Jim Harbaugh expects to see the 'Michigan method' at offensive tackle to start season

When it comes to his offensive line room, Jim Harbaugh has good problems. About halfway through fall camp, the head coach said Michigan has four playable offensive tackles, and said they’ll employ the “Michigan method” at the start of the season to determine the full-time starters.

The “Michigan method” is what quarterbacks Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy test drove a year ago, each getting to start a game early in the season in a public finale to a quarterback battle. Harbaugh said he plans to start one pair of offensive tackles for one game, then another pair for the next early in the season and will judge their tape before making a final decision.

“I definitely think you’re going to see the Michigan method in play at the offensive tackle. There’s two starters on the left, there’s two starters on the right. There’s four starting tackles that we have. It’ll go through camp. I envision starting two tackles one game, two tackles the second game,” Harbaugh said.

Right now, the four in vying for a full-game audition are Karsen Barnhart, Trente Jones, LaDarius Henderson and Myles Hinton. The latter two are transfers, coming from Arizona State and Stanford, respectively.

Beyond those four, Harbaugh lauded Andrew Gentry, who he said the staff will look to find reps somewhere along the interior or as a rotational linemen because of how well he has played in camp.

But of the top four offensive tackles so far, Harbaugh has been most impressed with Barnhart, who started at tackle for Michigan a year ago.

“Four starting tackles. And kills me not to put Andrew Gentry in that category because he’s so good to where, you know, we’re going to have to play him at guard and tackle and find ways to get him on the field. I don’t know. I’d say if I had to pick the best one right now, so far through 12, 13 days at camp, Karsen Barnhart is having the best camp so far. But, here we are halfway through,” Harbaugh said.

Harbaugh intimated this “Michigan method” could play out at a number of other positions. He’s happy to see it, because it means the backups are pushing the starters.

And that jockeying only pushes all parties to keep getting better and better.

“I see that happening at edge. Could be the case at center. Probably will be the case at corner. Those would be the main ones,” Harbaugh said. But it’s just that close, it’s just that good, really.