Michigan Football Tidbits: Position Breakdown -- Coach Frey and Offensive Line

Michigan Football Tidbits: Position Breakdown -- Coach Frey and Offensive Line

This will be a combination of what Coach Frey and the graduate assistants talked about at the coaches clinic, and what we saw during this year's spring practices and scrimmages.

Offensive Line Coach: Coach Frey

In our opinion, he is probably the top assistant on the staff. His practices are well organized and he is coaching 100% of the time. He is very detail oriented and focused. There is very little of what you might see with a government road crew, with one man working and nine others standing around watching.

Graduate Assistants: Coach Alex Herring

We owe him an apology for always forgetting his name. We / Michigan are lucky to have him. In our opinion, he is like having a second offensive line coach. He is that good, and there is a third who is very good also (I guess another apology is due).

We have seen schools that do not have one offensive line coach of the quality of Coach Herring. Bad news for Michigan is he's division one coach quality and we would have to guess some smart school is going to pilfer him shortly.

What Michigan looks for in offensive linemen:

Coach Frey stated that Michigan lifts weights at a no huddle quick tempo pace to help get Linemen ready for the scheme.

1) Good Athletes: Guys who can get to blocks.
2) Players who play multiple positions.
3) Height and weight are not important -- Michigan will take a 6'2 player if he can play.
4) Long Arms with the body types.
5) Intelligence.

6) When Linemen gets to a block what does he do?

7) When he gets there does he finish the play / block.

Keys to offensive line Play:

Not a lot of rules, but here are the ones Michigan needs to be good at:
1) How fundamentally sound you remain when tired. This is a big key in our opinion. It is easy to play hard and use correct fundamentals when fresh.
2) Keeping things simple--lets players play hard in the heat of the battle.
3) Play with speed.
4) Working to the whistle.

Depth Chart: First Group

Ortmann (LT): Noticeable improvement. He is much better conditioned and has better movement skills. He played very well in the spring game this year. His protection of Forcier’s backside will be vital to Michigan’s success. Ortmann handling left tackle allows Michigan to make a key move--see below!

Schilling (LG): What a difference a position change can make. He is a competent left tackle, but potential star at left guard. He is the definite leader of the offensive line, always being first on the field and he leads in drills. Best offensive lineman in our opinion at this time.

Molk (OC): Nobody plays or works harder or gives more. Too short, arms not long enough, and a better fit at different style. We have heard them all, and this kid just keeps giving more and more. He was called for holding twice at scrimmage during the coach’s clinic. He will always hold special place for us for being the only Michigan player with a set of BALLS during Ohio State game and standing up and saying "Enough!" He would not take crap from Lauranitis: Bravo!

Moosman (RG): The word that comes to mind is SOLID. He does nothing great, but in our opinion he is the glue that holds the offensive line together. He will have some leverage problems with tougher defensive tackles, but we will never question is work ethic or desire.

Huyge (RT): He will always be a favorite, because he did the impossible--he made us look smart. Last year we wrote that Michigan had seven-division one quality offensive linemen, but not to quit on Huyge; he had the talent to contribute. Well he is definitely going to contribute. The best news is he has even more room to grow and improve.

Depth Chart: Second Group
Omameh (LT): Patrick is the best athlete of the group--by a wide margin. He has super long arms and quick feet. He is still developing and needs to add some strength, but the talent is there to be special.

Mealer (LG): Bravo to Elliot for overcoming all his obstacles and getting on the field. You can definitely see some rust, but you can also see he has the talent to contribute.

McAvoy (OC): What a great kid; he does whatever is asked of him. He plays any position on offensive line if needed. Will probably never be a star, but is the type of kid every team needs on their team.

Khoury (OC): Watch Rocko closely, he has the talent to make a huge push for playing time. This is type of competition that Michigan missed last season.

Ferrara (RG): Tough kid who provides good depth and competition. He is not the overall athlete of some of the others, in our opinion.

Dorrestein (RT): You have to have so much respect for this kid. He is one big, strong dude. Just not a great fit for what Michigan is doing now with the spread. Yet, he stays, works his tail off, and sure seems like he wants to be here. Hope all Michigan fans appreciate the Dorrestein types, because they are very valuable to your football team!

Two extras
Barnum (OG): Keep hearing how good he is, but we cannot speak on it because have never seen him play and will not guess. We will wait and see.

O'Neill (OT): Kid looks frustrated and doesn't seem to be having much fun. This offense is tough on these bigger players. Lets hope he is 2010's version of Huyge and finds a niche and becomes a player.

Couple more things from Coach Frey:
Michigan uses four types of blocking techniques--we will not go into detail of each, but here they are:

1) Lead, for isolation and power.
2) Base.
3) Belly--this is very aggressive style of zone.
4) Outside zone or stretch.

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Written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine