"The movement was minuscule, just a twitch of Josh Conerly Jr.'s right knee. Bobby Johnson only noticed it after he slowed down the film. As the Washington Commanders' offensive line coach, Johnson had been guiding Conerly's transition from the position he played in college to the one he would play as an NFL rookie. One barely perceptible flaw was his only blemish. Fixing it would determine so much."
"The Commanders drafted Conerly with the 29th pick in April's draft and guaranteed him nearly $16 million, the culmination of years of scouting and months of deliberations. He may one day return to left tackle, the offensive line's Cadillac position. But the Commanders traded for veteran Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil this offseason, which made Conerly a right tackle upon entry into the league."
"A plot of grass about six paces wide separates left tackle from right tackle. The positions require identical skill sets and body types. Excelling at one, though, guarantees little about proficiency at the other. "I don't know how he's doing it," said Tunsil, who has played nine seasons, made five Pro Bowls and banked more than $120 million playing left tackle. "Because I couldn't do it.""
Josh Conerly Jr. was drafted 29th overall and signed a nearly $16 million guarantee. The Washington Commanders acquired veteran left tackle Laremy Tunsil, prompting Conerly's move to right tackle. Coaches identified a barely perceptible right-knee twitch on film that threatened his transition and could affect the team's investment and quarterback protection. The left- and right-tackle roles require similar physical traits but different instincts, making the flip challenging. Conerly compared the change to driving on the opposite side of the road, where ingrained subconscious actions become conscious and awkward. Fixing the movement became a focal developmental task.
Read at The Washington Post
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