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Michigan has plenty of electric and exciting players on the offensive side of the ball at any of the skill level spots, which is why it was a little shocking when Josh Gattis said that Zak Zinter may be the best offensive player on the team last week during his press conference.
Zinter, a former four-star prospect from Massachusetts, started four games at right guard last during his his freshman season and appeared in all six games. The Wolverines offensive line had plenty of struggles last year as PFF ranked them as the ninth-worst run blocking team in all of the Big Ten. However, Zinter had the best run blocking grade of any Michigan lineman that played five or more games.
The sophomore offensive lineman could be a gigantic reason the offensive line woes of last year could turn into a strength. The maize and blue are testing the 6-foot-6 Zinter out at center during the fall camp, and it could pay major dividends when the season begins.
Offensive line coach Sherrone Moore spoke with the media during a Zoom conference about Zinter and the battle going on at center, noting that he could slide into the spot thought to be occupied by Andrew Vastardis.
“Yeah, he’s getting some reps there at center, and V (Vastardis) as well,” said Moore. “We’re really trying to keep them balanced, keep them all fresh, and making sure they understand each position – keep their variation going. Zinter is getting reps there as well as guard. We’re going to keep it rolling.”
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With Vastardis being the incumbent starter at the position, why would the Wolverines look at moving the Zinter to center? That’s not speaking ill of Vastardis, who had a decent season for the Wolverines, but the potential of Zinter is massive.
Moore later explained: “The versatility — he has everything you want as a lineman. Zinter is tall, big, strong, physical, athletic, and smart. He can make any call that may need made. He can block any defender, and he just does it with a violence and a physicality that you need and have to have. He is just very athletic; he has the versatility to do it. That’s the main reason we chose to be able to move him and move him and work him around – he has the versatility. If you can’t do it, there is no reason for us to do it. As coaches we have to be smart in how we manipulate players. What we talk about in our room – it’s like a slot receiver, you have to to put a slot receiver in the slot and you put an outside receiver on the outside. Some guys can move outside to in, and some can’t. It’s the same thing on the offensive line, we try to make sure we can do that with our guys.”
Michigan is looking to prioritize the run game once again this season according to both Josh Gattis and Sherrone Moore, after the offense got away from the ground game last year. Zinter will look to lead the way in helping the Wolverines achieve their goal wherever he lines up come the Sept. 4th opener against Western Michigan.
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