16 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, August 5, 2002
'Rock' steady with Redskins

By Jim Weber
Daily Sports Editor
CARLISLE, Pa. - Former Michi-
gan tackle Jon Jansen, who is known
affectionately as "Rock," is about as
big and immovable as a boulder.
As a Wolverine, Jansen set a school
record by starting in 50 consecutive
games at offensive tackle. The streak
is now at 100 for the 6-foot-6, 300-
pounder because he has started all 50
games in his three-year career with
the Washington Redskins, after being
drafted in the second round (37th
overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft.
Jansen is one of the few consisten-
cies in the entire Redskins organization.
He will be playing for his fourth head
coach in Steve Spurrier, who will put
even more pressure on Jansen and left
tackle Chris Samuels to protect the
quarterback with his "Fun 'N Gun"
offense that is designed around a high
powered passing attack.
"It's a little bit different because we
throw the ball a lot more than I ever
have," Jansen said.
But Spurrier could run more than
expected because the Redskins have
Pro Bowl running back Stephen
Davis, who set a team record last year
by rushing for over 1,000 yards for
the third season in a row. Jansen is the
only Redskin that has been on the
offensive line all three of those sea-

sons and is now one of most respect-
ed members of the team due to his
tenure and consistency. Last season,
Jansen was selected as a captain by
his teammates, a title he hopes to
retain this season.
"It's a lot of fun," Jansen said. "A lot
of guys are looking at you to make the
call and make decisions on things. To
have that power, to have that experience,
it makes it that much easier for me."
There will be plenty of players
looking to Jansen for guidance this
season. None of last year's three inte-
rior linemen are still with the team,
leaving the tackles looking for
replacements and nametags.
"A couple of guys I've embarrassed
because I don't know their names,"
Samuels admitted at the beginning of
training camp. Of the six candidates
for the three positions, former Michi-
gan center Dave Brandt is the only
one that started a game last season at
his current position. Further, just two
of the players (Larry Moore and Rod
Jones) were starters in the NFL last
year. Although these six players might
need the most work, new offensive
line coach Kim Helton is pushing
Jansen just as hard.
"You always coach the best players
the hardest," Helton said. "The worst
mistake you could make is to coach
Jon less hard than the rookies. You
owe it to him to make Jon Jansen a

Pro-Bowl player."
Jansen thinks he already should be
a Pro Bowler and has admitted that he
was upset when he was overlooked for
the NFC squad last season. But what
bothered Jansen even more last season
were problems he had off the field.
"There were just a lot of things that
had nothing to do with the Redskins,
but for some reason I wasn't very
happy, and it came out in my play,"
Jansen told The Washington Times. "I
don't know if I was taking things too
seriously, butI wasn't having fun like
I always have."
But Jansen also told The Times
that the chip was removed after a
trip home to Michigan in June when
he put things in perspective and real-
ized that he has "the best job in
America." While in Michigan,
Jansen spent time with his family
and visited the University.
"I love Ann Arbor," Jansen said.
"I've never loved it as much as when I
was there but anytime I go back, I
hate leaving."
Jansen said he would like to attend
Michigan football games at the Big
House but doesn't think he will get
the opportunity while playing for the
Redskins.
"As soon as I'm done, I'm going to
be at every Michigan home game."
At the rate he is going, that might
take a while.

Former Michigan offensive tackle Jon Jansen lifts the Little Brown Jug after the
Wolverines knocked off Minnesota, 24-3, during their run to the national title.


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