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al washington

Coaching Hello: Al Washington Comment Count

Brian

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Washington background

This isn't quite official yet but Sam Webb says Cincinnati DL coach Al Washington is telling Cincinnati recruits that he's leaving, Brandon Justice tweeted about it, and Chris Vannini is confirming Justice's report, so it seems good enough for bloggin' work.

So: Washington was a three-year starter on the DL at Boston College from 2004 to 2006 and then went into coaching. He's been a DL coach for the duration of his career with the exception of one year as a LB coach at Elon and a stint from 2013 to 2015 when he was BC's running backs coach; BC RB Andre Williams won the Doak Walker and was a fourth-round pick in 2013. FWIW, he also gained "special teams coordinator" titles at his last two stops.

There's conflicting information about where Washington will end up; Justice reports that he'll be the RB spot but there's other chatter that he'll slot in at linebackers as Partridge moves to safeties. If it is RB that's a bit odd since this is more of a Don Brown hookup than a Harbaugh one. OTOH, RB is a spot that's generally regarded as a recruiting-heavy one. Washington's young, has a good reputation...

...and is well-known to Brown, so that seems like a good bet to work out. BC folks weren't happy at his departure:

This is... pretty bad. Al Washington is one of BC football’s most important coaches, in particular with his ability to sell the school and bring in some of the Eagles’ best recruits. And as @BearcatJournal pointed out, Washington was the DL coach for Harold Landry, who tallied 15 sacks and may be an NFL first round pick this season.

We'll see how the rest of the coaching staff changes shake out. Michigan has at least one more guy to add since a tenth coach has just become official, and probably a few more since there are rumors of a wholesale overhaul on the offensive side of the ball.

Comments

Double-D

January 4th, 2018 at 1:40 PM ^

We can add a 10th coach and he can slot just about anywhere as good coach/recruiter. It would not surprise me if this is an apprenticeship type deal for a year to prepare for Mattison retiring at some stage

Joined: 12/21/2013

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Justibro

January 4th, 2018 at 1:47 PM ^

Good recruiter w/ a solid track record at DL and Rb (even if it is a small sample size) along w/ his previous places being upset w/ him leaving. Sounds like a win on paper.

Joined: 12/04/2016

MGoPoints: 1648

WestQuad

January 4th, 2018 at 1:49 PM ^

Do we have to worry about losing Greg Mattison who is 68?    Al Wash seems like he could be a replacement.   Maybe a year or two at LB and then take over at D-line when Mattison leaves? (I hope Mattison stays till he's nearing 80.)

Joined: 07/22/2011

MGoPoints: 31194

AZBlue

January 4th, 2018 at 3:01 PM ^

“plenty of gas in the tank” per Sam Webb when rumors of him retiring arose around the bowl practices in Fla.

This could be a possible heir apparent hire for the one or more years in the future when Mattison does hang it up.

Joined: 09/14/2008

MGoPoints: 16852

iamtjeff

January 4th, 2018 at 5:42 PM ^

Part of the rationale for going with Washington over Bush may be Mattison's potential retirement in the near future. At that point you move Washington to the D-Line. I imagine that Patridge is the successor to Brown. If Webb's reports are correct, moving Chris to the secondary means that he will touch another position group on defense as he prepares to be a DC (hopefullly here) in the future. 

Joined: 01/11/2014

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Alumnus93

January 4th, 2018 at 1:57 PM ^

This and the Enos hire are Harbaugh realizing how Ohio has been neglected, and how MSU has done well because they have been getting the Ohio recruits we used to get.

Joined: 09/10/2009

MGoPoints: 9684

MinWhisky

January 4th, 2018 at 4:14 PM ^

Myself and several others have expressed concerns on multiple occasions on how UofM has been ignoring Ohio and how that is hurting us now and will hurt us even more in the future, if it isn't addressed.  

Harbaugh and his staff seem to have focused on NE and the SE at the expense of Ohio, and to a lesser extent, Michigan and the Midwest.

Michigan State and Wisconsin have gained from this neglect.  Just check out their current and forecasted recruiting classes.  I believe MSU has 9 from Ohio and Wisconsin has 7 from Michigan.  

If UofM was performing as an elite program, it might be able to compete effectively with other elite programs like Ohio State and Alabama, on a national basis, and with regional powers in those geographic areas, but it's not.  

Once the glitz and glamour wears off, and in the absence of high profile wins, it becomes more and more difficult recruit in places far from home.  And, if you've neglected your Midwest high school coaches and programs, you can be in big trouble.  

Joined: 10/17/2011

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AC1997

January 4th, 2018 at 2:19 PM ^

I think this falls into the category of liking the guy and wanting him on your staff without worrying about titles yet.  I think there's plenty of flexibility with most of the people so you could shuffle things with Washington, Partridge, Jay Harbaugh, Bush Sr, etc.  Get the guys you want, sort out the details later.  I also have no idea how roles play out during actual practices either - the title seems a bit unimportant if you like the guy and his main job is to help with recruiting and offer some insurance in the event that Mattison retired, Partridge left, or you need to move Jay Harbaugh to TE.  

Joined: 09/19/2008

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MinWhisky

January 4th, 2018 at 3:51 PM ^

...it sounds like a can't miss for several reasons:

  • Don Brown knows him inside and out and I trust Don Brown's judgement
  • Washington played DLine for Brown at BC, so he knows the position from a player's perspective
  • He's coached DLine and a smattering of special teams
  • He's young and reportedly a good recruiter
  • Probably has built relationships with high schools in Ohio and NE

What's not to like?  Re Mattison, didn't he and Hoke co-coach the Dline?

I could see Waashington having a key role to play in both DLine coaching and special teams.

Joined: 10/17/2011

MGoPoints: 1261

ComputerEngineer

January 4th, 2018 at 3:52 PM ^

I don't want a DL coach coaching running backs.  This is about as logical as hiring a physicist to teach English.  He might be able to do an adequate job, but he'll never be great.  

Joined: 10/13/2013

MGoPoints: 170

setauket

January 4th, 2018 at 11:24 PM ^

How Bush is an analyst and Jay is a coach? The HC cleaning house, restructuring and conspicuously keeping his kid employed in positions where there are other more qualified candidates out there is just bad juju.

Joined: 02/26/2015

MGoPoints: 284

SyracuseWolvrine

January 5th, 2018 at 4:38 PM ^

The official Michigan football Facebook account just posted that he's been hired as part of the defensive staff, but didn't say which position group he will b be working with

Joined: 10/20/2008

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