Today we had offensive line coach George Barnett on the Zoom for about 20 minutes. Pretty interesting. Rough summary of what he said.
Asked about second half drive out of the gate and the run game getting going.
Barnett: That first drive was what you want. need to steady the boat in that drive and try to control the game.
He overall talks about the building blocks of the offensive line and that they are overall headed in the right direction. It's a learning process and they are learning. One of the things they are learning is how many plays/reps each player can handle. When does it start to slide?
Asked about running more counters this year?
Barnett: He said it's something they have started to use more because it fits well with their inside zone run game and a good counter to it. Said they have been working on it since last year and in particularly they spent time on it during the bowl prep. Said it has been good for the younger players and helps them with their angles.
Asked about his message heading into the Michigan game?
Barnett: Just keep improving. Keep getting better. He said he told them to not squeeze the bat too tight. Talked more about the importance of leverage this week.
Asked about competition at guard? what is he looking for?
Barnett: Physicality. They want to increase that, especially inside on the OL.
Feels it's a good competition and who plays is kind of on a sliding scale. It's older and slightly more experienced vs younger players. Sometimes limited reps is better than extended reps when you start to falter. Said you have to find the right mix there as players develop and increase their reps. Said it's a learning process. Said guys will make mistakes. Said there is kind of a gut feel to the amount of reps too.
Asked about the play of Colby?
Barnett: Likes what he is seeing from him. Said in the first couple of games he might have played more like a guard than a tackle, but he is smoothing that out. Called him a pro and said he is really working hard to improve and it studying a lot of film.
Asked about what he sees from Michigan?
Barnett: Said they are really good. Lot of talent. Very good at hand fighting. Said they will give multiple looks. Said leverage will be really important and if you don't focus on that then you will be in trouble.
Asked about Logan Jones progress so far?
Barnett: Said he has been impressed with him. Said the mistakes are going away quickly. Said he is really steady and has a great work ethic. Said he is not shaken by much. Said he has been everything he hoped and more. Really high ceiling.
Asked about the slow snaps?
Barnett: said he thinks that's been fixed. Said it was more about the mind being faster than the hands, if that makes sense.
Asked about Mason Richman?
Barnett: seeing improvement. Said it feels like he has been around for four years. Would like him to maybe play with a little more emotion. He's a perfectionist and really happy with where he is at right now.
Asked about Elsbury?
Barnett: Said he is tracking very well right now. Said in camp he got a lot of reps at LG and then at center because Myslinski was missing. Needed to get more center reps because they needed a backup ready. That took away from his guard reps and time there. Challenge now is to continue to ramp him up and play at a more physical level. Said he is doing a good job.
Asked about Dunker?
Barnett: Said the big issue is that last year he really didn't practice. That put him behind a guy like Beau Stephens, who practiced last year. Said he has been effective in the reps he has been given, but he is still catching up and improving.
That's it this week for the coach interview.
Asked about second half drive out of the gate and the run game getting going.
Barnett: That first drive was what you want. need to steady the boat in that drive and try to control the game.
He overall talks about the building blocks of the offensive line and that they are overall headed in the right direction. It's a learning process and they are learning. One of the things they are learning is how many plays/reps each player can handle. When does it start to slide?
Asked about running more counters this year?
Barnett: He said it's something they have started to use more because it fits well with their inside zone run game and a good counter to it. Said they have been working on it since last year and in particularly they spent time on it during the bowl prep. Said it has been good for the younger players and helps them with their angles.
Asked about his message heading into the Michigan game?
Barnett: Just keep improving. Keep getting better. He said he told them to not squeeze the bat too tight. Talked more about the importance of leverage this week.
Asked about competition at guard? what is he looking for?
Barnett: Physicality. They want to increase that, especially inside on the OL.
Feels it's a good competition and who plays is kind of on a sliding scale. It's older and slightly more experienced vs younger players. Sometimes limited reps is better than extended reps when you start to falter. Said you have to find the right mix there as players develop and increase their reps. Said it's a learning process. Said guys will make mistakes. Said there is kind of a gut feel to the amount of reps too.
Asked about the play of Colby?
Barnett: Likes what he is seeing from him. Said in the first couple of games he might have played more like a guard than a tackle, but he is smoothing that out. Called him a pro and said he is really working hard to improve and it studying a lot of film.
Asked about what he sees from Michigan?
Barnett: Said they are really good. Lot of talent. Very good at hand fighting. Said they will give multiple looks. Said leverage will be really important and if you don't focus on that then you will be in trouble.
Asked about Logan Jones progress so far?
Barnett: Said he has been impressed with him. Said the mistakes are going away quickly. Said he is really steady and has a great work ethic. Said he is not shaken by much. Said he has been everything he hoped and more. Really high ceiling.
Asked about the slow snaps?
Barnett: said he thinks that's been fixed. Said it was more about the mind being faster than the hands, if that makes sense.
Asked about Mason Richman?
Barnett: seeing improvement. Said it feels like he has been around for four years. Would like him to maybe play with a little more emotion. He's a perfectionist and really happy with where he is at right now.
Asked about Elsbury?
Barnett: Said he is tracking very well right now. Said in camp he got a lot of reps at LG and then at center because Myslinski was missing. Needed to get more center reps because they needed a backup ready. That took away from his guard reps and time there. Challenge now is to continue to ramp him up and play at a more physical level. Said he is doing a good job.
Asked about Dunker?
Barnett: Said the big issue is that last year he really didn't practice. That put him behind a guy like Beau Stephens, who practiced last year. Said he has been effective in the reps he has been given, but he is still catching up and improving.
That's it this week for the coach interview.
