The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/116680
fit an inside player. As he becomes more seasoned, you'll see more of his attributes." Unlike Kalis, Braden will most likely be a tackle in the future. His 6-6, 314-pound frame is what the coaches want on the edge. But offensive line coach Darrell Funk makes sure that every tackle on the roster knows how to play guard — and vice versa. "We keep all those options open. Coach Funk, Coach Hoke and I pretty much adhere to the same philosophy: we're going to play the best five guys," Borges said. "If their profile isn't perfect for the position, then we'll find a way to make it work. We're not going to try and fit a square peg in a round hole. "If that means Braden or anybody else playing a position they may not be perfectly suited to physically, we will do it, if it is getting the five best guys on the field." So far, Braden has looked good at the left guard spot. The combination of him and Lewan on that side of the ball will lend some power to the run game. Another redshirt freshman, Blake Bars, who measures 6-5, 284 pounds, will get a look at guard, as well. "We're excited to see what he is capable of," Borges said. "This is a big spring for him. He has really worked his tail off. He's running well. Looking forward to seeing what he brings him to the table." Of course, this is the spring, and things can change. If Braden's services will be more effective on the outside, the coaches can move him to right tackle and bring Schofield down to left guard, where he started 10 games in 2011. "He's going to play tackle for now, but if we find a tackle who can play out there and that means getting the best five guys on the field makes Mike a guard again, so be it," Borges said. "We leave all options open. Right now we have a plan for how we want to go about it, and once it shakes out, we will see how people progress, then we will adjust the plan or continue with what we're doing." Borges wanted to make clear that any talk of moving Schofield was, at this point, speculation. Everyone from Braden to fifth-year senior walkon Erik Gunderson will get a fair shake in the Wolverines' 15 spring sessions. "This is fun stuff. I love spring football," Borges said. "You're not up against a deadline to put a game plan in. You're in evaluation mode and systematic development mode. Those are the two major goals for the spring. When you get into the fall, it all changes. You have a short amount of time to assess the 18-20 players who will play for you from week in to week out. "In the spring, because you're more willing to play more guys, it sacrifices how you look sometime in spring games and scrimmages. We're not trying to win spring football as much as we're trying to develop our team. You want to be competitive, and that's important, but if we come out of spring football as better football players, it will be better for the fall." ❑