Ex-Michigan OL Getting PAID
You all probably saw that Glasgow, Onwenu and Runyan all got big, set-for-life guaranteed contracts this week. Bill Barnwell's analysis (@ ESPN) explains why UM's linemen are doing so well at the next level. I'm sure many of you noticed this watching the 49ers in the playoffs this year - they were running as many Harbaugh concepts as Shanahan concepts...
"For the Rams and for other teams across the league, their newfound interest in investing at guard is a product of how the offensive meta has changed. As recently as a few years ago, NFL running games were built around the zone concepts McVay and Kyle Shanahan had employed to great success. As their coaches were hired across the league, defenses were forced to adapt. We saw the Patriots famously run a 6-1 front to shut down the Rams in the Super Bowl, but we also saw defenses grow more familiar and comfortable handling the outside zone game and the boot concepts off it over the past few seasons.
Shanahan adapted by moving toward more gap- or man-based blocking schemes in his run plays, which typically require heavier linemen. The Rams noticed, and while McVay tried to follow suit in 2022, the changes didn't really stick until 2023, with Kyren Williams taking over in an offense built to his strength as a gap runner. While zone schemes usually require lighter and quicker linemen, gap schemes ask linemen to be more powerful while pushing defensive linemen directly backward on their double-teams.
The Rams responded by trading last August for the 322-pound Dotson, who had been stuck spending his career in a zone scheme with the Steelers. Dotson subsequently put together a Pro Bowl-caliber season. Now, the Rams will team him with the 311-pound Jackson, who was widely regarded as a mauler and excellent run-blocker during his time with the Lions.
We saw the Patriots bring back Mike Onwenu and the Giants add Jon Runyan, but the most notable pair of moves on the interior came in Carolina. The Panthers signed former Seahawks guard Damien Lewis to a four-year, $53 million pact and teamed him with Dolphins lineman Robert Hunt, whose deal came in for an eye-watering amount at five years, $100 million. Hunt has to be the most unheralded player in league history to sign a deal with eight zeroes."
High-quality post. Both information *and* some scheme stuff explaining why; much more of this is welcomed.
I do, however, have one objection:
They are not ex-Michigan players. They will *always* be Michigan players.
It will always be great to be a Michigan Wolverine
It’s like being President.
One guy was both!
March 12th, 2024 at 10:38 PM ^
Or a Marine, I'm told.
Indeed.
Semper.
Heh.
IT'S GREAT.
TO BE.
A MICHIGAN WOLVEMARINE.
Go Blue!
Love to see our guys get paid and be at the right place in the right time.
So much of life, beyond effort, talent and preparation is about timing. UMs players looking to be in better position for these types of contracts if indeed the NFL continues to evolve? (What’s old is new again!) in this direction.
Runyan's career trajectory still makes no sense to me. Really happy for the guys.
He was very good at Michigan, despite playing out of position at LT. We all remember that one woeful Notre Dame game, but that was the first game in a season in which he ultimately became first-team All-B1G--and repeated that honor the next year
Are there any other examples of Michigan players in this category?
Players who were so bad in their debut (not counting, say, a true freshman playing 2 years before he should have had to play) and then improved to the degree that they ended up at an All-Big Ten level or better?
I've been racking my brain for the last 5 minutes and haven't been able to think of anyone.
Maybe Michael Barrett? Maybe not a with a memorably bad first game, but iirc lots of people around here were thinking of him as JAG when he first cracked the rotation.
Mullings looks to be on that trajectory—after fumbling at the goal line in the fiesta bowl, looks to be the heir apparent at RB.
I feel like neither guy has the 2018 Notre Dame game start to their career.
Is there a cornerback who just got torched for a game then turned it around?
A DT who got paved for 300 yards in his debut?
I'm not sure, but the JRJ experience might be a wholly unique one.
The player who probably defines this category: John Navarre.
You could possibly make a case for Tom Brady as well. He only topped out at Big Ten Honorable Mention, but that had more to do with playing at the same time as Drew Brees and Randle-El. Might have been the best collection of QBs in Big Ten history.
Navarre sort of fits. He played as a RS FR though and progressed as he went along. Not to mention in his debut he threw 4 TDs (granted against Bowling Green).
He definitely fits the spirit of the answer to the question.
Given that Brady and Brees are pretty clearly the two best QBs to come out of the B1G, I think this has to be right
Otto Graham and Len Dawson played in the B10 too.
Despite playing for Ohio State Otto Graham has an entire trophy case exhibit in the Northwestern weight room. I believe he coached at NU. However the trophy case and memorabilia are all of him as a player at OSU. It’s kinda strange.
You can *definitely* make a case for Tom Brady here. Does anyone remember his debut against Notre Dame in 1998? He took three sacks because he was a statue with no pocket presence. Compare that to the Orange Bowl win against Alabama and he didn't seem like the same player.
Took him 3 starts in 98 and having watched his 2 starts at Notre Dame and home against Donovan McNabb I remarked how he looked like a totally different QB in his third start. He showed his leadership as Michigan won 8 games in a row and 10 of the last 11 in 98.
March 13th, 2024 at 12:38 AM ^
Brady's first pass was Sept 29, 1996, an interception for a TD, UCLA's only TD of the day. He was 3rd string....
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-09-29-sp-48789-story.html
Coupled with some of the other points here, yes Brady was a little shaky at first but got good quick when he was a starter.
Anyone else freak out for a second thinking someone transferred that you forgot about and they were paid a ton of money to do so?
Yes! Ex-Wolverine implies that they are no longer associated with the Maize and Blue.
Former Wolverine may be a better choice!
"Gettin' paid, gettin' laid
Got it made in the shade."
~MC Kid Creator
Notice, though, that Barnwell can't bring himself to say Harbaugh's name.
Never change, Bill
Why is he supposed to mention Harbaugh? Nowhere does he even mention Michigan. It's like short section on the Shanahan/McVay give and take in a much larger article covering all sorts of transactions.
Fair enough--didn't read the article--but it's an obvious common thread connecting both the concepts being used and the players who are now getting paid.
Thanks for the post. Hopefully this trend will help ZZ's draft stock, as he certainly fits the mold, and hasn't been getting any mock draft love post-injury.
I know the Lions have to be extremely mindful of how they spend in free agency with so many huge internal signings looming, but damn.... Mike Onwenu was my dream free agent. He's my second favorite lineman to watch after Sewell. The thought of them next to each other in the run game I guess was an impossible dream, but what a dream. Plus Big Mike's versatility would have covered so many bases when injuries hit, or potentially cushioned the blow if they don't resign Decker when his deal is up. Oh well.
Good stuff, with the small exception that stephenrjking pointed out. Thanks.
Uche re-signing with the Patriots as well. Just one year for an undisclosed amount https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/josh-uche-to-re-sign-with-patriots
One of the things that has made me happiest during the last several years of us getting to the top is the emergence of an elite, dominant O-line. There's just nothing like it. Glad to see these men representing in the NFL.
I am confused I thought that Michigan's success was due to a recently hired vacuum salesman paying his friends to attend games of future opponents in the absence of any rules saying that was a problem.
So you are saying instead that NFL teams are adopting this same Harbaugh strategy in the run game and rewarding the Guard practitioners. Interesting.
The best programs will already be anticipating how defenses must adjust to these offenses and how offenses will need to adjust in a couple years to the defensive adjustments. It's always a game of cyclical evolution.
Josh Uche signed with Patriots too.
There will be Moore, eh hem, more Michigan O-linemen making bank at the collegiate and professional levels in the near future.
For all the worries about the coaching staff, recruiting trail, NIL, portal, etc.., I'm not at all worried about our offensive line under Moore and Newsome. And that's where it all starts; the offensive line.