Wednesday Presser Transcript 11-6-13: Brady Hoke
Bullets:
- Drew Dileo and Keith Heitzman will be back Saturday. Brennen Beyer will start at SDE.
- AJ Williams will "be in the lineup."
- De'Veon Smith's demotion was to send a message. Still has a chance to earn his way back into the depth chart.
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Opening remarks:
“Had a good practice yesterday. We expect it with the way this group has been. Most Tuesdays have been very good. It was good. The energy was good. The enthusiasm for the game of football was good. And in terms of preparation we got a lot done.”
Devin’s status physically? Has his leadership been tested?
“Oh I think all the leadership is always tested when you have adversity. He did a great job yesterday. Sore? Yeah. But every guy in the game of football across America who’s playing is going to be sore. He went out and attacked the day.”
Were there any lessons for him from last week?
“I think there’s always lessons. For him, maybe there’s some fundamental lessons when you look at technique that he can take home and learn from. I think leadership-wise I think there’s always those things we can build on ... I would think he keeps growing as a quarterback. That’s part of it. Being in those pressurized situations, made some awfully good throws. Obviously the Nascar series at the end of the game, late, showed a lot. He got them up even though he got him – he kept moving.”
Greg Mattison said Ameer Abdullah is the best running back you’ll face all year. What’s special about him?
“The kid’s a special athlete. He’s got good burst, good balance, can make you miss in the hole. I think the other part of it, traditionally, is their offensive lines have been pretty stout, pretty strong at the line of scrimmage. I think they’ve given him a chance to get runs started. I think his natural abilities, vision, jump cuts, all those things take over.”
Status of Keith Heitzman and Drew Dileo?
“Yeah they both practiced yesterday and they’ll both play Saturday.”
Who will start at SDE?
“I think Brennen [Beyer] will start the game, and Heitzman and [Chris] Wormley, I think we’ve got three guys in there that we like.”
How are the backups?
“Good. I think Tommy [Strobel] was set back. He had a little bit of burner that set him back a while. I think Matt [Godin] is coming along. I think he’s getting better. I like some of the physical things that he’s doing.”
How are your younger offensive linemen progressing?
“I think that group is a pretty good group. Logan [Tuley-Tillman], as he continues to get better as an offensive tackle [in terms of] football shape, strength, and all that because he’s a very good athlete. [Patrick] Kugler is a very smart football player. I think it runs in the family a little bit. His brother’s a center at Purdue, and his father is the head coach at El Paso. Those guys, I think, all are doing a nice job.”
How is Ben Braden coming along? Do you think he’s better suited to tackle than guard?
“Well I think Ben’s had really a good last four weeks. When you ask how he’s going along, I think he’s improving. I think he’s handling the communication at the line of scrimmage, getting into one protection and out of another one, all those things. From a body standpoint at the tackle position, it’s where he’ll end up at the end of the day, but we’ll work him in at guard, too.”
Do you do anything to stress the importance of playing well on the road?
“You know, I do about the consistency that we want to have. We’ve done a lot of different things when we’ve gone on the road depending on the time of the game. With a young football team, we’re going by stadiums and showing them the locker room. And we’ll do the same thing at Northwestern so they get an idea of here’s our bench, how close the people are. Here we obviously know our surroundings pretty well.”
Do you feel that the familiarity plays a role in your success here?
“I think if you take any team, if you look at their home wins compared to the away wins over the course of time, home is usually the better place.”
How are they doing making checks on the line?
“Doing good. I think Devin does a pretty good job. He identifies. Graham keeps growing, keeps getting better.”
How is Graham progressing?
“I think it is. Darryl would tell you the same thing.”
Are you going to try to give Derrick Green more snaps?
“Hope so. Him and De’Veon are both guys we’d like to get a little more work with.”
Did you see a different Devin emerge from that game?
“Yeah I think he learned. I think he grew … He took some shots, he got up, on the sideline he was great. He was encouraging guys and those kinds of things.”
When did you make the decision to take him out of the game?
“I think it was more after the last score. Let’s get Shane [Morris] some reps in that environment and see how he operates.”
How important is that for a young player’s development?
“I think it’s great. We’re going to be up there next year again. So that’s awesome for all those guys. The three freshmen on the inside. That’s got to be great for them.”
You mentioned De’Veon Smith. Does he have an opportunity to earn a higher spot on the depth chart?
“He’s got a chance to. Yeah.”
Has he responded to getting taken off the travel squad?
“Yeah.”
Was that to send a message?
“Usually is.”
Al said yesterday that rebounding after losses starts with the head coach …
“I’ve always believed with young people that this may be the only consistent discipline thing that some of them have ever in their lives. For us to be consistent with how we act and how we react to different situations or whatever it is or the schedule, how you want to do things. I think that’s important. We want to do everything perfectly, and that’s what it is.”
What are the hardest things Devin Funchess has to grasp in order to be a really good wide receiver?
“One of the hardest things is when you start identifying in the run game who are you going to block? With coverages changing, with some people disguising what they’re doing, especially when you start looking at the read plays and those kinds of things, who he’s going to block. Is he going to bypass the read key, all those things.”
How’s Taco Charlton progressing?
“Okay. Making progress. Day by day making progress.”
What does he need to improve?
“I think it’s a lot of different things. How you react to visual keys. He’s used to, like most of those guys in high school, just running up the field. Style of offense you play, they change week to week. Your mindset, your mentality, what you learn is a little different.”
How has AJ Williams responded? Will he start?
“Good. He should be in the lineup.”
You mentioned De’Veon Smith. What is his running style?
“He’s a little more of a slicer. He’s a little more like Drake [Johnson]. He’s very much a downhill, physical guy. Has good balance. Has similarities that him and Derrick have, but there’s enough different physical traits that they have that make them different.”
Has Russell Bellomy been able to do anything in practice?
“No. Not yet. He does a little bit of what we do on Sundays, and the rest of the time is rehab.”
November 6th, 2013 at 11:28 PM ^
Well that seems a little strange given that a lot of great fans simply can't afford to spend money on the team, but if spending money is the mark of fandom, and you're declining to spend money when the team is struggling, how is that not fair-weathered? I suppose if you've truly given up hope for improvement, then it's not really fair-weathered, but don't you think it's a little early for that? It would be a real shame if that were the case, because we need fans like you to stay with the team.
November 7th, 2013 at 1:24 AM ^
November 7th, 2013 at 8:38 AM ^
November 7th, 2013 at 2:15 AM ^
I live in California and I'm younger than you, that's why I can't/haven't attend as many games as you. Just b/c you spend money at the game or going doesn't make you more of a fan than anyone else. However, when you jump ship so quickly that does make you less of a fan IMO. "Someone who is enthusiastically devoted to something" - when you turn your back on something that doesn't mean you are devoted to it. For instance, I am not a huge fan of Al Borges b/c I don't like the West Coast style of offense however I do support him. Do you honestly think that he calls plays to go for negative yardage? If you do, you're delusional. Everytime he calls a play, it is designed to score a touchdown...what other reason would you call a play? If everyone does there job, then a touchdown should be scored. Going back to my point, I don't like the WC offense but I don't turn my back on Michigan b/c he doesn't score a TD every play. I absolutely LOVE Michigan football and I honestly think they should win every game. I'm a 100% committed to Michigan being my team. It doesn't matter who's coaching, it doesn't matter if how many games I go to or how many hot dogs I buy at the game. That's what being a fan is about...not how much "capital" you can spend on the team.
November 7th, 2013 at 2:38 AM ^
And you're talking out of your rear end. MGrowOld is a guy who has sacrificed countless hours and dollars to support this team. He's also worked to actually make the team better as a representative of the program.
He's fucking entitled to his opinion. Seeing the writing on the wall and being discouraged (but still spending thousands of dollars every year and driving from Ohio EVERY weekend to see games) doesn't make him a lesser fan than some self-righteous internet poster.
November 7th, 2013 at 8:14 AM ^
You also get BONUS POINTS for living in ohio ... WORST STATE EVER!
Go Blue!
November 7th, 2013 at 8:33 AM ^
Not like Indiana is considered a "destination state" either my friend. Sort of like poop telling puke it smells bad....
But yes. My state does smell worse than yours. Not by much though.......:)
November 7th, 2013 at 3:22 PM ^
To fathom himself as the moderator for calling out "trolls" and seems quite bitchy himself.
I fully support your response....Good guy and Go Blue!
November 7th, 2013 at 12:26 AM ^
November 7th, 2013 at 1:20 AM ^
Going through the schedule, yes we're 6-2 but we could easily be 4-4 with losses to Akron and Uconn. CMU is a pretty bad team this year. ND is pretty good so that is a good win full stop. Minnesota is a decent BIG team but this conference is pretty weak so what does that mean.
Indiana is an upstart and PSU is not a very good team this year. MSU is a pretty good team but we were beat pretty good in that one.
This season to date has been a disappointment and fans are expressing displeasure which we have every right to do. Hoke, his staff, and the AD have every right to ignore us though that is probably not a good strategy when dealing with your customers. By the way I think this is where a lot of animosity comes from: the AD views us as cash cows so if we are treated as such then we are entitled to the belief that the customer is always right. It would be nice to be viewed as stakeholders in the program since the fans and students do make up a significant part of the experience.
Going back to your point yes the record is ok right now though again so far we have had one of the easier schedules. Let's see if we can get to 8 or 9 wins with a bowl victory against a good opponent. If we can do that then that is progress but if not then it is a decline and starts a pattern of year to year decline.
November 7th, 2013 at 1:37 AM ^
November 7th, 2013 at 5:32 PM ^
November 7th, 2013 at 8:25 AM ^
With your SEVENTH post, you write: "I'm almost ready to stop getting on Mgoblog b/c of the people who post on here."
Either that's the best sarc ever, or you've lurked for years but never posted. Either way, I laughed out loud, causing the guy in the next office to investigate.
November 6th, 2013 at 10:32 PM ^
November 6th, 2013 at 10:41 PM ^
Coach Hoke mentions Drake Johnson. He turned out to be a bigger loss to the team than most people thought. The lack of a number 2 RB has hurt this squad.
November 7th, 2013 at 12:46 AM ^
What would a different #2 back be doing that Green and Fitz aren't? It's not like Fitz is exhausted after getting 130 yds on his first 15 carries and Green comes and trips over his own feet. The lack of success in the running game doesn't have much to do with Drake Johnson getting hurt.
November 7th, 2013 at 2:23 AM ^
Last year the excuse was the 5th year seniors weren't talented enough on the o-line. This year the excuse is the RS freshman (who are nowhere near as good as Lewan, Molk, Schilling, Long, Baas, Hutchinson, Backus, and every other good lineman we've ever had were at the same age) just aren't old enough to be even close to mediocre.
This offensive staff has proven to be imcompetent under any and all circumstances. They either suck at recruiting or are completely clueless. Either way, not a recipe for success.
November 7th, 2013 at 8:27 AM ^
but NO back is going very far behind this line.
November 6th, 2013 at 10:47 PM ^
November 6th, 2013 at 11:25 PM ^
We are in the most tenuous phase of the re-building project now. As Brian has pointed out several times, we are now suffering from the gap in experienced players that the last transition has caused. To bail now would just result in the same uptick for two years followed by another two year dip in performance.
We must get off of the transition merry-go-round.
November 6th, 2013 at 11:33 PM ^
Exactly. If this staff is not given a fair chance to turn this thing around we could be looking at two decades of irrelevance.
November 6th, 2013 at 11:56 PM ^
You can replace an OC without changing the entire staff. You can even bring in an OC who runs a nearly identical system. Hell, you can bring in a younger OC who might innovate a bit, and actually recruit. Because even if you are the biggest Borges fan in the world, you can not possibly claim that he is innovative or a recruiter.
November 7th, 2013 at 12:48 AM ^
November 7th, 2013 at 6:24 AM ^
November 7th, 2013 at 8:35 AM ^
and then there is losing as if your first practice was a walk through Friday evening.
November 6th, 2013 at 10:55 PM ^
November 6th, 2013 at 11:41 PM ^
November 6th, 2013 at 10:59 PM ^
November 6th, 2013 at 11:30 PM ^
November 6th, 2013 at 11:44 PM ^
So Mattison gets a pass because what he has to work with, but Borges does not? He has a very young interior line, a running back coming of a broken leg, lost a WR for the year, the best tight end got moved to WR. So now an even younger tight end is depended on. Plus a QB who is just now starting fr a year in college. I would say if Mattison gets a pass because of what he has to work with then I say Al gets a pass for what he is working with.
November 7th, 2013 at 12:02 AM ^
His best TE has yet to be a TE. He should have identified that much earlier, if those of us who aren't coaches can see it.
His response to his TEs being young, inexperienced, or just not good at being a TE was to put more of them on the field.
His response to his OL not communicating well was to move them around the field into different packages and assignments, instead of picking one alignment and practicing just that. I think we can all give him a bit of a pass on having to change out players at position, but you would think he would have been able to do a better job at identifying his three best interior lineman during the spring and summer.
He seems incapable of varying tempo to take advantage of defenses.
He tips plays based on allignment on a rather regular basis.
He has proven to go into a shell on the road.
His in-game adjustments never seem to keep up with his opponent, and that was evident before having a young OL.
His last QB regressed as a passer instead of improving, and he IS the QB coach.
I'm sure I'm missing more, but that is depressing enough.
November 7th, 2013 at 1:44 AM ^
November 7th, 2013 at 1:18 AM ^
November 7th, 2013 at 1:50 AM ^
November 7th, 2013 at 8:00 AM ^
November 7th, 2013 at 11:58 AM ^
November 7th, 2013 at 3:24 PM ^
November 7th, 2013 at 4:18 PM ^
talking about the Outback Bowl? I believe DR went all the way as QB during the Sugar Bowl.
November 7th, 2013 at 6:33 PM ^
November 7th, 2013 at 9:52 PM ^
November 6th, 2013 at 11:55 PM ^
if UM runs the table, i will be the first to sing the praises of borges/funk. because if that were to happen the o-line would have to improve dramatically; not to mention DG and the offense.
however, if UM loses 3 out the next 4 with the o-line (and offense) continuing to look lost with little or no improvement, why should borges/funk be given another year?
November 6th, 2013 at 11:00 PM ^
Also, in hindsight, missing dileo was key last week, not difference between win and loss, but him in the slot picking up hit reads on blitzes might have been a few first downs when things still mattered.
November 6th, 2013 at 11:04 PM ^
I've always liked the way Hoke handles his pressers.
I really like Hoke, the man. I guess my opinion of Hoke, the coach depends on how absolutely terrible or good the game plan looks on Saturday. That's probably not fair of me, but it's what it is.
For all my bitching about what's happening, I still support our guys.
November 6th, 2013 at 11:28 PM ^
on the side note heard through some people that DB has been attending Pioneer HS games and keeping an eye on their OC. Supposedly the guy is really good and a genius OC
Anyone heard of him or his abilities?
November 6th, 2013 at 11:32 PM ^
This is a joke, right?
November 6th, 2013 at 11:38 PM ^
November 6th, 2013 at 11:56 PM ^
That has to be one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. Dave Brandon scouting the Pioneer OC? LOL.
November 7th, 2013 at 12:16 AM ^
ever hear of jerry faust? lol.
November 7th, 2013 at 12:49 AM ^
First of all, it's Gerry, not Jerry. Second, he was a head coach at Moeller, not an OC. Third, he went 30-26 at ND and 43-53 at Akron - not exactly Michigan standards. Fourth, that was a very different era of college football.
The notion that DB would even consider taking that kind of risk for an OC is insane.
November 7th, 2013 at 1:03 AM ^
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