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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — There was a time in the not-too-distant past that Michigan football fans clamored to give former offensive line coach Ed Warinner a lifetime contract. Seemingly the most accomplished assistant on the staff, it was that much more of a shock to the system when he was let go in January, in favor of tight ends coach Sherrone Moore being moved up to oversee the position group he once played as an Oklahoma offensive tackle.
But it wasn’t just the fans who were surprised. The players Warinner coached weren’t anticipating the change, either.
Nonetheless, with Moore taking over as the new offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator, the move is being heralded by those who are the recipients of his mentorship, noting that while he has a much different style, it’s meshing well with those who he’s coaching.
“It was somewhat surprising to see Coach Warinner leave,” fifth-year offensive tackle Andrew Stueber said. “Because obviously, he has a great style, he’s a great coach, he has a great legacy behind him. But it was definitely optimistic. I think the whole offensive line seeing Coach Moore replace his spot – much younger guy, he knows from experience, he played the position. As far as the transition, it’s definitely a different kind of coaching style, a different kind of energy in the room. But I think the younger guys are appreciating it. It’s a more open environment. You can ask a lot more questions. He knows from experience, too. I think the older guys are liking the energy and the vibe he’s bringing to the room, to the practice field and his overall energy.”
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So, what does Stueber like about Moore’s style of coaching?
He says that Moore brings a much more conversational approach to the position group, which is something that the veteran players appreciate. Similarly, that style of teaching is helping the younger players come along that much faster because they feel more comfortable asking questions than they may have under his predecessor.
“I’d say his coaching style is more personable, more interactive, I feel like,” Stueber said. “He comes with a tight end sense – that’s a lot smaller of a meeting room. It’s a lot smaller. So once we brought it in, he’s asking a lot more questions of the individual, he’s allowing more of a discussion. ‘What do you guys think about this? What do you guys think about that?’ It’s just a lot easier to get discussion going. As an older guy, I appreciate that a lot more. Obviously, the younger guys are still learning, so they’re a lot quieter in the meetings just trying to follow along. But, as an older guy, I appreciate being able to speak my mind, give my input and ask questions when needed.”
When Warinner was let go, he eventually landed at Florida Atlantic, where he oversees the offensive line and run game under fellow former Jim Harbaugh assistant Willie Taggart.
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