Michigan center Olusegun Oluwatimi: 'The standard is national championships'
Michigan Wolverines football‘s offense is averaging 55.3 points per game, the highest mark in the country. The Maize and Blue have played the weakest schedule in the country to this point, beating Colorado State (51-7), Hawai’i (56-10) and UConn (59-0), so there are still improvements to be made.
Graduate wide receiver and team captain Ronnie Bell said Monday that the Michigan offense is “leaving meat on the bone” on some plays. Graduate center Olusegun Oluwatimi, a Virginia transfer three games into his U-M career, agrees that the Wolverines can be cleaner.
“That’s just Ronnie being a perfectionist, and that’s how we all should think,” Oluwatimi said after practice Tuesday evening. “We’re just chasing perfection, and trying to stack days and continually improve each week. What he said is right on. We definitely have left some things on the field, and we’ve done some great things at the same time, but you always want to wring out the towel, and I think that’s the mindset that Ronnie’s taking.”
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The offensive line has been good overall, but it’s also been a bit spotty in pass protection, with a few breakdowns against opponents without high-level front-sevens. Michigan ranks 84th in the country in pass blocking, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). The analytics site also says the Maize and Blue have allowed pressure on 21 pass-blocking snaps.
“I think we’re doing a good job,” Oluwatimi said, assessing the Michigan offensive line’s performance through three games. “We’re protecting the quarterback pretty well, we’re running the rock pretty well.
“We obviously want to turn it up a notch a little bit, making sure our quarterbacks are staying healthy and keeping them upright. I feel like we did a pretty good job through the first three weeks.”
He said now that Big Ten season is here, reaching that extra level will be crucial due to the opponents Michigan is set to play.
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“Just urgency, knowing that we’re probably going to start facing better edge rushers, better interior guys and faster linebackers, so we’ve got to be technique sound every single play, not take any plays off,” Oluwatimi said of what it will take to raise their game.
Oluwatimi spent four seasons at Virginia, where he participated in ACC play, and now he can’t wait to take on Big Ten competition at Michigan.
“I’m excited, because I love to compete,” Oluwatimi said. “Just the fact that there are a lot of physical, well-coached, big teams, I’m excited to be able to match up with them on a weekly basis. [Co-offensive coordinator and offensive line] Coach [Sherrone] Moore harps on the urgency of the Big Ten and how we have to go out and perform each week. From that standpoint, that’s getting me excited; I’m ready to go.”
The Michigan lineman has already enjoyed his experience in Ann Arbor to this point and can’t wait for what’s to come.
“Man, it’s been great,” Oluwatimi said. “Obviously, this is one of the most historic programs in all of college football, so there’s a high sense of urgency from that standpoint, because the standard is national championships. I feel that every day when I walk into the building. It’s everything I expected, and I’m very excited and happy that I’m here.”
