Kyle Whittingham sees Michigan offensive line starting to turn corner
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Kyle Whittingham sees Michigan offensive line starting to turn corner
Isaiah Hole, Wolverines Wire·Wolverines Wire
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3 min read
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Michigan footballwent into the 2026 season believing it had an offensive line that could be elite in run blocking but still had some work to do in terms of pass blocking. However, through three games in 2026, it's been the opposite.
That isn't to say that the pass blocking has truly been at an elite level, but thus far this year,Michiganis ranked the 14th team by PFF, but 79th in run blocking. TheWolverineshaven't quite been able to figure everything out with Jim Harding having taken over the unit thus far.
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Against UTEP this weekend, however, the group came together and got their best grades overall -- however, it does slant heaviest toward improvement in pass protection compared to run blocking (88.4 pass pro and 64.2 in run blocking). Head coach Kyle Whittingham is seeing improvement, but he admits that it continues to be a work in progress.
"Well, I think they definitely played their best game this past week," Whittingham said. "They all graded out, they've done good, especially when you think that we didn't have one day of work with that configuration.
"And so, very proud of the way they came out and played.Evan Linkhad left tackle, having no reps during the week and flipping Blake over to the right tackle spot. So, I think they've been coming along week by week. And I expect they're gonna continue to get better as we continue to work with Coach Harding and get more familiar and comfortable with the offense.
"And so, going forward, we'll just keep improving and doing things to try to improve the whole football team. And yeah, that's what we'll have."
Trey Pierce nearly gets to the quarterback.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
Jordan Marshall's big run before it was called back for holding.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
Kyle Whittingham and defensive coordinator Jay Hill
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
Savion Hiter scores his first career touchdown
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
Dom Nichols celebrates a sack
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
JJ Buchanan runs after the catch
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
John Henry Daley with the tackle for loss.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
Andrew Marsh toe taps for a big catch.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
JJ Buchanan runs into the end zone.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
Bryce Underwood scrambles
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
JJ Buchanan comes down with a catch.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
Jordan Marshall nearly scores.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
Jordan Marshall races to the end zone.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
Enow Etta is held as he rushes the UTEP QB.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
Michigan gang tackles.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
Jordan Marshall hurt
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
Michigan celebrates Savion Hiter's second touchdown.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
Chase Taylor with the tackle.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
Benny Patterson with a big sack.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
Kyle Whittingham
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
Andrew Marsh finally gets into the end zone.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
Tariq Boney with is first career sack.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
Tariq Boney celebrates his sack.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
Jonah Lea'ea runs into the end zone after an interception.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
Carter Meadows' first career tackle.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
Kendrick Bell and Salesi Moa celebrate the latter's touchdown.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
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Trey Pierce nearly gets to the quarterback.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
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Trey Pierce nearly gets to the quarterback.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
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Jordan Marshall's big run before it was called back for holding.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
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Kyle Whittingham and defensive coordinator Jay Hill
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John Henry Daley with the tackle for loss.
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Andrew Marsh toe taps for a big catch.
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JJ Buchanan runs into the end zone.
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Bryce Underwood scrambles
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
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JJ Buchanan comes down with a catch.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
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Jordan Marshall nearly scores.
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Jordan Marshall races to the end zone.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
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Enow Etta is held as he rushes the UTEP QB.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
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Michigan gang tackles.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
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Jordan Marshall hurt
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Michigan celebrates Savion Hiter's second touchdown.
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Chase Taylor with the tackle.
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Benny Patterson with a big sack.
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Kyle Whittingham
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Andrew Marsh finally gets into the end zone.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
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Tariq Boney with is first career sack.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
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Tariq Boney celebrates his sack.
(Photo: Isaiah Hole, WolverinesWire)
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Jonah Lea'ea runs into the end zone after an interception.
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Carter Meadows' first career tackle.
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Kendrick Bell and Salesi Moa celebrate the latter's touchdown.
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Though the PFF grades don't have center Jake Guarnera at the top, he's the engine for the unit, and that was the expectation coming in. Having moved back to center after playing guard last year, Whittingham is excited about his prospects, especially considering the line hasn't been at full strength at any point this year.
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Whittingham is pleased, but he still wants to see more out of Guarnera and the group. But he feels like it, along with the offense, are trending in the right direction.
"Jake has played outstanding. He's very consistent, in my opinion, one of the best centers in the Big Ten," Whittingham said. "We just need them to continue to be, impose their will on people and be physical.As I mentioned, last week was kind of helter-skelter with the crew that we -- not the crew, but the configuration that we had. And so I think we would have been better had we been able to practice a few days with those guys, but that wasn't the case. Sometimes that stuff happens, but I think this O-line will continue to get better each week, and if they do, then our offense is gonna continue to ascend as well.
"It all starts up front."
We'll see more on Saturday when Michigan football has another tough test up front withIowacoming to town. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. EDT, and the game will be broadcast nationally on CBS.
