The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/956415
APRIL 2018 THE WOLVERINE 43 BY CHRIS BALAS M ichigan enters the 2018 season, head coach Jim Harbaugh's fourth, on the heels of a somewhat disap- pointing 2017. The Wolverines played well enough defensively to win every game but one, but the offense sput- tered badly during an 8-5 campaign. Not surprisingly, then, most of the question marks for 2018 start on the offensive side of the ball. U-M opened spring practice March 23 and here are our top five questions to be answered this spring: 1. How does the offensive line shake out, and how much better can it be? It's no secret Harbaugh and his staff were looking for offensive line help in the offseason. Graduate trans- fer Calvin Anderson (Rice) was a target, visited and was very serious about the Wolverines. It wasn't sur- prising, though, when he ended up picking Texas — his hometown team — in the end. So the Wolverines are left to piece together a line that, at least depth- wise, is once again going to have to play a few guys at their second-best positions. Mason Cole, a future NFL interior lineman, anchored the left tackle spot a year ago, and there's been talk that junior left guard Ben Bredeson could make the move to the edge this year if someone else doesn't step up … namely, former defensive end and redshirt freshman James Hudson, who impressed in practice last year. Redshirt freshman Chuck Filiaga has also earned Harbaugh's praise this offseason, though some believe he's best suited for the interior line. There's a lot to like about the guards and centers, no matter who wins those jobs. Juniors Bredeson and Michael Onwenu have a lot of expe- rience and the potential to be road graders at the guard spots. Sopho- more Cesar Ruiz was the Wolverines' best lineman at times playing right guard, and he loves the thought of playing center. Redshirt sophomore Stephen Spanellis was solid at center in the Outback Bowl and will battle there and at guard as well. Harbaugh has also said good things about fifth-year senior Juwann Bush- ell-Beatty in the offseason — specifi- cally, he's training like he knows it's his last go-round — and redshirt junior Jon Runyan will also battle for time up front. Redshirt freshmen Andrew Stue- ber and Joel Honigford are expected to provide depth, at least for now. New line coach Ed Warinner is con- sidered one of the best in the business, and he's making it his mission to im- prove a line that has great potential, SOMETHING TO PROVE Michigan Has Several Question Marks Heading Into Spring Ball Junior left guard Ben Bredeson, who already has 20 starts at U-M, is the 2018 roster's most experienced starter and will earn a job somewhere, but he may be asked to change positions. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN 2018 SPRING FOOTBALL PREVIEW