The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/178977
Offensive Line Starters — 2 stars: Fifth-year seniors Taylor Lewan and Michael Schofield provide all the experience and toughness the Wolverines need at either end of the line. For the second straight year, though, questions about the Michigan middle linger into conference play. Former walk-on left guard Graham Glasgow, center Jack Miller and right guard Kyle Kalis were finding their way through the nonconference, and the Wolverines' uneven play at times is drawing close scrutiny. Depth — 4 stars: It's good and getting better, compared to what Brady Hoke inherited upon his arrival. Michigan features a host of young talent grooming behind the starters. The only drawback involves the younger performers being a little too young to move seamlessly into the lineup when called upon. X-Factor: Michigan's X-Factor in this Big Ten season has to be the drive Lewan brings with him in his final chance for a conference championship. He returned to Ann Arbor to win one, foregoing the chance to become an NFL first-round draft pick. How he leads the rest of the way for the Wolverines will count plenty. Overall — 2 stars: Michigan can and should get better up front. The growing pains are to be expected, given three new starters on the interior of the offensive line. At the same time, the Wolverines have to ramp up both the running game and pass protection in the coming weeks to give themselves a legitimate chance to make it to Indianapolis in December, and that falls to this group. Tight Ends Starters — 3 stars: Michigan is good and getting better here, with sophomores A.J. Williams and Devin Funchess growing into the roles they were forced into last fall. Williams has been a blocking force for the Wolverines, although no threat in the passing game, while Funchess can make the big grab but has a lot of work to do in the blocking aspects of the game. Depth — 3 stars: It's gone from non-existent a year ago to slowly getting better. Remember, the Wolverines are reintroducing the notion of multiple tight ends, and building that end of it back up. True freshman Jake Butt has proven a valuable addition early in the season, and redshirt junior Jordan Paskorz provides additional depth. X-Factor: The Wolverines proved unafraid to throw the football to Butt, even in a huge showdown like the Notre Dame game. Given Michigan's search for bigger wide receiving targets at this point, Butt could become increasingly important. Overall — 3 stars: This represents yet another position that's getting there, but still features some big question marks. Williams' non-conference ankle injury slowed him, while Funchess and Butt need to improve their blocking skills while providing quarterback Devin Gardner with attractive options in the passing game. Stars are on a 1-5 scale, with five being the best