The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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"It's something we always watched. Even when we were terrible, we watched Jake Long and all these guys that were so, so good. "We loved the whole unit, and tried to embody that. I remember that from when I was playing." Drevno will make things right up front, and Michigan's offense will flow from there, Marinelli insisted. "Drevs is one of the biggest reasons our program got to where it was, and a huge reason for why San Fran got to where they were, running the football and protecting the passer," Marinelli said. "He's a true motiva- tor, and a guy who is climbing the ranks, arguably faster than anyone, to get where he is now. "He's one of the top offensive line coaches, a guy who harps on the details, another guy like Jim who is with you every step of the way. He's not above any one person. He's there with you, running through the drills with you. "He's a guy you can identify with, as a player. He's someone who has really made his money being a true student of the game. He's studied ev- erything. He knows every scheme, he knows every player, and he achieved his edge that way. He had us so prepped up for so many situations. He's really a true, all-around coach." Given a solid year to work with an offensive lineman, Drevno will have him very well rounded and capable, Marinelli assured. Plenty of linemen come into college having learned horrible habits out of high school, Marinelli noted, but those will be quickly worked out of the blocking efforts. "It shouldn't take any longer than a redshirt season," Marinelli said. "The best example in our personal success was David DeCastro — who is, in my opinion, one of the best offensive guards in the NFL for Pittsburgh. He was a first-round draft pick, and a guy who certainly saved my ass a lot of times, playing beside me. "He came out of a Wing-T offense, and Drevs turned him around quick — very, very quick. He got him all coached up on the proper technique, how to fit a power scheme, how to work a zone scheme, how to pass protect, how to sell play action — all these things he had never been taught." While it all starts up front, they say, it certainly doesn't end there for an offensive coordinator. That means Drevno will be doing far more than shaping the future Jake Longs. He's certainly been around Har- baugh offenses enough to know what the boss wants, and has done so be- fore, quite effectively. Harbaugh initially hired Drevno in 2003 to coach the offensive line and run the offense at San Diego. In his first season, Drevno coached the Toreros to the top offense in the Football Championship Subdivi- sion (483.3 yards per game). They were third in 2005 and ranked first again in 2006 (494.3 yards per game), thanks to running games that aver- aged 170.7 yards and 200.9 yards per game in 2005 and 2006, respectively. "Tim Drevno is an outstanding run-game mind," said former San