Positive comments from Kugler
I'm not too worried about playcalling since as you said Harbaugh gets the final say on the field.
What I am worried about is the potential for overlap in coaching duties.
Sure, Greg Frey is the OT/TE coach, but what if Drevno the OL coach disagrees with how Frey is coaching the outside of the line? Or if Greg Frey the running game coordinator disagrees with Jay Harbaugh about what he is teaching the RB group? I'm sure it has been working out right now, but there just seems to be a high potential for conflicts in coaching philosophies.
Drevno is probably used to it since he has been with Harbaugh for so long, and Jay Harbuagh too (for obvious reasons), but what about someone like Greg Frey who was Kevin Wilson's OL/OC at Indiana and used to having complete control of the whole OL, not just the tackles.
It did seem like, with exception of the Ohio state game, that our wolverines were stagnant for majority of Iowa, Indiana, and FSU. Perhaps Harbaugh feels that a tougher conditioning program will give the guys an edge in November and beyond.
everything is always better than last year
If Kugler was always good enough, but just didn't work hard enough to get a starting or bigger role in the OL the past two years - shame, shame. Our season last year might have been much, much better with just one additional quality offensive lineman, particularly one capable of playing center, which would have allowed us to use Cole at LT after Newsome went down. Oh, what could have been............
The guys are stronger, faster and smarter with another year in the program. Everyone has improved. No one is lazy and the same. The whole group is better than last year. A real strong unit.
AFTER you've lost 3 of your last 4 games is the wrong timing.
So you're saying they should get pissed about the way the season ended BEFORE they play the last 4 games?
Imagine the depth if LTT and Kyle Bosch were still on the roster and Newsome didn't get hurt.
Erik Magnuson UDFA with the 49ers
Kyle Kalis UDFA with the Redskins
Ben Braden undrafted, no FA, but landed a tryout with NY Jets
I wish these guys all the luck in the world, but they all have an uphill battle to make onto an NFL roster.
They were 3/5ths of last year's O-line. Are the guys who'll face Florida in a couple months measurably better? I sure hope so.
I'm pretty bummed out about Kyle Kalis career. Former 5* OT that we flipped/stole out of Ohio who was suppose to be a no-brainer future 1st rounder, and promised "blood on the field" against Ohio State.
Stuck with 2-3 years of Hoke/Borges, but then Harbaugh/Drevno come and are pretty effusively praising Kalis w/ his "mean/Hulk streak." I thought for sure that Harbaugh/Drevno would finally coach Kalis into that no-brainer 1st rounder for his last 2 seasons... nope.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
for four years and not bring it out until you're forced to. Being a journeyman starter this year is probably as much as we can hope for from Kugler.
I have serious doubts but man do I hope you're right.
The OL was "above average" last year.
There are 128 teams in D1 after all. Michigan being "above average" means basically nothing.
I will believe it when I see it. Period.
You could tell me college version Jake Long, Jon Jansen and the best ever are going to be starting for us this year and I still wouldn't believe we were going to be better than "decent" until I saw us owning teams at the LOS.
I've been scarred ever since Carr left and I refuse to believe we'll be great or elite without seeing it for multiple games and against a top 10 team.
Same.
Honestly I am just hoping for last year's level ...and then a jump in 2018 despite losing Cole. Guys people are expecting "big things" from are guys who haven't played vs a meaningful opponent in their career yet or a freshman who was their worst lineman (understandably so).
We'll have more experience in a year and then hopefully THAT line will be what we dreamt of for 2015-2016 when the 2012/2013 classes came in. But yes until I see it I won't project it. Especially with some of the whiffs on the tackle recruiting past 2 years.