tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post2610996231581140888..comments2024-03-28T17:24:59.031-04:00Comments on Touch the Banner: Mailbag: Offensive line and Al BorgesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-41188312921329872432013-11-17T09:14:53.885-05:002013-11-17T09:14:53.885-05:00We knew going into this season that the Oline woul...We knew going into this season that the Oline would be inexperienced and have some growing pains. But the biggest concern I have, and one that is not mentioned, is that there has been NO improvement over the course of the season on the Oline (or in any aspect of the team, for that matter). With a bunch of (supposedly) very talented, but young recruits, you would expect them to get better as they gain more head-to-head experience, and learn to work together, and there's been absolutely none of that. If anything, the Oline has looked worse as the season has progressed. That's not to say that a bunch of first and second year players should be reaching their playing peak during the course of one season, but they SHOULD be heading up, not down, and that's not happening. That's all on the coaches.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-89104264315592554632013-11-16T15:02:50.122-05:002013-11-16T15:02:50.122-05:00Seems the seniors left could be great. I'd eve...Seems the seniors left could be great. I'd even throw Kalis out there once in a while (they have been anyways), in fact the coaches seem to be bringing him along more naturally - limited reps given his age - than the other youngsters. <br /><br />Magnusson did pretty well at RT in Happy Valley when Taylor went out and Schofield shifted. Against N'western and Iowa don't think we lose much there. <br /><br />Miller was brutal but maybe having Schofield beside him would alleviate some of the pressure on him to play perfect and fix our snapping issues, which are delaying the whole offense by half a second per play. <br /><br />Great post and great follow up by Lanknows!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-63698975803721668302013-11-16T12:34:56.222-05:002013-11-16T12:34:56.222-05:00This is one of the most informative posts I have r...This is one of the most informative posts I have read this month. And it's about UM's biggest struggle. Well done.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02057100009592742471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-77067246113139094262013-11-16T12:27:17.937-05:002013-11-16T12:27:17.937-05:00Besides playing Miller, I like your suggestions. ...Besides playing Miller, I like your suggestions. Simplify the play-calling for them and call more short-passes to limit their exposure. It will increase their confidence a bit and I think the young guys need that right now. This is a dumb thing to say, but I really believe it from watching their body language - they look like they are playing scared, or at least uncertain. Same goes for Gardner really, and probably Toussaint as well, though I don't see the bad body language there.<br /><br />Completely disagree about Miller. He has NEVER shown he is a good football player. He is undersized and even he admits he has to "play perfect" to overcome it. He doesn't have Molk's strength or the technique to overcome it. Putting him out there may fix your snapping issues but it's kind of like fixing Gardner's INT issues -- you lose more than you gain. He's just not a good player. He was buried on a mediocre line last year and lost his job on a terrible line this year. Let's just move on.<br /><br />I do like the Lewan-Schofield on the same side of the field idea. It makes sense to me, but mainly because it puts Magnuson at his natural tackle spot. At this point Michigan should be preparing for next year, so that we don't have to break in two new tackles. I do like the run-left idea, but I'd keep Bosch in a guard and keep Glasgow at center - he's our best long-term option.<br /><br />Now for a tangent: People keep talking about size being adequate, which I agree with in general. However, the point that I think is missed is that the size was adequate last year too. Glasgow is 5 pounds lighter than Mealer. Bosch is 3 pounds lighter than Omameh. Magnuson is a pound lighter than Barnum. Last year people said "we need to get bigger", but this year no one seems to be saying it. I certainly never heard "we have good size". Strange to me. It's like because they are Hoke guys they gain 10 public perception pounds.Lanknowsnoreply@blogger.com