The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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82 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW would be at left tackle. As a freshman starter, he often got help from a tight end or a back when it came to pass protection. He's got all the help he needs on either side of him at center, former Michigan All-Big Ten center Doug Skene noted. "It's a tighter space in there, and the lux- ury is most of the time you're in combination with a guard on either side of you," Skene said. "The other challenge that's different from tackle to the interior, the opponent he's used to playing against was quicker, a pass- rushing kind of guy. Those guys are a little longer, a heck of a lot faster, get you out of your stance on the edge. That's not the case inside, and you're in collaboration between guards and centers, tight on every play. "When pass blocking against most de- fenses Michigan will play with four-man fronts, the first thing he is doing is getting his hips back at the same level as his guards. Imagine if you get three guys all standing on a line together with three or four people in front of them. They can pass things off, punch, slide … you're working hip to hip with the guy on both sides of you. That's a good thing." Work In Progress Despite 15 practices at center this spring, there's still no guarantee Cole will be the guy to start there at the beginning of the season. Summer has a way of bringing out the best in some guys, and players like red- shirt junior Pat Kugler — who was brought in specifically for the center position a few years ago — among others are working hard in the weight room to put themselves in posi- tion to play. Drevno acknowledges the starting five is something the coaches "will still tinker with," which means although Cole would be the starting center if the season kicked off today, he could still wind up at tackle — or even guard. It's all about finding the best Cole has started all 25 games over the last two years at Michigan — but they all came at left tackle, where he earned All-Big Ten honorable mention last season. PHOTO BY BRANDON BROWN