Michigan Football Preview 2013

2013 Michigan Football Preview

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/137378

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 121 of 267

The NLine Finally Hasodel ew M The Offensive The Talent And Competition To Be A Dominating Unit OL Fifth-year senior Michael Schofield (No. 75) started all 13 games at right tackle last season, one year after making 10 starts at left guard. photo by lon horwedel M By Chris Balas ichigan offensive line coach Darrell Funk was a fledgling graduate assistant when he got his first look at a Michigan offensive line. Coaching under John Mackovic at Illinois, Funk was on the sidelines when the 1989 U-M front secured a 24-10 win over the Illini by taking control in the trenches on the way to a game-securing touchdown. Based on that experience, Funk had visions of what he might inherit when he learned he'd be joining head coach Brady Hoke at Michigan in 2011. However, he arrived to find eight scholarship linemen left over from former head coach Rich Rodriguez's regime, nowhere near adequate. "That was definitely a challenge, I have to admit," Funk said. "A lot of teams carry 16 or 17 linemen. Now, there were obviously some good players in that eight, but it made for some interesting practice planning." And some breath holding during the season. "I can remember one time two springs ago when we were going to have three groups running a 130- or 140-play scrimmage," Funk continued. "I raised my hand and said, 'Hey, Coach, my Colorado 120  ■  The Wolverine 2013 Football Preview State math's not great, but …' "Brady said, 'I know, that's a lot of reps. Get it done.' We only had seven guys that day. It was a grinding day, and our guys pushed through it. It was one of many days we pushed forward as a group." Funk lost veteran guard Ricky Barnum for most of the 2011 season, while Rimington Award-winning center David Molk played on one leg after hurting himself immediately before the Sugar Bowl Rushing Yards Year-By-Year Rush Yards Yards Year Rush Yards Total Yards Per Game Per Rush 2012 2,3894,980183.8 4.8 2011 2,8845,261221.8 5.2 2010 3,1016,353238.5 5.6 2009 2,2344,614186.2 4.5 2008 1,7713,489147.6 3.9 2007 2,1445,006164.9 4.0 2006 2,2824,820175.5 4.3 2005 1,9394,611161.6 3.9 2004 1,8434,638153.6 3.8 2003 2,2875,807175.9 4.3

Articles in this issue

view archives of Michigan Football Preview 2013 - 2013 Michigan Football Preview