Inside Michigan Football/Q. Washington

Submitted by UMICH1606 on

I caught a replay of Inside Michigan Football this morning, and they showed a clip of Quinton Washington taking reps on the D-Line. Looks like a swap of Will and Quinton is at least being looked at.

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Quail2theVict0r

October 22nd, 2010 at 12:39 PM ^

One would think that D-line is easier to do than O-line; which is why the whole Campbell to O-line thing is perplexing to me. I would think that it's harder to not only learn technique there but all the blocking skills. At his old position his job was just to get to the ball in simple terms.

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Blue in sec country

October 22nd, 2010 at 12:47 PM ^

His issue on d seems that he stands up too quickly. It's been said that his skill set will be put to better use on o. But I wouldn't be surprised if the coaches have had this in mind since he signed. Reason being, he should have redshirted last year to improve his skills as a d-lineman but they didn't, by not he will be able to redshirt next year if needed to learn the o-line.

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TennBlue

October 22nd, 2010 at 1:02 PM ^

that they are moving him to OG for a while so that he can become a better DT in the long run?

I'm not a football coach, but as a teaching tool I would think that understanding what the O-line is trying to do to the defense would make it easier for a defender to counter it.  My thinking is that perhaps he's just not getting the "why" of particular techniques at DT, so he's working with the O for a while until the penny drops.

Or more simply maybe the coaches have realised that he's hit a wall as a defensive lineman and is never going to crack the starting lineup, so moving him to OG is the only way he'll see playing time.

Perhaps I'm just broadcasting my ignorance.

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Zone Left

October 22nd, 2010 at 1:26 PM ^

I think the teaching tool idea is reading too much into things.  If he's playing O-line, especially with the relative depth on each side, he is more likely to just not be "getting it" on defense. 

Frankly, as nerdy as it sounds, his pad level is awful and he isn't playing anywhere until he figures out leverage.  No one's good enough to have awful technique and be a solid BCS football player.

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duffman is thr…

October 23rd, 2010 at 3:20 AM ^

This sounds good to me IMO. I always thought that Will looked more like an OL, but my heart wanted him to be a bad ass DT so bad. If he switches to his possibly more natural position on OL at least we can give him the redshirt he desperately needed in the beginning. 

Plus, didn't he play both sides of the line in high school? Also he was thought by a few to be a better option on OL as many on here already know.

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jtmc33

October 22nd, 2010 at 12:49 PM ^

You should change your thread Title to "Inside Michigan Football - Q. Washington to DT (?)"

This is intersting info - but reading the title I thought it was an interview with Q. Washigton, not possible position change insight

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Beavis

October 22nd, 2010 at 12:56 PM ^

I am all for it if it means that our offensive line won't be significantly impacted. 

However, I was really looking forward to 3-years of Lewan-Washington on the left side of the O-Line....

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jtmc33

October 22nd, 2010 at 1:04 PM ^

Think happy thoughts Beavis... maybe it will be 2 years of Lewan / Campbell on the left side of the line?

Or, 2 years of Lewan / Barnum.  Or 2 years of Lewan / Mealer.  Or 3 years of Lewan / 5-star Guard recruit not yet on Michigan's radar that will start as a true freshman.

Or maybe Lewan / Washington.

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Bodogblog

October 22nd, 2010 at 2:58 PM ^

at least so far this year.  Best case scenario, Washington's too good of a player to keep off the field, hence this move.  If Campbell's a good b/up (or even better, pushes for PT) and Washington is good enough to spell Martin by year's end, it's a win for the team.  He'll be a RS sophmore next year

I remember Magnus saying a player who doesn't play with low leverage (ie stands up) is rarely able to fix that flaw.  Dont' know why.  FWIW, ESPN's recruiting site loved QW (rated 82, 4 star, #6 OG), and said "comes out of his stance low and with a flat back".  Maybe BWC just needs to rub his belly

Worst case: position-switching doom on both sides

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Young Pretty a…

October 22nd, 2010 at 1:10 PM ^

I watched the same episode and noticed that he was wearing a blue jersey and lined up in as a DT in a drill as well.  But everything I heard on Washington as a OL was all positive, and that he was progressing and would contend with Barnum for replacing Schilling next season. My issue with Campbell is the DT depth, they can get away with him switching over to OL this year, but next year the depth isn't so flattering.  Martin, Ash, Talbott, and incoming freshman.

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kmanning

October 22nd, 2010 at 3:23 PM ^

I think this is really interesting. If Washington really is a "brick wall" and can't be moved, it makes perfect sense. We badly need a big nose tackle to eat up space, if he can do that it'll be incredibly valuable for this team. Imaging Washington at NT, Martin kicked out to Banks' spot, and then RVB/Black at the DE spot. That seems really strong to me if Washington can just eat a double and not get moved that often. Even if he has to come out on passing downs, it could be huge for the D. 

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Blue boy johnson

October 22nd, 2010 at 5:09 PM ^

Don't get too excited, I doubt you will see much from Washington this season.

The whole thing doesn't make perfect sense to me. Why wait until half the season is over until moving Washington to the D-line. I think Martin's injury maybe the impetus behind this move, more so than Washington being ready to dominate on the D-line.

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Wolfman

October 23rd, 2010 at 3:00 AM ^

picked this up re: Big Will's tape as a h.s. senior. Can't blame the coaches a bit for recruiting him heavily or for the ranking. Most anticipate steady improvement that would make someone with his body size and speed a starter by this time in their career and an AA by his senior campaign. I read where Tall said that for every thousand reps he took with bad pad level, he'd require 1,000 reps of proper technique to overcome it. 

I think we could move Molk to a guard position, if necessary and still have two solid centers in Pace and Koury. Koury  has the size to play elsewhere on the line and as RR has said many times, his linemen don't have to be prototypical size, just the best five on the team. It is possible, given this, that BW might me able to minimize his deficiencies better on the offensive side due to our zone scheme and attacking an area rather than a me-on-you blocking assignment. He does have the foot speed necessary to get to two levels on the offensive side of the ball, but a good OT will make him a true liability on the defensive side if he continues with poor technique. 

Aside from that, Frey is a tremendous teacher and the kid has a shit ton of talent he's obviously trying to unleash, because we've never read anything to indicate he's lacking motivation as was the case with Terrance Taylor, etc. 

Don't forget Schofield in the OL talk either. He was very close this season. Should be a good one and Mealer will more than likely be serviceable so we're ok for a bit on that side. 

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