Michigan offensive line focused on starting strong, finishing physical

Greg Crippen sets up on the offensive line before the start of a play while facing a Michigan State opponent.

The Michigan football team’s offensive line inarguably had a good week this past Saturday against Michigan State. For the first time this season, the Wolverines didn’t allow a single sack and didn’t commit any penalties

Michigan offensive line coach Grant Newsome was pleased with the effort — it’s hard to not be. But given that the Wolverines managed only 1 rushing yard and 14 passing yards through their first two drives, Newsome saw a need for improvement, too. 

“It was definitely our best effort,” Newsome said Wednesday. “Anytime you have no sacks, no penalties, no turnovers, you feel good about it. … I thought there were some areas we could still clean up, and then the big challenge is we got to start faster up front. We took ourselves off the field twice.”

When saying that the O-line took itself off the field twice, Newsome later clarified that he was referring to two specific third-down plays on Michigan’s second and third drives of the game. On the second drive, senior running back Donovan Edwards received a pitch on third-and-5 but was promptly wrapped up in the backfield for a 3-yard loss. On the third, graduate running back Kalel Mullings was stuffed at the line of scrimmage on 3rd-and-6. 

Mullings may not have gotten 6 yards up the middle, and Edwards may not have been able to set the edge even if he had more space to run. But neither got the chance to make anything happen because the O-line let them get hit almost immediately after they got the ball. 

“We have the numbers, the looks we’re looking for, and we got to execute those,” Newsome said. “Because those are the types of plays where you hit even one of those, now you’re on the field for that second or third drive. What ended up happening the last drive of the first half into the first drive of the second half, well now it’s happening on drive two. You kind of get control of that game a little earlier.”

With better O-line play early, the Wolverines could have gotten out to a faster start instead of having to mount a comeback. They found their footing late in the second quarter, but against offenses with more firepower than the Spartans’ — like No. 1 Oregon’s — a slow start will likely mean a deeper hole for Michigan to climb out of. 

By the end of the night, though, the Wolverines’ O-line had played its best game of the season. They kept junior quarterback Davis Warren upright and created space for junior quarterback Alex Orji to run, adding another dimension to the offense. Michigan finished the game strong and physical, which earned the Wolverines a win against their in-state rivals. 

How Michigan’s offensive linemen finished the game against Michigan State is also similar to how they want to finish the season. Senior offensive lineman Greg Crippen highlighted Tuesday that the Wolverines want to prove their physicality in the coming weeks, and Newsome echoed that sentiment.

“Anytime you get late in October, November, like this next game will be, you’re going to have to be able to run the football,” Newsome said. “(You’re) gonna have to be able to be physical. That’s been a hallmark of offensive lines here, and no matter what the game dictates play-calling wise, we’re gonna have to be able to run the football.”

As the temperature finally begins to drop and blue skies fade to gray, Michigan’s ability to play some good old-fashioned, smash-mouth, run-heavy football will be critical. Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore loves that kind of football, but it requires his O-line to execute at a high level and out-physical opposing teams from the opening snap to the final whistle. 

In the coming weeks, Michigan’s offensive line will attempt to prove that it can play physical enough to control the line of scrimmage, and with it, the game. And to finish the season with the requisite physicality, the O-line will have to start each game strong, just as Newsome has asked of it.

The post Michigan offensive line focused on starting strong, finishing physical appeared first on The Michigan Daily.


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