Michigan State Postgame Presser Transcript: Brady Hoke
"You should have used a different game plan."
Your rushing offense –
“A lot of negative yardage plays. I thought there were some pretty good runs once in a while in there, but you snap the ball for a 20 yard loss, you get sacked I don’t know how many times, so your yardage part of it isn’t very good. You put yourself behind the 8-ball a little bit not executing, and then you’re forced into doing some things you don’t want to do the whole time.”
What does the offensive line need to do to protect Devin better and avoid sacks?
“It’s not just the line. There’s backs involved, there’s routes involved, there’s timing, all those issues are part of it. We have to get better.”
Did all the shuffling on the offensive line have something to do with it?
“Nope.”
What’s Devin’s status? He sat out the last series.
“Yeah, he got pounded a little bit. He was a warrior out there that last drive before the interception at the end. He did a nice job getting us down the field, had taken a lot of shots early in the game. He just was a little bit worn out.”
Does he have an injury?
“No. I wouldn’t say he has an injury. I would say beat up. If that’s an injury, then that’s an injury.”
In the history of this game, the team that rushes for more yards wins. How critical was the rushing game today?
“Well it’s always critical.”
Why do you think there were so many negative yardage plays?
“We didn’t execute as well as they did.”
That’s it?
“Pretty much.”
Taylor Lewan’s personal foul?
“I didn’t see that. I think that’s his frustration more than anything.”
You had a couple trips to the red zone in the first half. Did you think about taking a shot in the end zone at all?
“I think if we wanted to take a shot, we would have.”
There’s a lot of talk before the game about the toughness gap between the two teams.
“By … you guys?”
Yeah.
“From two years ago.”
Right. Did it disappoint you that the gap seems to have widened?
“I don’t think so. I think our kids played hard. I don’t think we executed very well. There’s eight to six plays in a game like this that make a difference. And if you go back and watch it again, you’ll see there’s eight to six plays that made a difference in the game from a standpoint of momentum, standpoint of confidence, and what you want to do. That’s part of it.”
How big was it to give up that touchdown before the half?
“That was a disappointing drive there at the end of the half. It drives you crazy. You give up points right at the end of the half, and it’s disappointing.”
How do you not allow a game like this to beat you next week?
“Well hopefully you do a great job as a group of leaders. Talk about coaches, senior captains, all those guys. Understanding where we are and what we need to do. I know they signed up for a guaranteed 12 games.”
With so much emphasis on a Big Ten title, what does this team have to play for?
“Still. It’s not in our hands. But you never know unless you’re forecasting for us now. Who knows?”
Does it surprise you that there was a lack of execution with the two weeks off?
“No. I think there’s more made out of that than anything else. Does it surprise me? Yeah. It surprises me. It has nothing to do with two weeks.”
Did you think you’d be further along?
“Well I was hoping.”
Is it coaching that you have to go back and look at?
“You always do.”
MGoQuestion: Going along with that, were you satisfied with the preparation and game plan?
“Yes. We wouldn’t have run the plays we ran unless we were satisfied.”
MGoFollowup: But considering the result …
“Hindsight’s always 20/20, right?”
What did you make of Michigan State’s defensive line and Shillique Calhoun?
“I think he’s a good football player. We’ve had a lot of respect for their defense all week going into this game, and I grabbed Max Bullough afterwards because he’s one of the guys I like watching play football. We have a lot of respect for them.”
Do you think the identity of this team is that it needs to get better in the trenches?
“That’s part of it. We haven’t played the way we like to every game.”
When Devin did have time, how did you think he played?
“I don’t know. Pretty good. But it would be nice to give him more time.”
What do you tell your fan base and alumni about dropping five of the last six games to Michigan State?
“Well, they’ve won five of the last six. Something like that. Well, we gotta keep working.”
Five of six is pretty significant. Do you think there’s that big of a gap?
“I don’t think there is a gap. I think they played awfully well, executed awfully well. I don’t think we did.”
November 3rd, 2013 at 5:01 PM ^
Hoke blaming everything on "execution" really reminds me of this comic. http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1984#comic
November 3rd, 2013 at 6:35 PM ^
Too highbrow. Needs more poop jokes.
November 3rd, 2013 at 5:05 PM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 6:19 PM ^
Thanks! Despite how frustrated I am, that is one nice looking hat. Considered it ordered.
November 3rd, 2013 at 5:06 PM ^
The thing is, these types of press conferences never tell you anything. People complain about Hoke not saying anything other than execution were at fault, but what other viable option does he have? Call out the players for not playing hard, or call out coaches in the middle of the season and say they screwed up? Neither option is any better; the team lost and anybody who follows this team knows it. I expect there will be changes this offseason, and if not then you can start wondering about the future of the team. But all this crap about toughness and assigning blame seems needlessly combative. I don't blame guys like Heiko for having to ask the questions, but it just feels like a waste of everyone's time.
November 3rd, 2013 at 5:46 PM ^
"We didn't execute" means "We had a good plan but the players didn't get it done."
It's sugar-coated and mealy-mouthed, but if you shave off the BS that's what it boils down to. He didn't say, "They anticipated our gameplan," or, "We didn't make the proper adjustments." In fact the one time he was questioned about the gameplan he got defensive, then went back to "execution".
Whenever these coaches say "execution", I hear, "I blame the players." And you know, maybe it is (they screwed up an awful lot this game), but FFS the word "execution" has lost all sense of accountability.
November 3rd, 2013 at 11:03 PM ^
saying "We didn't execute" is a slick way of passing the buck to the players. There really isn't any other way to interpret it. Now had he said something like, "Weeeellllll......We didn't execute from the coaches on down the line" we could at least see that he's taking SOME responsibility for the outcome of the game. Unfortunately what he said doesn't carry the personal accountability that you would like to see from the leader of your team after a horrible showing like we saw on Satuday.
November 4th, 2013 at 11:11 AM ^
Not at all. The coaches are responsible for developing players that execute. When players consistently fail to execute, like the offensive line has, that's as serious an indictment of a coach as it gets.
November 3rd, 2013 at 6:33 PM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 6:39 PM ^
How do we know he doesn't have fire? Because he doesn't walk into a press conference and scream at people? You want that, go find Jim Mora and Dennis Green videos on youtube. Those guys looked great screaming at people, but of course they really didn't affect their ability to coach. How a coach responds to questions in a press conference tells me virtually nothing about him save for his tolerance.
Yes, they've struggled at times, but still have two losses, on the road, one in a wonky fashion. I'm not happy with the direction of the team right now, but let's not act like this team was going 11-1 under Carr every year. The days of UM just rolling into a game and blowing the doors off are over, have been for some time. He's recruiting well, and still could win 9-10 games this year, which would be pretty solid given how bad the situation has been at times.
November 3rd, 2013 at 6:54 PM ^
Given how much people have ridiculed Brian Kelly around here for his antics, it seems like there is no way to please people. We like that Hoke doesn't do/say things that embarrass the program (outside of the results on the field this year, which have been embarrassing), but then when we lose, we ask him to show some fire during a press conference, which would undoubtedly end up embarrassing the program. I have no problem with him giving non-answers and not being emotional on the sideline or in the pressers, so long as he shows passion in the locker room. Unfortunately, whether or not he actually does this is pure speculation, but if he is not (and from our performances, he clearly is doing something wrong), then changes need to be made.
November 3rd, 2013 at 7:05 PM ^
Because Belichek is SOOO firey during press conferences.
Or Tony Dungy...what about him? A sparkplug behind the mic!
November 3rd, 2013 at 10:53 PM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 10:54 PM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 9:06 PM ^
November 4th, 2013 at 9:16 AM ^
Very true, you can tell that HOKE has nothing to offer in the 4th. We are down by 2 scores (10 points), i think 7 minutes left (not sure). And the team has no sense of urgency to try to get back in the game, or speed up the play calling. No they just went on using the entire clock, what does that say to you. HOKE is from the dinasour era, this will not work at this university, I am sorry but this is the sad truth, you need to change gear and go a little faster to get into games and try to make up ground.
November 4th, 2013 at 9:23 AM ^
DB hired a coach with a fair to middling record at MAC and Mountain West schools, who apparently is a great guy to work for, not a major D1 go getter. The Harbaugh and Miles feints were window dressing.
November 3rd, 2013 at 5:07 PM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 5:24 PM ^
He's a guy who doesn't answer any questions. I like his results. I'm fine without the coaches answering questions. If coaches answered more questions, would it equal more wins? No.
November 3rd, 2013 at 5:27 PM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 7:08 PM ^
...he's supposed to act like an ass?
Since when do press conferences correspond with winning?
That is the dumbest rationale of the day. You can't be a boring, dry, evasive, ornery old man unless you win championships.
We can all agree that Hoke needs to win, but press conferences have no impact or influence whatsoever.
November 4th, 2013 at 12:24 AM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 5:29 PM ^
Charlie Weiss didn't answer any questions either... [drops mic / guzzles bleach]
November 3rd, 2013 at 6:39 PM ^
Oh, because they were amazing questions that showed a nuanced knowledge of the game?
You ask dumb, pedantic questions, expect curt, pedantic answers.
November 3rd, 2013 at 7:59 PM ^
November 4th, 2013 at 9:31 AM ^
Man, Brian took the MSU loss hard.
November 4th, 2013 at 12:12 PM ^
Now that's funny right there.
November 3rd, 2013 at 5:08 PM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 5:10 PM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 5:19 PM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 6:39 PM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 7:10 PM ^
It's not a matter of balls to ask the question...but do you really think he's going to answer it?
We can send in that bald guy from CNN. That doesn't mean Hoke has to answer shit.
You can bring a horse to water...
November 3rd, 2013 at 6:45 PM ^
But the thing is, they are able to execute their gameplan at times, and in other instances they fail to do so. It is basically what happens at every school out there. MSU had some turrible offensive games this year, and now they are executing. UM dropped 41 on ND and 63 on IU because they were able to execute better than against MSU. People remember only those instances that suit their narrative, even if the evidence is that the team is inconsistent but also pretty normal.
November 4th, 2013 at 8:17 AM ^
To me you're a pretty respectable (and thoughtful) poster here. I've read most of your posts over the years and find you to pretty level headed. For my part, I'm not sure exactly where I stand as it could still just be the emotion of watching that horrible loss that is sticking with me and rational thought is impoosible.
I do wonder about what you say though. Our team has looked pretty explosive a few times this year, but other than ND, those instances were against terrible defenses. We couldn't even do much against UCONN and Akron. I mean, look at what OSU did to Penn State and what everyone does to Indiana.
Again, I think this loss still hurts too much for me to be completely rational right now, but for this school, a program so rich in history, I just don't think the inconsistent product we are being forced to watch is good enough. Is it normal for teams to look like this? Maybe it is, I don't think so, but I could be wrong. The point to me is though, that we don't strive to be "normal" here. This is Michigan and this team, this program desreves better than that.
I don't know man...I'm just so tired of watching this team stumble along without the slightest glimpse of them improving and giving hope for the future (on the offensive side of the ball I mean). For me it's heartbreaking, literally. I just don't know what to think, say or do anymore...
November 4th, 2013 at 9:20 AM ^
you are xxxxx, they have not been able to execute any game plan since ND. Indiana was because they dont play defense.
November 4th, 2013 at 9:31 AM ^
To me the key point is: while MSU has improved their execution across the season with the players they were struggling with earlier in the season, Michigan has not.
Question: is that an indictment of our players, or our coaching?
Someone mentioned six sigma and why, why, why above. That is the question Hoke, Borges and Mattison should each be asked: Why have Michigan State, Ohio State, Minnesota and others been able to improve their execution across this season, while Michigan continues to struggle?
November 3rd, 2013 at 5:10 PM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 5:53 PM ^
This press conference was right after the game. If you think someone pulled him aside and said you have to see what Lewan did before you presser you're crazy.
November 4th, 2013 at 5:37 AM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 5:54 PM ^
it was his evil doppelganger Tyler
November 3rd, 2013 at 8:20 PM ^
Are you aware that Hoke wasn't watching the game on TV?
November 3rd, 2013 at 8:41 PM ^
I don't know if he saw it but the Michigan radio guys reported during the game that he let Lewan have it...that's good enough for me. He doesn't have to go to a podium and further humiliate a player to satisfy fans.
November 4th, 2013 at 9:23 AM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 5:13 PM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 5:12 PM ^
There were 6-8 plays that made a difference? He makes it sound like we were in this game until near the end.
November 3rd, 2013 at 5:14 PM ^
Well score-wise it was a 10 point game until the 4th quarter.
November 3rd, 2013 at 6:47 PM ^
Well, they were down 6-16 going into the 4th quarter. And before that last TD, they were driving deep into Spartan territory down only 16. This wasn't some massive blowout on the scoreboard until basically the last two drives. UM scores early on in this game with TDs instead of FGs and I think the game turns out differently.
November 3rd, 2013 at 7:55 PM ^
Excellent insight bronxblue
If UM had scored more and MSU had scored less this game definitely turns out differently.
Keep the faith brother!
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