Ben Bredeson (#74, image via The Wolverine)
Name: Ben Bredeson
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 320 lbs.
High school: Hartland (WI) Arrowhead
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Junior
Jersey number: #74
Last year: I ranked Bredeson #9B and said he would be the starting left guard (LINK). He started twelve games at left guard.
TTB Rating: 88
Bredeson quickly became a very dependable interior lineman for Michigan. He started most of the season as a freshman, and he became a full-time starter in 2017. His sophomore campaign was good enough for him to be named Second Team All-Conference. He’s a massive lineman who looks like the tough, hard-nosed, road-grading Michigan offensive linemen of yesteryear.
The buzz coming out of Schembechler Hall is that Bredeson has been the team’s best lineman, and that’s not surprising. There are a lot of unproven players up front, and other than left guard, the next most solidified position is center Cesar Ruiz, who was primarily a backup last season and played a lot of right guard. Bredeson is of great value to the team, and that’s represented by the fact that he’s #8 on this list. At the same time, Michigan has a battle at right guard (Michael Onwenu vs. Stephen Spanellis) and a battle at right tackle (James Hudson vs. Juwann Bushell-Beatty), even though Onwenu and Bushell-Beatty have earned starting gigs before. I think Michigan could weather the loss of Bredeson by plugging in someone like Spanellis (or left tackle Jon Runyan, Jr.) temporarily, but it would be a setback. Led by new offensive line coach Ed Warinner, I think this line is going to be pretty solid in 2018.
Prediction: Starting left guard
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Bredeson being the only Michigan player on the Outland watch list is testament to his proven playing ability as well as being Michigan’s best overall lineman. Um’s opponents this year have many players on this list including Wisky with 5 and even Western Mich – who actually has TWO!
Michigan’s OL can’t get back to the good ole days fast enough!
INTJohn
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If we have “a solid line in 2018,” we’re probably going to the playoffs
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Or be banging on the door.
Thunder’s “I think this line is going to be pretty solid in 2018” comment is one of the most optimistic I’ve seen yet. If that turns out to be true, then the other elements of the offense might have a chance to get traction — QB, RB, TE, WR. It might also allow Patterson to go through a season without getting too pummeled.
So here’s to Thunder’s optimism … let it be true!
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OL is the #1 question but health is another huge unknown.
Michigan lacks depth at some spots where an injury would be a big blow in any of the 5 big games against top 15 teams. Depth is a concern at DE and Viper on D and on O you can pretty much name almost any position.
Next on the list is QB execution and playcalling/scheme. We’re all feeling optimistic about Patterson’s talent but the jury is still out on Hamilton and company making it work. That’s even if Warriner does everything he possible can.
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Injuries are big part of the game: To whom, when and to what extent.
I’m still not ready to hit the ‘Patterson as Saviour’ button. His play last season against good defenses was dismal – granted probably not all on him. He also only lasted 7 games; when he went up against better defenses he got beat up.
Team this with Harbaugh’s inability to keep QB’s upright and in the game and the Most important player on the offensive unit might actually be the No1 backup QB. That puts Michigan’s QB situation back similar to the past 3 years.
Hoping to see Patterson survive the entire ND game as well as throw zero interceptions or fumbles.
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