Offensive Line next year?
So, I remember we all lamented how bad the offensive line was much earlier this year, but the offensive line actually appears to have gotten significantly better over the past few games (at least from what I could see). So I have two questions for everybody:
1) What is the ceiling for our current OL personnel for next year? Can they get much better? It's at least a good sign that they've improved over the year.
2) Since I don't follow recruiting terribly closely, are there any OL recruits that RR is working on? I know I remember seeing at least one on Rivals that was committed, but I'm in the dark as far as potential recruits.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:10 PM ^
i think the ceiling is pretty high with the RS freshman and incoming linemen. they will definitely be a lot better come next year. yes, we prob get Taylor Lewan and maybe 1 or two more, but dont forget about the RS fresh for next year.
November 19th, 2008 at 1:49 AM ^
I wouldn't plan any on incoming frosh to probably start. Oline is one of the hardest positions for a true frosh to start. They are usually going up against seasoned veterans on the dline who have been in college S&C programs for a few years. In high school most of these olinemen are/were week in and week out physically superior to the dlineman they faced. That isn't the case in college - especially as a true frosh.
Not sure if any of the redshirt frosh will start either, maybe. But I'm pretty sure RR redshirted them cause they weren't close to being ready to play this year. Now, obviously with a full year of S&C and working in the offense they'll be better prepared. However, the depth on the oline was thin to begin the year and RR redshirted them. Then when some injuries hit, instead of taking the guys off of redshirt, RR moves a dlineman to oline. I'm guessing he felt Ferrara had a better shot of helping the team out then taking one of the guys off of redshirt.
As others have pointed out, the oline seems to have gotten better as the year has progressed. I think UM was just hit with an oline that was extremely young, had almost no game experience and was trying to learn a new system. I'm sure as heck hoping the oline is better next year. It's crucial that it is. If the oline isn't better next year, it will be another very long year. I'm not expectin to see an oline next year that will remind me of the olines that UM generally put on the field year in and year out pre-2001, but I'm hoping it's going to be decent.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:12 PM ^
We're going after Taylor Lewan, a teammate of current commit Craig Roh - he's a rising prospect. Also, rumors have LaLota going to the offensive line, but seeing how DE has a lack of depth, I'm sure that won't happen.
I've heard a couple of other names out there, but it seems kind of bleak as far as the big names go. Personally, I'm really surprised we haven't been able to get more linemen. They should see that they have an opportunity to contribute right away and I hope weather isn't a factor. Just ask the Pats, Packers, Steelers and Bills how their weather was this weekend.
Speaking of offensive linemen, whatever happened to the guy from Trotwood-Madison?
November 18th, 2008 at 9:23 PM ^
i think we have a good chance to get him. he has 3 former teammates at UM now(roy roundtree, brandon moore, and mike shaw) so we are in good position
November 18th, 2008 at 9:29 PM ^
on Quinton Washington for this years class. Brian also mentioned Barnum as a RSFreshman starter potentially for next year and Schilling with a possible move to guard
November 18th, 2008 at 9:38 PM ^
improved from this year but will not be dominating. The best returning OL based on consistancy in '08 is Moosman. He will stay at RG or be moved to OC if frosh Barnum makes a push and Ferrara stays at LG. Also, if a much needed OT shows up at RT, Shilling could move to RG with Moos going to OC with Barnum and Farrara fighting it out for LG. LT will be Ortmann unless Dorrestein can pass him up. This a good but far from great OL. The are no Jake Longs here. None of the upper classmen will make the NFL Lower ceilings.
The true frosh who have peformed well besides Barnum are Omemeh and O'Neill. Both have a ways to go. I think both will make the 2 deep but not start in '09. Khoury has been improving also. Mealer has struggled with recovering from accident and Wermers needs work.
Only one OL recruit so far but he looks good on paper. The struggle to get top OL recruits in here since Jake is a continuing mystery. Although our competitors are using this fact now with OL recruits: RR has never put an OL in the NFL. Zero, nada.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:40 PM ^
I am always a little too optimistic but I think we will be the happiest with the O-line next year. BUT, like all O-lines, they will get no pub. The Heavies will have had a ton of experience by then and that is just what they need for a potentially new QB. Lets just say Tate/Beav are in to start. Believe it or not, the QB gets a majority of confidence from his line...No One Else. If he trusts them, he trusts himself. If he trusts himself, he trusts every other "skill" guy.
Do not get caught up in the hype of who is coming in and who is returning to maybe take this or that spot. The fact is we will have seasoned guys there. The highly toughted recruits will only create competition and keep the vets working hard. It always has and always will start upfront.
November 19th, 2008 at 1:59 AM ^
Believe it or not, nothing -- I definitely believe you on the QB's confidence coming from his OLine, even with a dual-threat QB.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:01 PM ^
I agree with Route66, in that the line will be better next year and every position will have an experienced guy returning. The line has done pretty well the past couple games, and obviously these guys will be better in 2009; whether they get passed up by redshirt freshmen is a different story.
I expect the line next year to include Ortmann, Molk, Moosman, and Schilling. My only question is who will play left guard, whether it will be Barnum or Ferrara. I'm betting that McAvoy will be gone or benched. And I guess we shouldn't forget about Zirbel, since he was supposed to start until he got injured.
As far as recruiting goes, we have Michael Schofield. I expect that we'll get Taylor Lewan in the end. Quinton Washington is a guard who likes us, we might get a shot at Chris Freeman, and I don't think we're out of the running for Marcus Hall. In the end, I think we'll have three linemen: Schofield, Lewan, and one of those other three (Washington, if I had to bet).
November 19th, 2008 at 1:32 AM ^
I think RR said a few weeks ago his injury could be career threatening.
November 19th, 2008 at 1:47 AM ^
I think we still have a hill to climb with Lewan. I've met him, and have developed a friendship with him and his Father. If I had to guess we're top 3.
As far as Dann O'Neill playing next year, as of now, not looking good.
I think we'll be fine next year though, if the starters don't perform, they'll have some young bucks waiting behind them. We'll atleast have a lot more options.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:25 AM ^
If Big Will commits to Michigan, and we get a few more DTs, they may put him on the o-line. Sam Webb says he is a very good DT, but a phenomenal O-lineman. And he is happy to play either position
November 19th, 2008 at 11:32 AM ^
I wonder if Campbell is the type of offensive lineman Rodriguez wants, though. I mean, he moves pretty well for being 317 pounds, but Rodriguez seems to like athletic guys and bulk them up.
Either way, we will be lacking depth at DT and not at OL. Our only DT's for next year are Martin, Sagesse, Kates...and...and...DeQuinta Jones? Pearlie Graves? Andre Criswell? Vince Helmuth?
November 19th, 2008 at 12:04 PM ^
It's possible he can play DT from day one and then become an Olineman in a year or two. If they plan this from the start it's different than Ferrara switching 2 weeks before the season.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:15 AM ^
I don't think coaches ever really plan on making those switches very far in advance. Sometimes coaches make subtle changes like, "This kid will start out at corner but he might develop into a safety" or "This kid will start out at DE but might grow into being a DT." But I've never heard of a situation where a guy has started out on one side of the line with plans to switch to the opposite side of the line in a year or two. I'm not saying that it hasn't/won't happen, but it sounds kind of counterproductive and wasteful.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:28 AM ^
The OL is the basis of everything the offense wants to do. The running game is a product of the OL more so than the RBs. And our lack of a consistent running game has been one of the major deficiencies this year, especially with a very grenn QB. Additionally, the passing game is dependent upon providing the QB protection.