Michigan’s Greg Frey was hired this past offseason away from Indiana and given the official title of “tackles and tight ends coach/run game coordinator.” Although offensive line coaches generally handle the entire group, Frey explained that he, along with the rest of the Michigan offensive coaches, work together as a unit.
“Whatever helps us win, I’m 100 percent for,” he said. “My history has obviously leaned toward offensive line play, but if I can help Coach [Tim] Drevno or free up Coach [Pep] Hamilton in some way, I’m going to do it. We’re just a good close group of offensive coaches working together with no egos, and it’s been awesome.”
Just as his title indicates, Frey also coaches the tight ends, and while many believe redshirt junior Ian Bunting may be the most likely to win the starting job, Frey talked about a few youngsters who are also impressing.
“Our defense is very good, so there’s been some really good battles there,” he explained. “I’ve watched [sophomore] Sean McKeon develop his run blocking, pass catching and route running. [Redshirt sophomore] T.J. [Wheatley] is doing an awesome job too, and sophomore Nick Eubanks is another great kid to coach — all five players are providing something for the offense in their own way.”
One battle that isn’t close to being sorted out yet is at right tackle, but Frey explained he’s actually not even focused on finding a starter quite yet.
“Right now the focus for us is developing each kid,” he said. “Everybody’s doing some good things, and yet everyone is doing some things that you’d like them to be better at. At this point in camp, legs are tired, guys are fighting, and as we move forward, separation will occur — but it’s a little too early to tell right now.”
In fact, Frey explained there’s no hurry in finding five starters along the line. He said he’s much more concerned about the big picture.
“It’s not about getting five guys ready,” he explained. “It’s about getting a group of guys ready. You’d like to have a three-deep where everybody is awesome, but that’s unrealistic. If you can get eight or nine guys who are game-ready and prepared to play at the strain level Coach Harbaugh wants, then you’re sitting pretty good.”
Another luxury the Michigan coaches have is that they often prepare their linemen to play multiple spots along the line. The best example of that would be senior Mason Cole, who played center all of last year, and is expected to play left tackle in 2017.
“We’ve always developed guys so they can play multiple positions,” Frey explained. “If you want to play in the NFL, you better be able to play multiple spots. When I first started playing, we had to learn both the right and left sides.”
Finally, Frey explained that a big reason the offensive linemen are progressing so much is because of who they’re practicing against — specifically fifth-year senior defensive tackle Mo Hurst and sophomore defensive end Rashan Gary.
“I’m just glad we don’t have to play against them [Hurst and Gary] this year,” Frey said with a laugh. “The old saying is ‘iron sharpens iron.’ When you’re getting guys ready to play, who you practice against is a big part of that, and it brings the whole level of play up.”
Few offensive linemen in the country can say they have the opportunity to go up against a duo as fierce as Hurst and Gary in practice.
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