It always has. I’m not talking about moving a guy from middle linebacker to weakside — like Max Gruder. That’s akin to moving a guy around on the lines. That’s shifting a title but keeping the player in the same unit. Nor am I talking about changing positions for freshmen. That’s typical. A player has speed or size to play somewhere else at the collegiate level that better uses his abilities.
Making a change after a couple years in the players career/development, though, makes me nervous. Especially when it comes to changing offense to defense or vice versa. Add in some player resistance, and it really strikes me as a big mistake. Not to mention not actually having a clear plan of development with the player. (See also, Dickerson, Dorin)
Sometimes it is inevitable, but just needed a little time to penetrate.
Shayne Hale was lured to Pitt with the promise that he could play middle linebacker, and the U.S. Army All-American from Gateway High School intended to hold Panthers coaches to their word.
Despite possessing prototypical size to play defensive end, the 6-foot-4, 245-pound redshirt freshman long resisted recruiters’ efforts to convince him to line up in a three-point stance and transform into a pass rusher.
The Panthers took a passive approach, and let Hale decide on his own.
“We told him, ‘You’re playing linebacker, but if you change your mind and want to take a shot at end, that’s up to you.’ We stuck to it,” Pitt defensive line coach Greg Gattuso said. “He came halfway through (last season) and said he thought he’d be a better defensive end. We took him immediately. It had to be in his heart. If he wanted to be a linebacker, so be it, but I think everybody felt he had a chance to be a good end. And he does.”
That makes sense. Hale is a top-talent and in HS he was convinced that he was best at linebacker. And his production reinforced it. Even as every college coach recruiting him was talking to him about being a DE.
Or seeing Greg Williams embrace the conversion from a crowded backfield to linebacker as a redshirt freshman. I get that. He had played a bit of safety in high school. And most importantly, he embraced the change. He was redshirted and saw the depth at RB. He understood how far behind he was.
It’s part of why reading about Greg Cross being put at WR, still bothers me. Even if he’s great about it.
“Any way I can get on the field and help my team out, I’m willing to do it,” said Cross, who is on track to graduate next spring and emphasized the importance of a Pitt degree to him and his family played a part in his decision to stay. “At first, it was a little frustrating, knowing what I could do. During the season, I had to take a step back and look at the bigger picture and understand that (Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt) was going with this guy.
“I had to grow up and swallow my pride and stick with the team. It was about being a team player and not so worried about myself.”
Such unselfishness should serve the soft-spoken Cross well with the Panthers, who believe he has the potential to be a dynamic threat in a variety of ways. Wannstedt has discussed with Cross the possibility of returning kickoffs and punts, as well as covering them.
Wannstedt initially contemplated switching Cross to safety because of his size and speed, but opted to keep him on offense for the sake of familiarity and depth to a position that lost starter Derek Kinder to graduation and reserve T.J. Porter to an indefinite suspension after two DUI arrests.
“From a depth standpoint, we use three or four receivers. He could get in a two-deep on offense tomorrow, where on defense he’s not going to be,” Wannstedt said. “Watching him catch the ball, he’s got better hands and some skill running with the football. It gives us a chance to utilize that.”
Cross is at least an athlete. Moving a QB to WR is not uncommon. It happens at all levels with athletic QBs — especially with pro-football oriented coaches. I’m just in the group that feels like Cross was completely wasted last year by a coaching staff that never had a real plan with Cross. They just got caught up in the idea of spread and wildcat formations, but realized how much it went against their core beliefs in football.
That brings me to Myles Caragein. He will be a redshirt sophomore and has the chance at being the starting nose tackle after playing TE and DE in high school.
“I had a talk with him about pushing himself further, not being content that he’s doing well,” said Gattuso, Pitt’s defensive line coach. “I definitely think he has another gear to go, and I told him that. I want him fighting for a job. I don’t want him to be a caretaker waiting for a senior to come in. He’s good enough to go out there and start and play for us.”
If there is a sense of urgency on Gattuso’s part, it’s because Pitt’s coaches believe Caragein’s combination of smarts and strength make him an ideal candidate to move to the offensive line. For now, Wannstedt has been convinced to keep Caragein in his tattered blue practice jersey.
“It’s always up to the head coach and what’s best for the team,” Gattuso said. “But we feel the ability to have explosive defensive linemen is important. He has a chance to be a starter for us.
“He’s got the perfect size, strength level and quickness to play nose guard. He’s a little different than Rashaad Duncan, but I think he’s going to be just as effective.”
Pitt coaches long viewed Caragein’s wrestling background — he was a two-time WPIAL champion and finished with a 138-18 career record — would allow his transition from playing tight end and defensive end at Keystone Oaks to battling on the interior defensive line for the Panthers.
“It’s completely different,” Caragein said. “I like it down there because you’re in the trenches. You’re able to read the blocks a little more to see what’s happening. I think wrestling (prepared) me for nose guard because I’m used to pushing around bigger, heavier guys. Wrestling helped me a lot with hand work, leverage and giving me that attitude of never giving up.”
I’m sure Caragein would say all the right things if he was switched sides. That said, given, the very strong belief in him at being the NT by Gattuso says something.
To say nothing of Coach Wannstedt and Tony Wise’s approach with the O-line to play the best players and make sure they can play all over the line — and valuing experienced players. Well, as smart as Caragein is, he would still see another year lost trying to learn to play O-line. At best, he might start getting on the 2-deep by 2010. It really would waste two years of his development, without a clear plan.
