Jay Harbaugh talks Michigan football tight end Erick All's status, importance
Michigan football assistant Jay Harbaugh has watched his group emerge as a team strength in the passing game over the last several weeks. Tight end Erick All has been the biggest revelation, coming off his best game in a Michigan uniform — but will be able to play Saturday against Indiana?
All was banged up near the end of the game at Michigan State, one in which he caught 10 passes for 98 yards. He’s caught just about everything thrown his way this year, and they’ll need him down the stretch as a weapon in the passing game.
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Harbaugh gave a promising update Wednesday.
“Monday was like a walk-through, so he was out there, but the guys weren’t doing a whole lot in terms of intense stuff,” he said. “I think he will [be back]. We’ll see.
“Yesterday he was out there, but he didn’t do everything. But I do think he’ll be back at some point in the week.”
All’s work ethic has rubbed off on his teammates, and it’s made the offense better. While Harbaugh wouldn’t say he’d like to see his guys targeted more in the red zone, it might not be a bad strategy given the struggles. U-M is having trouble punching it in inside the 10, and big guys who can catch often help.
The 250-pounder’s hands have let him down in previous years, but not this season.
“Here’s the kind of guy that if you observe him really his whole career here, you’d say that guy’s going to be really good because his habits are so good in the terms of how he runs routes, the speed at which he practices, the extra work he puts in,” Harbaugh said. “His desire to be really good.
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“With guys like that, it’s just kind of a matter of time because their habits are such that you know they’re going to break through when the opportunity arises. I think everyone was excited to see him have those balls come his way, which doesn’t always happen at the tight end position, especially not in that volume. So, it was cool to see both the ball coming his way and him be ready for it … to make some of the plays he did.”
He deserved that success, Harbaugh added, especially with how well he’s been blocking. He’s been violent at the point of attack his entire career.
Now, though, he’s ‘stickier’ with his blocks and finishing.
“When you see the way he’s catching the ball, that obviously jumps out because he catches it really well,” Harbaugh said. “But he’s sustaining blocks better than he ever has before. He’s a guy that produces such great force on contact because he bends so well, he gets great leverage. He strikes people like a hammer.
“Sometimes he falls off the contact, doesn’t necessarily finish through the whistle on the same guy. When you watch closely, you’ll notice this year he’s done a lot better job making great initial contact, knocking a guy back and then finishing on the man as the play finishes. That’s been cool to see.”
All reasons you’ll likely continue to see more of him in the offense as the season progresses.
