al washington

[Patrick Barron]

“How we doin’?”

Pretty good, how about you?

“Great. Couldn’t be better.”

Why is that? Why couldn’t you be better?

“Great afternoon. We’re practice 10 in. Guys have been working really hard. It’s just been really good. Environment’s awesome, staff’s awesome. Just think it’s a really good time to be a Wolverine.”

What’s it been like having Mike Sainristil back on punt returns?

“Oh, really good. He’s just a great kid, fun to be around, fun, energy. He’s been doing some really good stuff back there [at] both punt and kick return. I’m excited to see him as he keeps getting better and growing and stuff like that but he’ll be a guy that will challenge for those jobs for sure.”

A guy like Josh Metellus, how has he grown over the years considering how he was when he first got his start in 2016?

“Yep, that’s a great question. I mean, Josh is playing at an elite level right now. His leadership qualities are unbelievable. Really proud of him. He’s grown tremendously just as kids when they grow into men do, but he came in here, he was young for his age. He came in just having shoulder surgery if you remember back in the day so he wasn’t as strong his freshman year but he was so smart he got on the field and then he’s just grown as a player.

“He’s used any challenges that he’s come through, he’s used them as motivation as a positive thing, and I just—sky’s the limit for him. I think he could be one of the best safeties in the country this year. That’s what we’re shooting for.”

You have Moody and Nordin. Where is that right now?

“It’s great. Couldn’t ask for better as a coach. Those guys are coming every day. They’re competing, they’re getting after each other. They’re great teammates for each other. The environment is very competitive and those guys have handled it like A+ student-athletes and they’re there for each other, they’re coaching each other, and they’re competing against each other. It’s exactly what you want.”

How do you think Quinn responded to the end of last season when he really wasn’t the guy?

“Yeah, I think he obviously—it’s not what you want, right? It’s not what anyone asks for, but he’s got an adverse situation, he looked it in the eyes, and he’s come in and he’s competed. He hasn’t backed down from it. He hasn’t went in the tank from it. He’s really matured from it and handled it in a really, really good way.”

[After THE JUMP: more on the kicking competition, a bit about returners, and thoughts about the coaches who left for OSU]

Don Brown needs some new guys. Probably.[Patrick Barron]

A second Michigan position coach has left for OSU:

Al Washington, who served as Michigan's linebackers coach in 2018, is joining Ryan Day's staff as the Buckeyes' linebackers coach/recruiting coordinator.

This one makes more sense than Day hiring a 70-year-old Greg Mattison to be a defensive coordinator. Washington recruited well during his single year in Ann Arbor.

Michigan now has two open spots for defensive position coaches. Jim McElwain already left to be CMU's head coach and was replaced by Ben McDaniels. Temple's head job is open again after Manny Diaz left for Miami just days after taking it, and Don Brown is the last guy standing amongst the three candidates previously mentioned. It does seem like Temple's moving on from Brown, with "in person interviews" with new candidates scheduled this week and NIU head coach Rod Carey emerging as a new name

Al Washington's dad played for Ohio State; Al Washington now coaches at Michigan
[Fuller]

Things Discussed

  • Washington's dad played for Ohio State
  • Washington's feelings on the rivalry
  • Preparing for Dwayne Haskins

[After THE JUMP: Two days]

Things Discussed

  • Shea Patterson's development
  • Ed Warinner's effect on the offense
  • Karan Higdon, Donovan Peoples-Jones' impact
  • The Game

[After THE JUMP: Two days]