Schofield more comfortable at tackle

Michigan redshirt junior right tackle Michael Schofield is back to his natural position after spending 2011 as a guard for the Wolverines. Schofield talks about his comfort level, getting the tailbacks going, and the offensive line as a whole.

When Denard Robinson is in the backfield for Michigan, anything can happen. So after the dreadlocked senior ripped off 200 yards rushing Saturday against Air Force, the offensive line had to walk away feeling happy. Right?

“It felt like we took a step forward, but we’re still not where a Michigan offensive line needs to be,” said junior right tackle Michael Schofield. “We’ve got to keep improving every game and make sure every game we do our best.”

Although statistical evidence might support the fact that the offensive line has different assignments or a different mentality when Robinson carries the ball as opposed to anyone else, Schofield and his line mates usually don’t even know who’s getting the ball behind them.

“There is no difference,” said Schofield. “Most of the time we don’t know who has the ball anyways cause its like Denard could keep it or Fitz could keep it. We don’t know. We’re just trying to block for whoever has the ball.”

And when Robinson or Toussaint breaks off a long touchdown run, Schofield’s track background comes in handy.

“Whoever makes those long runs I’m trying to get there as fast as I can to celebrate with them,” said Schofield.

The Wolverines had plenty to celebrate offensively against the Falcons, albeit with plenty of work left to do in order to get the offense humming prior to UMass. Schofield, who moved to guard last year in order to help the team, has subtly done a little celebrating of his own as he slid back outside to his natural right tackle position.

“I’ve played tackle my whole life,” said Schofield. “High school, and the first two years I was here, I played tackle. So last year was my first year ever playing guard. So I definitely feel more comfortable at tackle.”

As the offensive line appears to have carved out five starters through two games in the 2012 season, the cohesiveness among the crew is still developing—but it’s something Schofield says will become natural before all is said and done.

“We just got to make sure we start gelling together,” said Schofield. “The more we play together, the better we’re going to get, ‘cause that’s how the offensive line works. The more we play together, the more consistent we’ll get and the better we’ll get.”

“I don’t know how far we are but we’re going to get there,” said Schofield. “We’re going to prove our game and make sure we get there.”