Tag: Taylor Lewan

2013 Season Predictions

Here are my 2012 predictions, in case you’re interested.

Leading Rusher
Michigan no longer has a quarterback who’s much of a threat to lead the team in rushing, although he’s a pretty good runner. Fitzgerald Toussaint is the best running back currently on the roster, but he struggles to stay healthy. I make this choice with very little confidence.
Prediction: Toussaint, 900 yards

Leading Receiver
The top receiver returns from last year, and that player has great chemistry with quarterback Devin Gardner. Jeremy Gallon had 829 receiving yards last season, despite having Denard Robinson as the primary passer for the first half of the season. Gallon should see an uptick in receptions and yardage this season, but without another proven threat, he might be bracketed a little more often.
Prediction: Gallon, 1100 yards

Leading Tackler
Strongside linebacker Jake Ryan led the team in tackles with 88 last year, but he’s out with a torn ACL until at least October. The choice comes down to middle linebacker Desmond Morgan or weakside linebacker James Ross III, and I think I’ll go with sophomore Ross, whose instincts are unmatched by anyone else on the team.
Prediction: Ross, 90 tackles

Leading Sacker
Ryan also led the team in sacks with 5.5 last season, but he probably won’t have time to get to the quarterback that much since he’ll miss half the season or so. There’s been a lot of buzz about weakside end Frank Clark’s improvement this offseason, and I think he’ll gather a few sacks in some early season games against the likes of Central Michigan and Akron.
Prediction: Clark, 8 sacks

Leading Interceptor
The safeties aren’t huge playmakers, and the best cornerback (Blake Countess) is coming off a torn ACL. Countess has good cover skills but has never been known as a true ball hawk. I think three players end up tied for this honor.
Prediction: Countess, Thomas Gordon, Raymon Taylor, 2 interceptions each

All-Big Ten First Team
Prediction: Jeremy Gallon, Taylor Lewan

Leading Scorer (non-QB, non-kicker)
I’m calling 10 touchdowns for Toussaint and Gallon rushing and receiving, respectively, but add a couple touchdowns through the air for Toussaint.
Prediction: Toussaint

Breakout Offensive Player
There are a few options for breakout players. I’m not going to count Devin Funchess, who already showed what he can do last season, even if he didn’t get targeted much toward the end of the year. This leaves some backup running backs and whoever shows up across from Gallon. I think I’ll go with Jehu Chesson, who should be targeted plenty.
Prediction: Chesson

Breakout Defensive Player
This is a really tough choice, because I foresee a few guys stepping up this year to make some plays: Frank Clark, James Ross, and Cam Gordon. I’m most confident in Ross, but I think the other two will take large steps forward as well.
Prediction: Ross

Most Disappointing Offensive Player
I think the interior of the offensive line is going to struggle, and that starts with redshirt sophomore Jack Miller. Miller will be a new starter and he’s not the biggest or strongest of guys, so there will be both mental and physical issues there.
Prediction: Miller

Most Disappointing Defensive Player
I think the issues at free safety will carry over from last season, when Jarrod Wilson really struggled as a backup. This year senior Courtney Avery is competing with sophomore Wilson for the job, but Avery’s out for a couple weeks after arthroscopic knee surgery. Wilson has good physical abilities, but gets himself out of position too much.
Prediction: Wilson

The Big Finish
August 31 vs. Central Michigan: WIN. The Chippewas are a mediocre MAC team.

September 7 vs. Notre Dame: WIN. Notre Dame got lucky a lot last season, and while their defensive front seven will still be good, the offense will sputter too much.

September 14 vs. Akron: WIN. Another mediocre MAC team.

September 21 at Connecticut: WIN. If for no other reason than the fact that I saw Paul Pasqualoni at a clinic this offseason and didn’t care for his attitude, I’m picking the Wolverines.

October 5 vs. Minnesota: WIN. Jerry Kill has a good history of improving teams, so I don’t think it will be a cake walk, but Michigan is more talented.

October 12 at Penn State: WIN. I have a feeling Penn State will drop off a little bit after the emotion of last season carrying them a little bit. It won’t be easy, but I think Michigan wins.

October 19 vs. Indiana: WIN. Indiana isn’t very good at the football, but the offense will be entertaining.

November 2 at Michigan State: WIN. The Spartans will have a good defense, but they’ll struggle this year on offense. Michigan is more balanced.

November 9 vs. Nebraska: LOSS. After the emotion of beating MSU and facing a pretty good team in the Cornhuskers, Michigan loses a squeaker.

November 16 at Northwestern: WIN. Michigan is getting more athletic on defense, and Jake Ryan should be back by this point to help out defensively. It might be a shootout again, but I pick the Wolverines.

November 23 at Iowa: WIN. Iowa will probably be bad.

November 30 vs. Ohio State: LOSS. Michigan just won’t have the running game to keep Ohio State honest because of the mediocre interior line.

Final record: 10-2

2013 Season Countdown: #2 Taylor Lewan

Taylor Lewan

Name: Taylor Lewan
Height: 6’8″
Weight: 315 lbs.
High school: Cave Creek (AZ) Chaparral
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Redshirt senior
Jersey number: #77
Last year: I ranked Lewan #3 and said he would be All-Big Ten First Team. He started all thirteen games and was named a First Team All-American and First Team All-Big Ten.

Lewan has been growing as a football player for the last few years, and last year he finally started to earn the national recognition that he deserved. A devastating drive blocker and adept pass blocker, he allowed just one sack (coming against Ohio State, unfortunately). He dominated regularly in Big Ten play, and against perhaps the best player in the nation, South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney, Lewan held his own. He was named a First Team All-American, First Team All-Big Ten, and the Big Ten’s Rimington-Pace Award winner, which is given to the conference’s best offensive lineman. He could have left for the NFL after last season to be a first round pick, but he surprised a lot of people by announcing his return.

Lewan will once again be the starter at left tackle, and he’s been named a Pre-Season First Team All-American by various outlets. With a brand new interior line that includes a redshirt sophomore walk-on, a redshirt sophomore, and a redshirt freshman, Michigan will lean heavily on Lewan to win football games. As the program returns to more power blocking, I expect to see a lot of him blocking down with the backside guard (Kyle Kalis) pulling to the left side. The Wolverines will not be a dominant running team this season because of that youth inside, but Lewan should be dominant at his position. If he goes down with an injury, we would likely see right tackle Michael Schofield flip to the left and redshirt freshman Ben Braden or Erik Magnuson step in on the right. I don’t think Schofield is a true left tackle, and redshirt freshmen usually scare me on the line, so hopefully Lewan eats his vitamins and stays healthy.

Prediction: Starting left tackle; First Team All-American, First Team All-Big Ten

2013 Outland Trophy watch list

Taylor Lewan

The Outland Trophy watch list for 2013 was released on Thursday. The Outland Trophy is awarded to the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman, so it’s given to centers, guards, and tackles on either side of the ball. Here are some notable players for Michigan fans:

Ryan Groy – OG – Wisconsin
Ra’Shede Hageman – DT – Minnesota
DaQuan Jones – DT – Penn State
Taylor Lewan – OT – Michigan
Spencer Long – OG – Nebraska
Zack Martin – OT – Notre Dame
Jack Mewhort – OT – Ohio State
Louis Nix III – DT – Notre Dame
Andrew Norwell – OT – Ohio State
Jeremiah Sirles – OT – Nebraska
John Urschel – OG – Penn State
Brandon Vitabile – OC – Northwestern

2013 Maxwell Award watch list

Taylor Lewan (#77) with David Molk

The Maxwell Award watch list for 2013 has been released. The award is given to the college player of the year. Here are some players of note for Michigan fans:

Ameer Abdullah – RB – Nebraska
Ka’Deem Carey – RB – Arizona
Jadeveon Clowney – DE – South Carolina
Stefon Diggs – WR – Maryland
Devin Gardner – QB – Michigan
Carlos Hyde – RB – Ohio State
Taylor Lewan – OT – Michigan
Venric Mark – RB – Northwestern
Braxton Miller – QB – Ohio State
Louis Nix III – DT – Notre Dame
Stephon Tuitt – DE – Notre Dame
James White – RB – Wisconsin
Zach Zwinak – RB – Penn State

Athlon Sports: 2013 All-America Team

Athlon Sports released its pre-season 2013 All-Americans, and here are a few guys who are relevant to Michigan fans:

FIRST TEAM
Ka’Deem Carey – RB – Arizona
Taylor Lewan – OT – Michigan
Jadeveon Clowney – DE – South Carolina
Stephon Tuitt – DE – Notre Dame
Louis Nix III – DT – Notre Dame
Ryan Shazier – LB – Ohio State
Bradley Roby – CB – Ohio State
Venric Mark – PR – Northwestern

SECOND TEAM
Braxton Miller – QB – Ohio State
Spencer Long – OG – Nebraska
Kain Coulter – AP – Northwestern
Jeff Budzien – K – Northwestern

THIRD TEAM
Venric Mark – RB – Northwestern
Zack Martin – OT – Notre Dame
Chris Borland – LB – Wisconsin
Max Bullough – LB – Michigan State
Mike Sadler – P – Michigan State

FOURTH TEAM
Ameer Abdullah – RB – Nebraska
Andrew Norwell – OG – Ohio State
Jack Mewhort – OT – Ohio State
Isaiah Lewis – S – Michigan State