Video: Braden, Magnuson, Kalis, Miller talk spring ball

Tag: Kyle Kalis


21Dec 2013
Uncategorized 9 comments

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl Preview: Offensive Line

Kansas State center B.J. Finney is the Big 12
conference’s top player at his position.

MICHIGAN
Starters: Fifth year senior left tackle Taylor Lewan (6’8″, 315 lbs.) has been an All-American and First Team All-Big Ten in 2012 and 2013, and he’s projected as a first round pick in next year’s NFL Draft. Redshirt freshman Erik Magnuson (6’6″, 295 lbs.) has played left guard, right guard, and right tackle this year, but none of them particularly well. He has decent feet but struggles at the point of attack. Redshirt sophomore Graham Glasgow (6’6″, 303 lbs.) was the starting left guard early in the year, took over the center position against Minnesota, and will likely start his thirteenth game of the season on Saturday night. Glasgow had several bad snaps in his first weeks as the center, but the snapping issues have largely been eliminated in the last couple games. Redshirt freshman Kyle Kalis (6’5″, 302 lbs.) lost his job after his early-season performance, but now he’s back at right guard. He lacks the foot speed to be effective on zone stretches, and the offense evolved at the end of the year toward more of an inside zone running system to accommodate the likes of Kalis. Fifth year senior right tackle Michael Schofield (6’7″, 304 lbs.) is a three-year starter and was named Honorable Mention all-conference this year, and some draft projections have him going as high as in the second round this coming April.
Backups: True freshman Kyle Bosch (6’5″, 302 lbs.) started three games late in the year after redshirt junior Joe Burzynski tore his ACL. Bosch showed some promise but looked overwhelmed and eventually gave his job back to Kalis, who had been benched in favor of Magnuson. Redshirt sophomore Jack Miller started the first four games of the season at center and has not been heard from since getting benched for Glasgow. Redshirt sophomore Chris Bryant (6’4″, 316 lbs.) made two starts at at left guard before getting benched in the middle of the Penn State game.


KANSAS STATE
Starters: Fifth year senior Cornelius Lucas (6’9″, 328 lbs.) was a First Team All-Big 12 selection in 2012, but this year he was just Honorable Mention. Redshirt sophomore Cody Whitehair (6’4″, 309 lbs.) was Second Team All-Big 12 this season. Redshirt junior B.J. Finney (6’4″, 303 lbs.) was named the best center in the conference. Redshirt sophomore Boston Stiverson (6’4″, 312 lbs.) started a couple games as a redshirt freshman and is the team’s top backup lineman this year, and he’s been filling in for an injured Keenan Taylor at right guard. Senior Tavon Rooks (6’5″, 280 lbs.) has been the starting right tackle for the past two seasons, earning Honorable Mention all-conference in both his years on campus.
Key backup: Fifth year senior Keenan Taylor (6’4″, 290 lbs.) is questionable for the bowl game due to a knee injury, but he started all 13 games last year at right guard. Stiverson has been starting in his stead for the past few weeks, but Taylor should be in there if healthy.

THE TAKEAWAY
Michigan is tied for 111th in the country with 35 sacks allowed, and they’re #101 with 131 yards/game given up on the ground. The paltry 3.25 yards/carry average ranks them 114th. Kansas State is #54 nationally with 180 yards/game on the ground, and they’re #51 with 4.53 yards/carry. They’ve also allowed 24 sacks, which is tied for #62 in the country. So while Kansas State is a wee bit above average, they’re still a long ways ahead of Michigan in many ways. The Wildcats also have a few guys with all-conference accolades, while Michigan’s Taylor Lewan has been pretty lonely when it comes to postseason accolades.

ADVANTAGE: Kansas State

13Dec 2013
Uncategorized 8 comments

2013 CFN All-Freshman Team

The 2013 CFN All-Freshman teams were announced on Wednesday (offense, defense/special teams). There are a few notable players for Michigan fans:

FIRST TEAM
Jack Conklin – OT – Michigan State
Dan Voltz – C – Wisconsin*
Laremy Tunsil – OT – Mississippi*
Joey Bosa – DE – Ohio State*
Eddie Vanderdoes – DE – UCLA*
Jaylon Smith – LB – Notre Dame*
Kendall Fuller – CB – Virginia Tech*
Vernon Hargreaves – CB – Florida*#
Su’a Cravens – S – USC*

SECOND TEAM
Christian Hackenberg – QB – Penn State
Laquon Treadwell – WR – Mississippi*
Maxx Williams – TE – Minnesota
Alex Kozan – OG – Auburn*
Avery Moss – DT – Nebraska
Cameron Johnston – P – Ohio State

HONORABLE MENTION
Maty Mauk – QB – Missouri*
Corey Clement – RB – Wisconsin*
Marquez North – WR – Tennessee*
Jacob Bailey – OL – Indiana
Adam Bisnowaty – OL – Pitt*
Michael Dunn – OL – Maryland
Cameron Hunt – OL – Oregon*
Kyle Kalis – OL – Michigan*
Dan Skipper – OL – Arkansas*
Avery Young – OL – Auburn*
Ralphael Green – DL – Indiana
Ifeadi Odenigbo – DL – Northwestern*
Michael Rose – LB – Nebraska
T.J. Simmons – LB – Indiana
Will Likely – DB – Maryland
Darius Mosely – DB – Illinois
Sojourn Shelton – DB – Wisconsin
Cameron Walker – DB – Cal*
Michael Geiger – K – Michigan State

*Offered by Michigan
#Freshman of the Year

30Sep 2013
Uncategorized 5 comments

Poll results: Which three linemen should be starting on the interior?

Taylor Lewan and Kyle Kalis

I posted a poll asking Michigan fans which three linemen should be starting on the interior of the offensive line, and it looks like fans want a change. Voters could pick multiple answers, and here are the responses.

STARTERS
OG Kyle Kalis: 95%
OG Chris Bryant: 82%
OG/C Graham Glasgow: 59%

BACKUPS
OG/OT Ben Braden: 22%
C Jack Miller: 17%
OG/C Joey Burzynski: 9%
Other: 4%

At this point, I would be in support of center Jack Miller being sent to the sideline if Graham Glasgow can handle snapping duties. I think sometimes people underestimate the importance of getting good snaps, so that’s a big “if.” But Miller struggles with stout nose tackles, and he just flat-out misses some obvious blocks at times.

If redshirt sophomore Chris Bryant is healthy after suffering various leg injuries over the past couple seasons, I think he should get a shot. However, Michigan has to realize the strengths of each of these players. My guess is that Bryant excels at blocking plays like power and iso, but he probably struggles with zone blocking, which requires more agility and lateral movement. If Michigan wants to continue running zone stretches to the left behind Taylor Lewan, then perhaps Kyle Kalis should flip to left guard to make that play more viable. Then the Wolverines could run outside zone, iso, and power to the left, while running power and iso to the right.