Zen Michalski learning from mistakes, making ‘hard’ transition to right tackle

COLUMBUS — Ohio State offensive lineman Zen Michalski isn’t going to sugarcoat it.

“Left tackle is a hard [expletive] position,” he said Thursday.

Call that a slip-up in a media interview as he’s making the switch from the left side to the right side, admitting that he might have an easier go at it when he’s playing that right side. Those kinds of mistakes happen in spring practice. As do blunders on the practice field as Michalski battles to become the starting right tackle for the Buckeyes.

Michalski is quick to correct himself on both.

Michalski isn’t afraid to make those mistakes along the way, especially flipping every aspect of his game from being the backup left tackle last season to aiming for the starting right tackle position just a few months later.

Sure, he’ll have growing pains. But he’s quickly adjusting as the Buckeyes make their way through the second week of camp — and as they hunt for their best five offensive linemen.

“I didn’t see it as a promotion. I kind of saw it more as like an opportunity,” he said. “You know, just getting myself used to both sides. It just it is a little bit easier, but it’s definitely still a challenge. So you know, I was excited about it. I was like, shoot, take a little weight off my shoulders. I’m ready.”

Call Michalski self-aware, if nothing else. He understands that he’s entering a battle for an easier position than he was at last year. And he’s willing to grow into that role as the spring rolls along.

“It’s hard,” Michalski said. “Because I’m learning a new position against Jack [Sawyer] and J.T. [Tuimoloau], some of the best defensive linemen in the country. So a lot of it is patience. You’re not going to fix everything in one day. It’s got to be bite sized pieces. It’s got to be learning from mistakes. You’re going to have a lot of mistakes.”

Ohio State is willing to live with those mistakes this spring, as the Buckeyes search for replacements of three NFL-bound offensive lineman, including All-American left tackle Paris Johnson and potential first-round pick Dawand Jones.

Michalski is facing off against Tegra Tshabola to become the next starting right tackle for the Buckeyes, those mistakes will need to happen less and less as spring progresses.

“In the fall, you win or you lose. In the spring, there’s winner/loser drills, but you have to learn why you lost,” Ohio State offensive line coach Justin Frye said. “So I think that’s what he’s saying. No, we don’t want them to make mistakes. But ‘Why did I make that mistake?’ … And then they have to go do that and learn from that. But then they can’t be repeat offenders. So you make a mistake, okay, great. Learn from it. The next time that shows, the same thing can’t happen again. How do I correct that? How do I get better with that?

“And so starting with today and this Saturday, we’ll get a scrimmage going on. That’ll be really good for those guys going to play the game and then understanding like, ‘Oh, I lost that rep and it was a sack or was a TFL — or ‘look what I did. I used my technique. I did that and we made the play.’”

Allowing mistakes in spring practice — and allowing time to correct them — has a chance to pay off in the long run.

“It means a lot because I feel like you kind of have to let that happen in certain areas,” Michalski said. “Mistakes are going to come. I had trouble with this last year, [if you’re] just dwelling on those mistakes, I mean, you’re never going to get past them. …

“With Coach Frye kind of just giving that reinforcement and being more lenient and letting us learn these first couple of practices, I feel like I’ve improved every practice so far. So I’m hoping just keep doing that with those mistakes.”

Michalski certainly has a learning curve when it comes to playing right tackle — and some of his word choices. It’s a much different position than he was in last year at this time.

But with plenty of runway to make mistakes — and correct them — this spring, Michalski is competing for a starting job at Ohio State. And that’s all he really wants.

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