With continuing competition and a new quarterback, Michigan’s offensive line looks to gel

In Michigan coach Sherrone Moore’s previous role as the Wolverines’ offensive line coach, he often repeated the phrase that it takes “ten guys” on the offensive line to get through a season. 

Usually, that phrase is in reference to injuries and other maladies that the linemen face in the most physically demanding position on the field. But Moore is demonstrating that his “ten-man” mentality goes deeper than just injuries — that it extends to continual competition as well. 

Gelling at some points and collapsing at others like it did against No. 1 Texas, Michigan’s offensive line has yet to find the precise mixture of personnel that it’s been looking for. All season, the Wolverines have toyed with rotating centers with senior Dom Giuduce as the starter and senior Greg Crippen subbing in frequently. And within that competition, facing injuries to key players, Moore has come to the conclusion that some competitions have been decided, and others have been reopened. 

Two Saturdays ago against Washington with graduate left tackle Myles Hinton and Giudice out with injuries, Moore had the opportunity to watch Crippen and graduate tackle Jeff Persi take on starting roles. And coming out of what he viewed as strong performances from both, it appears that Moore has decided that Crippen will get the nod at center going forward while Persi may take over for struggling sophomore right tackle Evan Link. 

“I thought Crip did a really good job,” Moore said Monday of Crippen’s performance against the Huskies. “I think he did a really good job of controlling the line of play with the calls, especially in that environment being pretty calm. … So it looks like he’ll cement himself (at center) and continue to work there. But we’ll see what happens with Dom (Giudice). And you know Persi gave some great experience being an older guy, so it gives us a challenge at the other spot to see what he can do. There’s always competition.”

With Hinton and Giuduce expected to return this weekend, Hinton will slot back in at left tackle, and it appears that Crippen will again start at center while Link and Persi battle for the role at right tackle. And while such shakeups might not be ideal in a picture-perfect world, the offensive line doesn’t believe they will cause any problems with chemistry. 

“Going into the season you have to have ten-plus guys who are able to play,” graduate offensive lineman Josh Priebe said Monday. “… I think the chemistry is already in a good place from that perspective because we already have had a lot of opportunities to play with different lines and different people in those positions.”

And while competition heavily impacts the line, the Wolverines’ ever-changing quarterback situation does too. With Michigan starting its third quarterback of the season this Saturday — graduate Jack Tuttle — its offensive line must make another adjustment in learning how best to protect him.

With senior quarterback Davis Warren and junior quarterback Alex Orji having been benched throughout the season, the Wolverines’ line has had to prepare for different styles of quarterbacking. Warren ran an offense that was a mixture of passing and running, but rarely took off using his legs, whereas Orji operated a run-heavy offense that relied on designed quarterback runs. 

But Tuttle is a different type of quarterback. With more arm talent and accuracy, Tuttle operates a mixed offense with deeper routes and is also efficient out of structure with his legs. All of these different styles of quarterbacking require slightly different styles of protection, but according to Priebe, the line’s main focus is always solely on itself, and not on the quarterback under center. 

“Offensive line is already such a tough position, and we’re focused on how us five can perform well together,” Priebe said. “Obviously yes, there have been different guys back there and communication does change at times, but really to be honest with you, so much of it is, we really don’t have time to worry or be concerned with who’s back there. We have to execute, us five together, and really that’s the most important thing for us.”

With continual competition on the line and potential shakeups this week against Illinois, the offensive line will continue to search for the consistency that it has lacked at points so far. Despite a new quarterback and some new personnel, Moore and the line don’t expect too much variation. They expected to need 10 linemen to start the year, so having rotated seven starters with three quarterbacks up until this point hasn’t surprised them.

The post With continuing competition and a new quarterback, Michigan’s offensive line looks to gel appeared first on The Michigan Daily.


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