Michigan Football Preview 2017

2017 Michigan Football Preview

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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THE WOLVERINE 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 87 OFFENSIVE LINE FYI Athlon named senior Mason Cole a preseason All-Big Ten first-team choice and a third-team All-Ameri- can (at center), while ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. rated him as the No. 3 senior offensive tackle in the country. Last year's line tied for 98th nationally in tackles for loss allowed, giving up 86 — 6.62 per game — but ranked 40th in sacks surrendered, allowing 22 — 1.69 a contest Junior Grant Newsome will be taking a redshirt season this fall, continuing to heal the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee from last year. He earned both the Dr. Arthur D. Robinson Scholarship Award (football's top student-athlete) and Robert P. Ufer Bequest (player demonstrating the most love and enthusiasm for Michigan) in his second season as a Wolverine. Fifth-year senior David Dawson, who saw action in 14 games during his four years at Michigan, planned to play as a graduate transfer at Iowa State, but retired from the game earlier this summer. Athlon ranked the U-M offensive line as the fifth best in the league for 2017. than you do at center. It's impressive he can do that. It's a testament to the athleticism that Mason has." Bredeson started the final eight games a year ago at left guard and appears ready to remain a fixture there for the Wolverines. A year in Michigan's strength and condition- ing program shows, Skene noted, Bredeson's body looking like a true college offensive lineman. Now, the former Wolverine noted, experi- ence and physical maturity can begin to com- bine in a more aggressive package. "That's going to help him tremendously," Skene said. "There's a comfort level that comes along. He looked comfortable in there at the left guard spot. "Maybe we'll see a little more aggression come out, a little less methodical X's-and-O's mindset and a little more nastiness and tenac- ity mindset. That comes when the offense and where he needs to be is second nature." True freshman starters on the offensive line simply have their hands full, Skene observed. "We look for a progression and a big step up from Bredeson," he said. "In some of those situations last year, we saw him looking like a freshman, getting caught flat-footed. That should go away in year number two for a guy of his talent level — which is pretty high." Of course, for a Cole-to-left-tackle move to work, Michigan needs a quality center. Kugler appears to have stepped into that role. At 6-5, 303 pounds, Kugler looks the part, and he acknowledged in spring ball he's ap- plied himself to the exacting football task more diligently of late than eve r b e f o r e . He's appeared in 10 games over the course of his career, starting one. But the son of a football coach has a wide-open op- portunity in front of him, and Skene knows how that feels. "I look at him as very similar to myself," Skene said. "I didn't really get in that lineup until my fourth year. I started half of my fourth year and all of my fifth year. This is it. I know the desperation feelings he's got. It's all or none. "It looks like he's gotten himself in pretty good shape, physically. In the spring game, it looked like he was moving around really well." That doesn't mean he's ready for fall yet, Skene stressed, citing the imperatives of for- Senior Mason Cole, who has started 38 consecutive games for the Wolverines, is expected to make the switch back to left tackle from center. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN YEAR-BY-YEAR RUSHING YARDS Rush Yards Yards Year Rush Yards Total Yards Per Game Per Rush 2016 2,768 5,524 212.9 4.8 2015 2,057 5,147 158.2 4.2 2014 1,954 3,996 162.8 4.6 2013 1,634 4,855 125.7 3.3 2012 2,389 4,980 183.8 4.8 2011 2,884 5,261 221.8 5.2 2010 3,101 6,353 238.5 5.6 2009 2,234 4,614 186.2 4.5 2008 1,771 3,489 147.6 3.9 2007 2,144 5,006 164.9 4.0

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