The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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O F F E N S I V E L I N E THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 77 Sizing Up The New Wave Jon Jansen served as a stalwart captain and All-America offensive lineman on Michigan's 1997 national champions. He offered analysis behind the microphone on the Michigan radio broadcasts throughout the Wolverines' 15-0 charge to a national title last season and he's keeping a close eye on what 2024 will bring. Obviously, it brings big change up front, where Michigan's top six offensive linemen from last year are gone. What happens with their successors will tell much about the Wolverines' follow-up success. "All the starters are going to be different, but it's not like guys don't have experience," Jansen said. "You've got [senior guard] Giovanni El-Hadi who's got really good experience. You've got [senior center] Greg Crippen, who doesn't have great experience, but he's been in the program. Obviously [grad transfer guard] Josh Priebe, not experienced here or in this offense, but a smart kid, and he's got good, on-field playing experience. "The center of this offensive line, the nucleus of it, is going to be really solid. Now there's almost no experience outside. You've got [grad tackle] Jeff Persi, [junior tackle] Andrew Gentry and [fifth-year senior tackle] Myles Hinton, but that's the great un- known. What are you going to get out of the tackle position?" That's what Jansen and others are try- ing to figure out. He's seen both encour- aging signs, as well as those that give him concerns in the summer leading up to a crucial fall camp. "The concerning part is that there's been no test," he said. "There's been no proof that these guys can do it. With the level of competition they're going to be facing early, there's no warm-up pe- riod. Yes, there's the Fresno State game, but you're in it, fast and furious, with Texas. Then you've got USC and Michi- gan State, Ohio State, Oregon. They're going to get thrown into the fire." The good news involves what they've already seen and experienced on the edges of the fire, Jansen explained. " They're doing all the things they have to do to get good, and to gain confidence in themselves," he said. "The time they're putting in, the film room, the process on the field is solid. What also gives me a lot of confidence is, we've seen over the last couple of years, guys that get hurt, and guys that go in — it doesn't feel like these guys that went in ever missed a beat. "Sherrone Moore's methods and techniques — even though he's not the offensive line coach anymore — and the way he wants things coached and developed are all still there. Grant Newsome learned from him, and now he's running the offensive line. They've got a great line of communication and a great relationship." Moore can also dictate the game plan, and that could work to the offensive line's benefit, according to Jansen. "He can protect their vulnerabilities," Jansen said. "If they're really good at run blocking, we can run the ball. We can play-action pass. And when asked to pass protect, he'll be able to max protect, or use a tight end, a receiver, a running back to help those tackles until they're up to speed and can basically live on their own. "If it's pass pro, there are other things you can do in the run game that can assist the tackles. I have a lot of confidence Sherrone will do everything he can to put this offensive line, and ultimately the offense, in position to be successful." — John Borton STARTERS ★★★ ★★★ Michigan doesn't lack raw material here, de- spite losing its top six offensive linemen follow- ing a national championship season. The Wol- verines return several players who have started or performed in games over the past three Big Ten championship seasons, including fifth-year senior tackle Myles Hinton, senior Greg Crippen, senior Giovanni El-Hadi, grad Jeff Persi and junior Andrew Gentry. They also pulled in multi-year Northwestern starting guard Josh Priebe through the transfer portal. The question becomes, how soon does this group come to- gether as a cohesive unit on the field, on game day, against really good competition? Be- yond that, what's the ceiling for this crew, supplemented by others? That's what keeps the early grade for this group from climbing too high. The bad and the good from spring ball is this: Michigan's staunch defensive line held the upper hand more often than not, but the U-M blockers aren't going to face a better defensive line all year, so the tough learning is already taking place. DEPTH ★★ ★★ Again, there are too many un- knowns here. If last year's top backups all become starters, the lower pipeline gets tested. Play- ers such as grad Raheem An- derson, and sophomores Evan Link and Nate Efobi have shown some good things, but playing solidly as a college offensive lineman isn't a simple or quick accomplishment. Just ask Sher- rone Moore. He's willing to be patient, but there will also be no lack of urgency preached and taught while the Wolverines ap- proach the season in 2024. OVERALL ★★★ ★★★ It's tough not to give a wait-and-see grade, given a group with so many question marks. On the plus side, there's the aforementioned battles with a redoubtable defensive line, sure to toughen up this crew. Also, Sherrone Moore, and his protegé, new offensive line coach Grant Newsome, know how to develop an offensive line unit that can bully the Buckeyes and everybody else. The question remains here, is there enough time and talent for those replacing 2023's maul- ers to become good enough to compete at the highest level? PRESEASON ANALYSIS In a season of opportunity on the offensive line, junior tack- le Andrew Gentry (6-7, 327) appears poised to become the starter at right tackle this fall. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY