.  I'll take an objective poster like Maizen any time who can actually point to flaws that need to be fixed over the poster that sticks his head in the sand and says it will be ok.

Joined: 09/20/2014

MGoPoints: 18506

MadLandoGOBlue

November 3rd, 2017 at 3:21 PM ^

I am certainly not against criticizing any coach, including Harbaugh, and definitely not a trust the coaches in all respects guy. But the problem with posters like Maizen is that he doesn't do what you just described. His last post that I saw literally only argued that because this year won't be a top 5 class, we're screwed. He didn't go through positions, he doesn't analyze anything. He does exactly what you gave as an example and goes solely off of overall rankings. All I’m asking is for there to be some benefit to a post. “Not Top 5 = WAAAAAHHH” does not bring any value to this site.

Joined: 07/03/2008

MGoPoints: 408