Which offensive players will not be here in 2021?

Tag: Chuck Filiaga


23Aug 2020
Blog, homepage no comments

2020 Season Countdown: #25 Chuck Filiaga

Chuck Filiaga (image via MGoBlue)

Name: Chuck Filiaga
Height: 
6’6″
Weight: 
345 lbs.
High school: 
Aledo (TX) Aledo
Position: 
Offensive guard
Class: 
Redshirt junior
Jersey number: 
#66
Last year: 
I ranked Filiaga #67 and said he would be a backup offensive guard (LINK). He played in twelve games, four at offensive guard and twelve on special teams.
TTB Rating:
 86

Filiaga has always had questions swirling around him about whether he could manage his weight effectively. He was listed at 341 pounds last year, and perhaps it’s a coincidence, but he did not play much. The four games in which he played offensive line were either blowout wins or blowout losses. There were four senior starters ahead of him and a redshirt freshman tackle who recently declared for the NFL draft, so talent was abundant. But Filiaga also wasn’t even one of the top couple guys off the bench, which were Ryan Hayes and the loser of the Jalen Mayfield/Andrew Stueber starting tackle battle (that Mayfield won if only by default when Stueber got injured).

I have Filiaga here at #25 as the lowest ranked lineman who is projected to be a starter. He could probably be ranked higher if not for the fact that Mayfield, now NFL-bound, is ahead of him. I have questions about Filiaga’s endurance and mobility, especially since he’s now listed four pounds heavier at 345 than he was last year. I was hoping he would drop some weight and get into the 330 range. Based on last year, I was not impressed with his ability to bend and use leverage to his advantage.

Prediction: Starting left guard

3Jan 2020
Blog, homepage 24 comments

Change is Coming: Offense

Ben Bredeson (image via 247 Sports)

Every year the new season brings changes big and small. It seems that the 2020 season will bring some pretty significant changes to what we see on the field at Michigan, from players to coaches. Here’s a look at the expected changes and what we might see in 2020.

The impact is rated as being positive (+), negative (-), or neutral (=).

Out: QB Shea Patterson
In: Dylan McCaffrey/Joe Milton
Patterson was just the third quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards in a season, but many weren’t happy with his performance. Redshirt junior McCaffrey and redshirt sophomore Joe Milton will battle it out, and the belief (on my end) is that the loser of that battle will not finish out his career at Michigan. McCaffrey is the better overall player – both passing and running – but a concussion and a collarbone injury have ended his previous two seasons.
Impact: =

Hit the jump for more.

read more
25Jun 2019
Blog, homepage no comments

2019 Season Countdown: #67 Chuck Filiaga

Chuck Filiaga (image via 247 Sports)

Name: Chuck Filiaga
Height:
6’6″
Weight:
341 lbs.
High school:
Aledo (TX) Aledo
Position:
Offensive guard
Class:
Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number:
#66
Last year:
I ranked Filiaga #83 and said he would be a backup offensive guard (LINK). He played in nine games, four at offensive tackle and six on special teams.
TTB Rating:
86

With Committapalooza temporarily paused until more commitments become public, let’s take a look at Chuck Filiaga. When he was recruited, I alerted Michigan fans that he did not represent a quick fix on the offensive line. Technique and body issues both threatened to delay his development, and that seems to be the case. Upperclassmen have a stranglehold on the starting gigs, and Filiaga is battling to be the primary backup guard.

Filiaga has not been mentioned as being in the mix at offensive tackle, and he’s typically the third backup interior guy mentioned, behind Stephen Spanellis and Joel Honigford. Filiaga is probably going to see playing time on the field goal/extra point unit as a huge body who will be tough to move, but on offense, he’s a huge body that finds itself tough to move. This will be an important year to glance at Filiaga’s future. If he’s the first or second guy off the bench on the interior, he might end up with a starting gig in 2020 after Ben Bredeson and Michael Onwenu graduate. If other guys move ahead of him, the writing might be on the wall.

Prediction: Backup offensive guard

18Jun 2018
Blog, homepage 3 comments

2018 Season Countdown: #83 Chuck Filiaga

Chuck Filiaga (image via Rivals)

Name: Chuck Filiaga
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 345 lbs.
High school: Aledo (TX) Aledo
Position: Offensive tackle/offensive guard
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #66
Last year: I ranked Filiaga #70 and said he would be a backup offensive tackle (LINK). He redshirted.

This is a rare occurrence for a highly ranked offensive lineman to actually drop down the chart in year two, but there is a reason, whether you agree or not. Filiaga was highly ranked coming out of high school in 2017, but he was always a guy who needed to a) refine his technique and b) reshape his body. Filiaga was hidden on the bench last season even when the offensive line was really struggling, and there was not much buzz filtering out of Schembechler Hall about him this off-season. He still has potential, but I don’t expect him to be a major factor this season, and he might be limited to offensive guard due to a lack of mobility. Meanwhile, freshmen Jalen Mayfield and Ryan Hayes are more athletic, and Hayes has the flexibility to be a blocking tight end this season.

Prediction: Backup offensive guard