Michigan football: Spring Preview, Part IV, offensive line

(Note: This is the fourth in a series concerning potential starters for this fall’s Michigan football team. Now, we’ll look at the offensive line. Previously we examined the linebackers, defensive backs and defensive line. Here are the links to those three articles).

Regardless of whether it’s prep, college or professional football, there’s a common thread that weaves itself throughout most offensive lines.

It’s all about knowing each other, so the extensive communication can be in sync.

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Tom Brady, who was Michigan’s starting QB in 1998 and 1999 and so far has won four Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, certainly knows the value of solid offensive line play.

Drevno seeks brotherhood

“The communication among those guys is what’s most important because they work as a unit,” Brady told boston.com. “The more familiarity they have with one another and the more they trust each other, the better they play.”

Tim Drevno, who is now Michigan’s offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, likes the idea of a line that’s been together.

“There’s a lot of clay to be molded there,” Drevno told mgoblue.com, “I can’t wait to step into the room and lead all of these returners on the line. I want to build a brotherhood in the room so that the offensive line starts to take control of the room.”

A ready made quintet?

Assume Coach Drevno goes into 2015 with the group that finished the 2014 season (Cole, Glasgow, Miller, Kalis, Bradin), there’s no reason why a second unit couldn’t be formed to build comradery for the future.

How about an offensive front of Logan Tuley-Tillman (LT), David Dawson (LG), Patrick Kugler (C), Chris Fox (RG) and Dan Samuelson (RT).

Each of these athletes were recruited in the 2013 class, are all redshirt sophomores and all were 4-star prospects—except for Kugler who was a 5-star. These were perhaps the top offensive line recruits in the nation, so it would make sense to see what they could do as a group.

Weak stats in 2014

Granted, Michigan’s offensive line showed improvement late in the season, but the final Big Ten stats were anything but impressive.

The Wolverines were 13th of 14 in scoring offense (20.9 ppg), eighth in rushing (162.8 ypg), and 11th in passing (170.2 ypg). In addition, Michigan quarterbacks threw 18 interceptions, and were sacked 25 times.

Here’s how the 2015 offensive line could shake out:

LT Mason Cole SO, Logan Tuley-Tillman RS SO

LG Graham Glasgow SR, Eric Magnuson, JR

C Jack Miller, SR, Patrick Kugler, RS SO

RG Kyle Kalis JR, David Dawson, RS SO, Chris Fox, RS SO

RT Ben Bradin JR, Dan Samuelson RS SO, Juwann Bushell-Beatty RS FR

Next: Part V, skill positions

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