Sam Webb 1-on-1 w/ Al Netter on Offensive Line & Tyler Friday 4* DT Nugget
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
November 3rd, 2017 at 5:17 PM ^
November 3rd, 2017 at 6:13 PM ^
To be fair, he started giving Beilein credit when the 2018 class was unfolding and the team started improving at the end of the season. I don't think you could necessarily say the credit was equal to the level of prosecution that he previously had given him... but he wasn't completely quiet.
November 3rd, 2017 at 4:06 PM ^
The simple fact that you think Maizen is objective shows that you're out of touch. That said, criticizing, or hindsighting, the coaches is fair - to a point. Earlier this season that criticism led to repeated calls for several coaches to be fired, and for Harbaugh to give up his role in the offense (the 'hire an OC that runs a college system' crowd). That level of criticism, at this point in Harbaugh's reign, is absolutely stoopid. Compare with Hoke, right? Nearly identical record after ~30 games. Do you think that this team, this program today under Harbaugh, looks anything at all like what Hoke's program looked like in 2013? If you do, you're a fucking idiot.
If you have proof, or stats, or a position breakdown with some clear thinking behind it, that says something is amiss - please share! But expect some here to have a different opinion. Maizen offers no thoughts, stats, or proof - only feelz. And if you don't agree with Maizen's feelz, he downvotes you out of hand, without consideration for your thought.
November 3rd, 2017 at 9:10 PM ^
So...
I predicted that Harbaugh would be hired, Wards Manuel would become AD, cable TV would die in 2017, North Korea would be led by a fat, bowl-haired puppet, Trump would become President, and Texas would secede from the Union all five years before they happened.
Crap, I just realized the last one hasn’t happened yet. You’re all welcome for my gifted premonitions. Get your passports ready if you want to visit Texas in 2022.
November 3rd, 2017 at 1:51 PM ^
Thursday, though, doesn't start.
November 3rd, 2017 at 1:53 PM ^
Don Brown Special! A DT named Friday.
November 3rd, 2017 at 2:01 PM ^
November 3rd, 2017 at 2:09 PM ^
have to do with it? I get it if they were like 280 lbs. Most of the olinemen on the first team ap all-american team last year were barely 300lbs: Elflein from OSU was listed right at 300lbs, Feeny from Indiana was listed at 305, Robinson from Alabam was listed at 310 and Ramczyk from Wisconsin was listed at 314.
November 3rd, 2017 at 2:16 PM ^
November 3rd, 2017 at 2:42 PM ^
Saban and Meyer into your bigger is better theory. OSU's biggest olinemen weighs 312 and Alabama only has 2 guys over 315, with one guy listed at 301 and another at 303.
November 3rd, 2017 at 2:46 PM ^
November 3rd, 2017 at 2:47 PM ^
November 3rd, 2017 at 3:00 PM ^
I have to disagree on this one. If it was all size then Daniel Faalele would be a 5-star.
All other things being equal, I agree a bigger OL is better than a smaller OL. But you also have to consider footwork, balance/pad level, and quickness. The mental aspect of the position is also critical--Kyle Kalis was a guy with impeccable physical tools but often had trouble with missed assignments and blocking the wrong guys. An ideal OL has the right mix of these things--just being enormous is not going to get it done.
Even looking at size, I think body composition is much more important than just the sheer number of pounds. What you want is a guy like Taylor Lewan, who comes in a 275 lbs. and hulks up to 310 by packing on muscle, or maybe a guy like John Runyan Sr., who is just a "jumbo human" and is just naturally bigger and stronger than most other people before you even get to the S&C gains. But there's plenty of guys who carry a bunch of bad weight and tip the scale at 320 lbs.--what good does that really do you on the football field? Onwenu is a good example of a guy who had gotten better by losing weight.
November 3rd, 2017 at 3:09 PM ^
November 3rd, 2017 at 3:40 PM ^
True, you did say "bigger, more athletic."
It did seem like you were primarily emphasizing size as the key determinant for OL, but if that's not what you meant than fair enough.
Looking back on the Hoke OL, I do think it's notable that so many of those guys flamed out: Bosch, Fox, Samuelson, LTT, Dawson... I kind of wonder whether there's an alternative universe in which the attrition factor plays out differently and the 2012 and 2013 Hoke OL classes develop into a truly dominant group.
November 3rd, 2017 at 2:50 PM ^
Might want to take a look at our OL recruits for 2018 before you go on about how we are recruiting bigger guys.
November 3rd, 2017 at 3:12 PM ^
November 3rd, 2017 at 10:41 PM ^
November 3rd, 2017 at 3:03 PM ^
November 3rd, 2017 at 3:18 PM ^
November 3rd, 2017 at 6:32 PM ^
November 3rd, 2017 at 2:08 PM ^
The 2016 class was actually #8, not top 5.
November 3rd, 2017 at 2:30 PM ^
5th if you add Ahmir Mitchell back in
the 247 composite moved him to Rutgers but he did actually sign
November 3rd, 2017 at 2:41 PM ^
I must have looked at the wrong recruiting rankings. My bad.
However, according to 247 Composite, we were 1.31 points away from being 5th spot.
4th - OSU - 289.12
5th - Ole Miss - 281.69
6th - Georgia - 281.31
7th - Texas - 280.66
8th - Michigan - 280.38
9th - Auburn - 275.14
Some rankings had us at 5th, some inbetween. 1.31 points I would guess would be the closest margin between 4 schools in the history of 247 composite recruiting rankings. You can't argue statistically that Ole Miss had a better class than Michigan that year. There is no reason to be pessimistic about that class, especially with how it finished.
And the players that bogged down the class? Josh Metellus (starting Safety), Sean McKeon (starting TE), Quinn Nordin (starting Kicker), Michael Dwumfour (contributor on stacked DL w/ major praise). A couple other guys in there as well that were 3-star recruits, but the jury is still out on them.
November 3rd, 2017 at 2:41 PM ^
has removed Mitchell - add him back and we're back at 5th
November 3rd, 2017 at 2:54 PM ^
November 3rd, 2017 at 3:00 PM ^
OL. I was looking forward to seeing Hudson and Solomon anchoring the DL for the next few years. We'll need another stud on the DL to replace Hudson.
November 3rd, 2017 at 10:42 PM ^
November 3rd, 2017 at 3:30 PM ^
November 3rd, 2017 at 4:44 PM ^
I really wish we could get Quindarious Monday and Tyler Friday but alas.
November 3rd, 2017 at 4:47 PM ^
Especially on a Friday! Too much gloom and doom and whining lately on this board. THIS IS MICHIGAN!
GO BLUE!!
November 3rd, 2017 at 10:19 PM ^
Hudson - Ruiz - Spanellis - Onwenu - Bredeson
Hudson - Bredeson - Ruiz - Onwenu - Filiaga
My 2 best guesses
November 3rd, 2017 at 10:43 PM ^
November 4th, 2017 at 8:35 AM ^
Pretty sure Filiaga will be playing guard and Mr. Ruiz will be your starting center. Michigan is more than set on the interior, which worked against them with Ekiyor along with other stuff ?. Hudson dominated at OT when he got the chance in high school and Michigan obviously see's the same thing. If Newsome comes back to the same he was at I truly believe the O-line will be more than good to go. If he can't go than there is somewhat of a question mark at tackle if you want absolutes but just from a talent perspective we should have a very good o-line next year.
Michigan seems to have a lot more options than they have had in the past and will have more time for development. The tackle position is going to be crucial for team success along with QB play. I like our defense and running backs, receiving corps and interior line play should be right at the top in college football.
If we get big time play from the tackles and QB next year Michigan will be right there in the mix for Championships. Next years team should be as close as the 2016 class was. Let's Go !!.