Football: UL’s Mykhael Quave relishes move to tackle

UL offensive lineman Mykhael Quave (70) participates in football practice Monday at the Leon Moncla Indoor Practice Facility in Lafayette. By Leslie Westbrook March 11, 2013

Tim Buckley, The Advertiser, March 30, 2013

In an ideal world for the Ragin’ Cajuns, Mykhael Quave would have been one of UL’s two starting offensive tackles a season ago.

But sometimes sacrifices must be made.

So Quave sucked it up, started at left guard for a year and now — preparing for what will be his redshirt sophomore season — is finally getting a feel for the position for which Cajun coaches are convinced he’s ideally suited.

"Moving Mykhael was a natural," UL head coach Mark Hudspeth said. "He was a tackle playing guard last year, and just out of necessity."

Now, nine practices into 15 this spring for the Cajuns, Quave is as comfy as he’s ever been on the line.

"I love it," he said.

"I’m not gonna say I didn’t like guard, because it is what the team needed," Quave added. "But if I had my preference, I’d be a tackle. Tackle, it’s a lot more space."

And at 6-foot-5 and 300 or so pounds, Quave — a tight end at Gautier High in Mississippi — needs all the extra room to work he can get.

"I feel like I can put of my athleticism to use," he said. "I have more time to read and react, instead of just hard-nosed, set, punch. I get more time to set, set, read and react, then punch."

UL’s starting tackles in both 2011 and 2012, Jaron Odom and Leonardo Bates, were seniors last season.

Bates played some at guard before moving to tackle as a sophomore in 2010, and the Cajuns tried playing him at guard again last spring so Quave could line up as a tackle, but that didn’t work out.

"Leo (Bates) felt most-comfortable at left tackle, so we left him there," Hudspeth said.

"We felt Leo was better there and, with his experience, wanted to keep him there," Cajun offensive coordinator Jay Johnson added. "That’s why (Quave) was at a guard (spot), and we knew in the long-term we were planning to move him out there (to tackle)."

UL quarterback Terrance Broadway is the biggest beneficiary of the relocation.

"Myk (Quave) is a very athletic guy," Broadway said, "and that’s what we need at the left tackle to be able protect my blind side."

Quave has what Hudspeth calls "great feet" for an offensive lineman, and that’s why Johnson says he is "excited" to see the big fella at what he deems to be "such a critical spot."

"You always want to put your best guy on the back of the quarterback," Hudspeth said. "He (Quave) is just very athletic, very competitive, and he’s gonna be a really good one."

Quave’s blocking skill set and instincts make the match a no-brainer.

"At tackle," Hudspeth said, "your pass-rush techniques are a lot different than a guard — because you’ve got guys coming off the edge.

"Guards have help (from the center and tackle) on both sides," he added. "Tackles are, most of the time, on an island."

And with Quave able to protect so much of that land mass by himself, rush lanes to Broadway’s back are likely to be rather narrow next season — if there are any at all.

With UL’s April 20 spring game fast-approaching, Hudspeth said Quave is "way ahead" of the curve when it comes to picking up just what it takes to play left tackle.

Quave gives some of the credit for that to his older brother Daniel Quave, UL’s starting right guard and his mentor in making the post-high school switch from tight end.

The rest, he indicated, goes to UL offensive line coach Mitch Rodrigue and offensive graduate assistant William Peagler for how they’ve helped him slide seamlessly — at least so far — from guard to tackle.

"I feel like I’d be further along with my development than I am right now (by playing tackle last year)," Quave said. "But I feel like I’ve made good adjustments with Coach Rodrique staying on me, and Coach Peagler staying on me and helping with my sets and adjusting as fast as possible.

"I feel like it’s been a smooth transition."

And it is one Quave is more than happy to have finally made, so that now anyone wanting to sneak up on Broadway from the outside will know the road goes through him.

"I like having a big responsibility," Quave said. "It makes me feel good (to know) the coaches have a lot of faith in me, that I can get the job done."