Several final offensive line thoughts after putting The Wolverine 2020 Football Preview to bed …
Speaking with former U-M All-American Jon Jansen and others about the offensive line, it’s clear coach Ed Warinner has the most talented young group he’s had at Michigan. Still, there’s no guarantee that the redshirt freshman class and talented underclassmen (Trevor Keegan, Karsen Barnhart, Zach Carpenter, Nolan Rumler, etc.) are even going to see the field this year — and that’s not a bad thing.
Former Michigan All-Big Ten lineman Doug Skene has been clear that he believes the best lines he’s seen at U-M were veteran lines. Those guys knew each other, had played together in practice and games and waited their turn.
U-M has a few guys like that this year, including left guard Chuck Filiaga, right guard Joel Honigford and yes, center Andrew Vastardis. At least two of the three have a legit shot at starting, and Honigford could if he makes a move this fall (though it appears he has his work cut out for him).
Filiaga, by all accounts, has taken his conditioning seriously and has really elevated his preparation.
“That’s all part of the light bulb going on,” Jansen said. “Understanding how to work out, understanding what it means to be in shape. I’m not as concerned as I would have been this time last year (with him going home to work out).”
Guys like Barnhart, frosh early enrollee Zak Zinter and Filiaga are “nice kids,” but when they step across that line, they’re learning the don’t have to be nice anymore.”
“I think Chuck is picking up on that,” Jansen said. “I’m disappointed he didn’t get spring ball because in bowl practice, listening to Ed Warinner talk, the coaches talk, there was a light bulb that went on. This happens, sometimes sooner and sometimes later, but when it happens you see a guy that finally understands what it takes at any given position. But obviously for Chuck it’s one of those inside positions at guard. I think he’s going to be a guy that can really help.”
On Vastardis, the fifth-year senior has a legit shot to win the starting job at center, and Jansen isn’t a bit concerned if he does. Redshirt frosh Zach Carpenter is picking things up quickly and learning every day and is the future, but this is a battle.
“I have no problem if it’s a freshman, redshirt freshman, senior, walk-on, scholarship … I don’t care,” Jansen said. “Ed Warinner is going to put the five best offensive linemen out there, whatever combination it is. If it ends up being Vastardis, he’s earned it. If it’s Carpenter, he’s earned it for a reason, and that is consistency and performance.
“You’ve got to have a lot of trust in Ed that he’s going to get those guys ready, to continue to coach them up. Even if they can’t be on the field, right now, there are a lot of things in terms of scheme … if you can understand things, you’re going to have an advantage when you do get back out there.”
They’ve slowed down installation, and that’s paid off. Instead of seven installs over 15 practices, one practice being the spring game, they’ve been able to do them over a two-month period. That’s paid off and should help when they get back on the field.
“They are going more in depth as to here’s what I’m doing, here’s why and how it relates to tackle, for example, or how that relates to what the quarterback is looking at; where the ball is going," Jansen said. "Picking up blitzes.
“In terms of knowledge base of players, this is a huge opportunity to go way more in depth so when you do get out there and as a tackle see a slot receiver and wide receiver outside you, but there’s a nickel corner on the slot, corner on the receiver, but then that safety’s got them backed up … what does that mean? You’re not going to cover two guys with three players. The numbers don’t say that, so one of those guys is coming.
“If you’ve got a corner blitz or something going on in the secondary, just that knowledge of knowing that allows you to anticipate what will happen will give those guys a mental edge. Now it’s a matter of I see this, now I’m going to process it and actually going to do it. Once you get into training camp, you’re going to have to hammer that down.”
Other notes:
• Jansen believes the three veterans, Jalen Mayfield (right tackle), Andrew Stueber (right guard) and Ryan Hayes (left tackle) are a great trio to build upon. All three have a great chance to start.
“Now you’re looking at more of a veteran line and it’s not four guys up front that have never seen the field in actual combat,” he said.
By all accounts, Stueber is well on the road to recovery from his knee surgery. He might well have been the starter at right tackle in the opener last year had he not gone down in camp.
“As a 20-year-old kid, it’s not as hard as it is when you’re 30 [to recover],” Jansen said. “Where we are medically now in terms of recovering from ACL, Achilles … just look at Tua Tagovailoa. Five years ago that’s a career ender. Now whether it’s surgery, rehab or a combination of both, including nutrition and rest, there’s a knowledge base of recovering from surgery like that. He’s going to be just fine.”
• Warinner has made a huge impact when it comes to recruiting, Jansen noted. His fingerprint is on every U-M recruit.
“You can see a lot of his impact in the recruits he’s been able to bring in,” Jansen said. “Look at last year’s freshman class … they have great potential of being more of a Big Ten offensive line. Long, big athletic tackles, some maulers inside.
“If you want to run the ball, dial it up and let’s go. If you want to pass the ball, the quarterback is going to be able to sit back there and pick apart a defense. I think it will make a big difference in what you see at the quarterback position.”
Speaking with former U-M All-American Jon Jansen and others about the offensive line, it’s clear coach Ed Warinner has the most talented young group he’s had at Michigan. Still, there’s no guarantee that the redshirt freshman class and talented underclassmen (Trevor Keegan, Karsen Barnhart, Zach Carpenter, Nolan Rumler, etc.) are even going to see the field this year — and that’s not a bad thing.
Former Michigan All-Big Ten lineman Doug Skene has been clear that he believes the best lines he’s seen at U-M were veteran lines. Those guys knew each other, had played together in practice and games and waited their turn.
U-M has a few guys like that this year, including left guard Chuck Filiaga, right guard Joel Honigford and yes, center Andrew Vastardis. At least two of the three have a legit shot at starting, and Honigford could if he makes a move this fall (though it appears he has his work cut out for him).
Filiaga, by all accounts, has taken his conditioning seriously and has really elevated his preparation.
“That’s all part of the light bulb going on,” Jansen said. “Understanding how to work out, understanding what it means to be in shape. I’m not as concerned as I would have been this time last year (with him going home to work out).”
Guys like Barnhart, frosh early enrollee Zak Zinter and Filiaga are “nice kids,” but when they step across that line, they’re learning the don’t have to be nice anymore.”
“I think Chuck is picking up on that,” Jansen said. “I’m disappointed he didn’t get spring ball because in bowl practice, listening to Ed Warinner talk, the coaches talk, there was a light bulb that went on. This happens, sometimes sooner and sometimes later, but when it happens you see a guy that finally understands what it takes at any given position. But obviously for Chuck it’s one of those inside positions at guard. I think he’s going to be a guy that can really help.”
On Vastardis, the fifth-year senior has a legit shot to win the starting job at center, and Jansen isn’t a bit concerned if he does. Redshirt frosh Zach Carpenter is picking things up quickly and learning every day and is the future, but this is a battle.
“I have no problem if it’s a freshman, redshirt freshman, senior, walk-on, scholarship … I don’t care,” Jansen said. “Ed Warinner is going to put the five best offensive linemen out there, whatever combination it is. If it ends up being Vastardis, he’s earned it. If it’s Carpenter, he’s earned it for a reason, and that is consistency and performance.
“You’ve got to have a lot of trust in Ed that he’s going to get those guys ready, to continue to coach them up. Even if they can’t be on the field, right now, there are a lot of things in terms of scheme … if you can understand things, you’re going to have an advantage when you do get back out there.”
They’ve slowed down installation, and that’s paid off. Instead of seven installs over 15 practices, one practice being the spring game, they’ve been able to do them over a two-month period. That’s paid off and should help when they get back on the field.
“They are going more in depth as to here’s what I’m doing, here’s why and how it relates to tackle, for example, or how that relates to what the quarterback is looking at; where the ball is going," Jansen said. "Picking up blitzes.
“In terms of knowledge base of players, this is a huge opportunity to go way more in depth so when you do get out there and as a tackle see a slot receiver and wide receiver outside you, but there’s a nickel corner on the slot, corner on the receiver, but then that safety’s got them backed up … what does that mean? You’re not going to cover two guys with three players. The numbers don’t say that, so one of those guys is coming.
“If you’ve got a corner blitz or something going on in the secondary, just that knowledge of knowing that allows you to anticipate what will happen will give those guys a mental edge. Now it’s a matter of I see this, now I’m going to process it and actually going to do it. Once you get into training camp, you’re going to have to hammer that down.”
Other notes:
• Jansen believes the three veterans, Jalen Mayfield (right tackle), Andrew Stueber (right guard) and Ryan Hayes (left tackle) are a great trio to build upon. All three have a great chance to start.
“Now you’re looking at more of a veteran line and it’s not four guys up front that have never seen the field in actual combat,” he said.
By all accounts, Stueber is well on the road to recovery from his knee surgery. He might well have been the starter at right tackle in the opener last year had he not gone down in camp.
“As a 20-year-old kid, it’s not as hard as it is when you’re 30 [to recover],” Jansen said. “Where we are medically now in terms of recovering from ACL, Achilles … just look at Tua Tagovailoa. Five years ago that’s a career ender. Now whether it’s surgery, rehab or a combination of both, including nutrition and rest, there’s a knowledge base of recovering from surgery like that. He’s going to be just fine.”
• Warinner has made a huge impact when it comes to recruiting, Jansen noted. His fingerprint is on every U-M recruit.
“You can see a lot of his impact in the recruits he’s been able to bring in,” Jansen said. “Look at last year’s freshman class … they have great potential of being more of a Big Ten offensive line. Long, big athletic tackles, some maulers inside.
“If you want to run the ball, dial it up and let’s go. If you want to pass the ball, the quarterback is going to be able to sit back there and pick apart a defense. I think it will make a big difference in what you see at the quarterback position.”
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