The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/299859
SIMPLE AND STABILIZING The offensive linemen received a steady dose of Nussmeier 's zone blocking schemes this spring. From the reaction of the Wolverines, there has been an emphasis on doing less and doing it better. That's welcome news for those who were, at times, overwhelmed last fall by all that Michigan tried to run on the offensive side of the football. "There are certain sets of schemes that every football team has," Kalis said. "This year we have gone to- ward a couple schemes, as opposed to last year, when we had a lot more schemes. Doing that, we have been able to focus on two major schemes. There are different variations, but as a whole, we have come together and perfected the schemes as much as we could." Hoke and Nussmeier both noted the installation of the new system re- mained measured throughout spring practice. They want to see the offen- sive linemen become proficient at the basics, and build from that point. "The coaching staff has done a nice job of not putting in too much install in each day," Kalis assured. "Every day, we'll put one or two things in and perfect that in a day or two and then put something else in. You can't wait forever, because you only have 15 spring practices, but it has gone at a good pace for us, seeing as how we are a young line, allowing us to learn at our own pace and perfecting it every day. "Last year, you never knew what was going to get called out. Coach [Al] Borges is a great coach, but what Coach Nussmeier has done with us, especially knowing that we're a young line and only giving us these two or three schemes, he is doing us a huge favor. He's allowing us to make the learning curve shorter." "I think Coach Nussmeier's system is easier to comprehend than Coach Borges' because some of the names of the plays are names of animals," Bosch added. "It's common terminol- ogy. It's not a numbered system and it's easier to pick up." Beyond system, Michigan's block- ers are picking up and perfecting blocking essentials. For instance, Kalis noted his pad level and hand place- ment were consistently an issue. He also learned the playbook to the point that he knew where every- one was supposed to be going. Those advances obviously took a step back with Nussmeier, but at the same time the simplicity of approach eases the effort, Kalis noted. Movement along the front line has to become second nature, he insisted, Sophomore right guard Kyle Kalis "The five of us all being young, it allows us to mesh and come together in a way that we didn't last year. … That brings a level of comfort that we didn't have last year. We're going to be pretty good."