Michigan Football: How Tim Drevno Can Fix the Michigan Offense

During the past two seasons, Michigan’s offense wobbled and shook like a top losing its spin. When it finally toppled over, the crash wiped out Brady Hoke’s tenure and sent shock waves through the Michigan athletic department.

Enter Jim Harbaugh, who has returned to Ann Arbor and hired Tim Drevno to rebuild an offense that was once known for cultivating great quarterbacks while featuring a bruising running attack.

Drevno can turn things around in Ann Arbor by starting on the offensive line.

Michigan’s collapse over the last few seasons began up front—the offensive line was unable to protect its quarterbacks or consistently open up gaps for the running game. Hoke was never able to get his offensive coordinator and offensive line in sync. By the time the offensive line started to improve toward the end of this season, it was too late.

Harbaugh has tapped Drevno to both serve as offensive coordinator and coach the offensive line. After working together for 11 previous seasons at San Diego State, Stanford and San Francisco (NFL), he knows what Drevno brings to Michigan.

Harbaugh discussed Drevno on MGoBlue.com:

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I am excited to reunite with Tim and have him serve as the offensive coordinator for our Michigan program," said Harbaugh. ”Tim is an outstanding offensive line coach and is a technician that works very hard at making his student-athletes better players and students. He will be an outstanding member of our coaching staff.

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Drevno will work with the offensive line every day and know exactly how to utilize the strengths of each individual player to best serve his offense. The offensive line will not be an afterthought under this coordinator. He told MGoBlue.com his opinion on the importance of the offensive line, saying, "I believe that any great football team has a great offensive line and a great defensive line. That's the foundation of your team right there."

Michigan returns every starter on the offensive line and all tight ends, including freshman All-American Mason Cole. Cole has the distinction of being the only true freshman to start a season opener at Michigan.

Drevno discussed his new players on MGoBlue.com:

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There's a lot of clay to be molded there," said Drevno, who was an offensive lineman at Cal State-Fullerton in 1989 and 1990. "I can't wait to step into the room and lead all of these returners on the line. I want to build a brotherhood in the room so that the offensive line starts to take control of the room.

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Position	Name	2015 Eligiblity
Left Tackle	Mason Cole	Sophomore
Left Guard	Graham Glasgow	Senior
Center	Jack Miller	Senior
Right Guard	Kyle Kalis	Junior
Right Tackle	Ben Braden	Junior
Tight End	Jake Butt	Junior

Michigan fans have heard about the importance of the offensive line before. Brady Hoke shared a similar sentiment, but Drevno has extensive experience developing All-American offensive lineman in college and All-Pro players in the NFL.

Drevno needs to rally Michigan’s offensive line so that he and Harbaugh can develop a new starting quarterback. The graduation of Devin Gardner leaves at least four players (Shane Morris, Alex Malzone, Wilton Speight and Russell Bellomy) scrambling to fill the position. All are well suited for the pro-style offense that Drevno will run.

Besides an abundance of quarterbacks, Drevno also has a bevy of running backs to choose from. He worked with transfer Ty Isaac at his previous job at USC and also has Derrick Green, De’Veon Smith and Drake Johnson vying for playing time. He will work with new coach Tyrone Wheatley to choose the primary ball-carrier for next season.

Drevno has a lot of work to do—Hoke and his coaches didn’t fail for a lack of effort. But the pieces are in position for a quick turnaround if he and Harbaugh can shape the talent on the current roster and woo a few top recruits to join them in Ann Arbor.

Phil Callihan is a featured writer for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotations obtained firsthand

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