Monday Presser 9-8-14: Brady Hoke
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News bullets and other items:
- Hoke will tell us if someone is out for the year. That’s about all you can expect as far as injury updates go.
- Graham Glasgow is taking snaps at center and right guard.
- Hoke thought the team prepared well last week.
- He emphasized red zone defense and finishing drives as the two areas that most need to improve.
- Matt Wile and Kenny Allen will compete for kicking duties.
Opening statement:
“Thanks for coming. You know, as far as where we’re at as a team, we went back to work yesterday and the attitude and how our guys have stayed together, the leadership throughout the team has been awfully positive. I like the work ethic and I still like the work ethic from a physical and mental standpoint. You always evaluate where you're at and what you need to do and what could you have done differently and we've done that. We've talked about it from coaching staff-wise, from player-wise. Preparation was awesome throughout the week. It was as good as I've been around. Preparation in Michigan City at the hotel was awesome. Feel very good about our football team in a lot of ways. We've got to prepare. We got to execute a little better but as far as where this team's at I'm excited. We understand that our goals are still out there and now we've got to turn to Miami and be back at home with our students and the Michigan fans and go back to work."
How does the defensive approach have to change when you lose some key people like out of the secondary? I think you talked about when you can press man and when you had to back off of that.
“Well, I do think you've got to know your personnel. Number one, you want to make sure you put your personnel in positions so that they can be successful. In the second half we played more zone and from a defensive standpoint there were some things that we need to be tighter on. Some technique issues that we've got to clean up. Sometimes that happens when guys gets in certain environments where your fundamentals and techniques are everything. I thought we lost that and some of that is the environment that you're in. You either speed up – and I think we did that a little bit because of that or you just lose your fundamentals and techniques. So to answer your question yeah, you look at it and you change it a little bit."
Talk about having Jake Butt back and what his ceiling is. You look at his tools and where his ceiling is; where might he go?
"Well, you know, Jake was kind of a gametime decision in some ways and didn't play a lot of snaps but we'll see how he progresses. I think we’re going to be very cognizant of where he is from a physical standpoint and what's too much. We do the same thing in practice, what's too much and what's not. The technology today with some of the GPS things we’re into teaches a lot and you learn a lot. Health and wellness issues are part of that and talking about Jake is making sure we are doing the right things with him."
Talk about his…
"Well, we think he’s a very good football player. He ended up last year very well. I think he's learned a lot and he's one of those guys who is on the leadership council that isn't afraid to, even though he's a young guy, speak his mind and give his true reactions and feelings."
Talk about some of the positives and the improvement in the run defense.
"Well, the front seven I thought he did a pretty good job from that standpoint. Guys that we rotated throughout in the middle of the defense, I think they were aggressive. I thought they were gaps sound. I think Willie [Henry] may have had the most production of all of them but he and Ryan [Glasgow] as a group in there, I thought they did a nice job. That was a physical offensive line and so we got to take from what they did last week into this week and improve upon that."
Devin Funchess- we saw him leave the game and come back in. How’s he doing?
"He's fine. I'm not going to talk about any injuries but he's fine."
Did he workout and everything yesterday?
"He was in the building yesterday, yeah."
[After THE JUMP: pointed words about a lack of faith in the Big Ten, Hoke’s message for Michigan fans, and more player-specific non-injury-related questions]
You mentioned Willie Henry. Seems like he’s come a long way. Talk about his development and what is it that he’s doing particularly well?
"You know, I think it's a maturation process with Willie. He played some a year ago. In fact, he didn't play at all in this game a year ago and so he kind of had to earn his way back on and by the end of the year he was playing more but it's more his maturity. I think it is with all of the young guys. They really don't understand how to prepare totally. You talk about the tape and you talk about your work ethic. You know, you have a guy like Tom Brady when he came and spoke to the team and talked about what he does. Elvis Grbac has done the same thing. Richard Sherman – there’s a video that he talks about how he prepares every week and fundamentals and techniques being sound. We show that, talk to guys about it trying to help younger guys maybe mature a little faster in their execution and preparation but I think Willie's done that. And Willie might be the strongest guy on the football team overall but he still needs to separate himself more from where we are at."
With Jabrill and Ray [Taylor] both having injuries in the game what’s the situation this week? At what point do you need to know if they’re able to go to determine if they can play?
"I think it's a day-by-day thing."
There's not a deadline?
"No. No. It's a day by day thing. Obviously if they don't do much then we'll see what's best for the team, number one. If it's best for the team it'll be the best for them."
You mentioned younger players a little bit. In terms of rebounding from a loss like this, how important is it to tell them not to hang their heads too low? How do you get them motivated and not sulking for too long?
"Well, number one, I think they're pretty resilient. I think all 18- to 23-year-olds are pretty resilient. I think the other thing is from the leadership that we have within, the older guys. It's been addressed. We've got to learn from it and make sure that things that we can handle as coaches that we're handling those and then worry about the preparation again and the execution."
With Jabrill, he’s such an intense guy, he’s excitable and everything else. Has he been frustrated with this? Has it been difficult for him to sit? I mean, he dressed and it looked like he wanted to play. Has it been hard?
"Well, I think he's a competitor. I think we've got 105 competitors on our team so I don't think there's any doubt that he wants to play. I think it's part of what his DNA is and what he likes to do."
With the run defense and the pass defense, I think you guys got a bigger push on the run defense at least from the way it seemed. Was there something that was working better for the ground game as opposed to getting pressure on Golson?
"Number one, if you go through the tape and I know some of you do that and play coach, but some of the three-step drop game you're not going to do much with anyway. The ball is going to get out. The best way to do that is not to rush and to put your hands up, to be honest with you. And then he got out of some situations. From a run defense standpoint, I think in some ways we expected us to play that way versus the run. The biggest thing for us defensively: we have not created any opportunities for our offense. We haven't created field position. We haven't created any turnovers and that's as much as anything. So what's that mean? We’re not hitting the quarterback enough? Yeah, some of it's that. We’re not forcing bad throws. Not playing tight enough on those bad throws."
We’ve talked a little bit about Raymon and Jabrill, but just from a depth standpoint in the Appalachian State game that seemed to be a big strength, how many guys you could play. How does that effect what you guys want to do back there when there are presumably starters who aren’t going to be able to play?
"Yeah, the depth issues I think you always have. That's part of it. I think from a standpoint of where we’re at and where we want to be there's some guys like Jourdan Lewis and Stribling, Terry Richardson. We talk about the expectations are for the position and always have been and how they prepare is going to be really important."
You talked last week about the Notre Dame game being kind of a measuring-stick game. You talked about psyche and work ethic. Where do you think this team is on the football field? How good is this team right now?
"If you judge it from that game we did some things very well and did some things not very well. We had eight tackles for a loss defensively. That's the most we've had since UConn. 54 yards rushing, held them to that. Ran the ball efficiently at times and in spurts. What I think we didn't do: didn't play well enough in the red zone defensively and we didn't finish drives and when you have opportunities to put points on the board we've got to be able to do that. You have a nine play drive and you don't finish – that gets a little disheartening. The good thing was they stayed together and they kept going forward."
A lot of Michigan fans are disheartened, to use your word, with the loss. Is that your message to them right now?
"Our goal is still there. Our goal, and I've stated it 1,000 times, is to win the Big Ten championship so that's out there. Now, do we have to get better and work hard? Yeah, we do."
Offensive line- you’re happy with Glasgow at right [guard]?
"I thought when you take the film and look at it if you know what the play call is or the check to the play call and you go through it, or who's in charge of what protection-wise and all that, I thought they hung in there. Now, did they play perfect? No. They don't play perfect. At the same time, there were some guys playing against pretty good guys that I thought was encouraging."
When the game was out of hand late in the game you kept a lot of your starters in. Is there any thought about injury at that point or concern? How do you balance that?
"I think that's a delicate balance to some degree. I don't know if you really are someone who competes, is the game ever over? I know I played Ball State and we scored 21 points in a minute and six seconds one year."
In your mind where’s that line?
"I don't know if I can answer that because that's not how I look at things from a competitive standpoint. You've got a point there. There isn't any doubt that you don't want to be too prideful and too bullheaded and all that kind of stuff but we were still in the football game."
Referencing running backs, in week one we saw Derrick [Green] and DeVeon [Smith] run quite hard, a lot of drive behind them. It would appear that they were running quite hard against Notre Dame but the production wasn’t there. What was the root cause…
"The root cause was Notre Dame, right? It's a different team, so that was a little different. I think both of them play-wise played, I want to say, and I'm not saying carries but play-wise I think one was 25 plays and one was 26 plays. Something like that. You know, you've got to give Notre Dame some credit. I mean, if not I think you're being foolish."
What happened with why you weren’t able to create for them against Notre Dame? Other than Notre Dame being a good team or a better team than Appalachian State is there something you can cite? The offensive line?
"No. I mean, they're playing against better guys."
When you went back and looked at the film with Devin Gardner, what are you seeing there? You talked a little bit about it after the game but habit-wise, some of the turnovers, what are you seeing?
"Well, you're seeing he understands and realizes that when he’s going to run the ball we've got to have better ball security. He understands that as he pre-snap reads something there’s also a progression from there that he's got to do a better job with. He also made about five throws in there that were pretty special."
After the second turnover he came out and it looked like you went over and spoke with him. What’s your message to Devin in the middle of the game when some of those things are going wrong?
"Well, it certainly is that we believe in him. It certainly is go through your progressions. I think that's one thing that's great about having Nuss down on the field."
You say every year that the goal is the win the Big Ten Championship. Given the struggles for the conference over the first few weeks does that give you some sort of comfort that all of these teams are improving or have to?
"Well, you're probably one of those on the bandwagon that our conference isn't very good and I would tell you that that's opinions that I don't really think much of it because I think we've got a great conference. I think you see the teams in our conference and the competitive nature that they have. Now, do we need to win games like the game that we just played in? No question. We've got to worry about Miami of Ohio. More importantly, we've got to worry about Michigan because that's where it all starts."
You kind of already said what your message is to the team. As far as the fans that watch from the outside and see some of the similar issues that they saw last season, what would you say to them and how concerning is it as a coaching staff?
"if they’re truly fans they'll believe in these kids and what they've done and the hard work that they've put in. If they’re not, they won't."
One more question about the offensive line. Is Kalis, I’m not asking specific injury, [but] is he healthy?
"He dressed. He went through warm-ups and all that."
But you feel more comfortable with Graham at right guard why?
"Well, I think compete and challenge. So by the end of the week could it be different? It could.”
And is Glasgow still competing at center?
“We’re getting him reps there, yeah. We’ve got a good rotation, a good mix of what we’re doing.”
On [Matt] Wile: last week you said it wasn’t a competition. Is it now?
“Yeah, that’s a good question when you say it that way. I think Matt, I’ve got a lot of faith in Matt. We’ve got to get him straightened away. To be honest, the right hash a little bit was a little bit of a problem for him. He got it straightened out. I think the second one, if you watch it he slipped with his plant foot which caused it [to go] low and everything else. Like anybody they’re going to compete and challenge and Kenny [Allen] we’re going to give some kicks to and we’ll see who we feel most comfortable with, who can help Michigan win, and that’s who will kick for us.”
We saw all the guys who were dressed and I know you don’t want to discuss injuries, but is Desmond’s a long-term injury?
“You’re asking me something that I won’t answer.”
Well, it seems like it’s a different situation than the other guys.
“If there was a guy who was out for the year I’d tell you. Let’s put it that way.”
September 8th, 2014 at 7:28 PM ^
I think Brian may have been a tad overly optimistic about the non-Funchess portion of that position group. Seems a more likely cause of the problem than a sudden shyness on the part of DG. ND jumped every short route and Darboh/Chesson never threatened them over the top. Hard for any QB when that is the case.
September 8th, 2014 at 8:58 PM ^
I can't quite put my finger on it but with the exception of a few bullets, Gardner's throws just looked slow. ND's DBs didn't look like they were jumping the routes so much as reacting to them; on some of the INTs they were behind or short and the WR was coming back to it playing DB. I also remember some replays where the receiver was just standing waiting for the ball to arrive. It's not like Gardner didn't have time to throw and he's thrown much harder with his feet off the ground.
September 8th, 2014 at 8:31 PM ^
Our best defense was the 7 balls that nd couldnt catch all by there self.
September 8th, 2014 at 9:13 PM ^
September 8th, 2014 at 10:44 PM ^
Every qb looks amazing against us!
Grrrrrrrr
September 9th, 2014 at 9:09 AM ^
3-7 in their last 10. Not sure what more needs to be said.
September 8th, 2014 at 6:21 PM ^
Anybody know who it was who's "on the bandwagon that our conference isn't very good"?
September 8th, 2014 at 6:34 PM ^
Everybody who has watched 12 or 13 out of the 14 teams in this conference?
September 9th, 2014 at 10:52 PM ^
I meant, in this specific instance, who the reporter was to whom Hoke said that.
September 8th, 2014 at 9:24 PM ^
Literally anyone paying attention to Big Ten football at this point
September 8th, 2014 at 6:21 PM ^
September 8th, 2014 at 6:23 PM ^
Let's go hit it with sticks!
I want to touch on Brady's comment regarding "true fans" again. In thread dedicated to that quote, lots of people defended Hoke, saying that taken in context of the question, he said the right thing. After actually reading the entire exchange, I don't feel that way at all. I don't have a huge problem with him saying it, but lets be intelectually honest here at least. There was no mention of Twitter comments directed at players, nor even suggestion that the fans aren't "behind" the players.
So. Where did people get the idea to straight up lie, and bring Twitter comments into the discussion, and further, to imply that was what Hoke was directly responding to? That is patently untrue, and I think people should be honest. Otherwise wtf do we even talk about things for?
/end rant.
Thoughts?
September 8th, 2014 at 6:29 PM ^
No replies, but you got the negs. How about another?
September 8th, 2014 at 7:02 PM ^
You kind of already said what your message is to the team. As far as the fans that watch from the outside and see some of the similar issues that they saw last season, what would you say to them and how concerning is it as a coaching staff?
"if they’re truly fans they'll believe in these kids and what they've done and the hard work that they've put in. If they’re not, they won't."
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Comments like these are never received well by fans - especially when things aren't going great. He dodges the question by using the players as a shield. It was a question about how the coaching staff might be concerned with this. I believe in these kids, Brady - I'm starting to not believe in you...
I don't put the work in that the players do, and I am sure that all that hard work they do makes them even more passionate than I am. I had a broken feeling sitting in the stands Saturday night and it was only surpassed by the broken looks on the players faces.
Ask one of the players how they felt after the game, I'm sure they would not say "We played great. We were well prepared."
This isn't going away with coachspeak, so it is fairly irrelevant to get too bent out of shape by his obvious attempt at keeping it all together.
Did anyone see Bo Pelini's presser after the close win over McNeese St? He admitted they were outplayed and outcoached. It was actually kind of relieving to hear.
September 8th, 2014 at 7:21 PM ^
September 8th, 2014 at 7:35 PM ^
Fact: Fans that bash players on twitter are douchebags.
Fact: Hoke was asked if the coaching staff was concerned about similar issues from last year.
Fact: These two things are separate because it wasn't the question that was asked.
If they had asked him how he felt about players being bashed on twitter, I would support his response 100%. That wasn't what he was asked though. He was asked if the coaching staff was concerned about similar issues from last year. I get it, you read the article linked in the other thread and are trying to connect the dots. I don't interpret the same way you do, but like I said above - getting bent out of shape about coach speak is pointless. Just start winning and looking like you have a clue and you can respond like Saban does at a presser (a callous ass) and nobody will care what answer you give.
September 8th, 2014 at 7:51 PM ^
September 8th, 2014 at 7:54 PM ^
I'm still not seeing how you go from this question to twitter criticism. Like, it makes no sense.
September 8th, 2014 at 8:01 PM ^
Like, what?
I disagree that what you say was the question he answered but I can see why you say it from above.
That's some serious mental gymnastics you're doing over there.
September 8th, 2014 at 8:18 PM ^
September 8th, 2014 at 9:08 PM ^
I replied to your comment on the previous page here, but I'll watch that part of the video. I agree that adds some validity to what you're saying if that is how it went down.
September 8th, 2014 at 8:23 PM ^
I just watched it and it was transcribed perfectly. I think you're reading too much into this from the article that was linked in the other thread. That article took his comment out of context. In context - it was as transcribed here on mgoblog.
September 8th, 2014 at 8:28 PM ^
Also - he better get serious about some of these questions. It has hit the national media now. Winning games is the only thing that will keep this from boiling over.
http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/09/07/brady-hokes-stubbor…
September 8th, 2014 at 8:38 PM ^
September 8th, 2014 at 8:47 PM ^
1. If you were asked if you were concerned about things repeating themselves this year from a coaching standpoint, what would your answer as a fan be?
2. If you are concerned at this point in the season, what will fix that for you?
Do you think that makes you any less of a fan if you answered 1. Yes and 2. Winning?
September 8th, 2014 at 8:59 PM ^
September 8th, 2014 at 9:04 PM ^
September 8th, 2014 at 10:38 PM ^
September 8th, 2014 at 6:27 PM ^
is trying to keep his team confident and a fan base from harrassing him at the next game - possibly both. For the sake of the student-athletes, I hope he's right.
September 8th, 2014 at 6:27 PM ^
No MGoQuestions?
September 8th, 2014 at 6:58 PM ^
September 8th, 2014 at 8:03 PM ^
I didn't even realize.
You have a nice, um, avatar. Don't take that the wrong way, just an observation.
September 8th, 2014 at 8:48 PM ^
September 8th, 2014 at 6:28 PM ^
It's basically just a press release. I could do it.
"We emphasize toughness...I thought we prepared well....well he's a competitor....we've got a great plan for next game....I'm not going to talk to you about injuries...."
September 8th, 2014 at 6:36 PM ^
They might as well put these in the 'Diaries' section then waste front page space.
September 8th, 2014 at 6:40 PM ^
...that's one thing I wish people would let go. I would be happy if he farted the national anthems of the members of NATO at every press conference if he were winning most of his games.
September 8th, 2014 at 6:51 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
September 8th, 2014 at 7:03 PM ^
September 8th, 2014 at 6:30 PM ^
No injury, prepare and execute, excessive drivel.... Gotcha.
September 8th, 2014 at 6:32 PM ^
wellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
the execution was good
wellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
i thought we prepared pretty well
welllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
who wants a hot dog?
September 8th, 2014 at 6:35 PM ^
As a "true fan" of the team, excuse me but fuck you for making that comment Brady Hoke. That is all.
September 9th, 2014 at 7:45 AM ^
I could not agree more, and love the way you told it like it is.
The fans pay Brady Hoke's salary, and if he cannot support them in the same fashion that he supports his players, then he is in for a rough ride.
He is in for one regardless. Dude can't coach at this level. Not happening.
September 9th, 2014 at 9:40 AM ^
I have been as critical of Hoke as anyone on this blog over the course of his time here but I have to say people finding an issue with this are really grasping at straws IMHE. The way I took it was he was saying that REAL or TRUE fans will support the players no matter what, and he's right. Also, I don't think he was talking to anyone on this board when he made that statement. He was saying if you stopped supporitng the players at any point then you aren't true fans.
He didn't say "If fans question the coaching staff, they aren't true fans" or "If fans hate Dave Brandon they aren't true fans" or "If fans hate losing, they aren't true fans". He said if they don't support the players they aren't true fans.
Personally I haven't seen many people on here that would fal into that catergory (maybe that clown who kept trying to insinuate that Gardner is only playing because we're all racists). We're all troubled by what we're seeing and have all questions the coaching ad nauseum, but I don't see anyone bashing the players which is what I think he's referring to.
I get people are anygry, I am too. I also understand people finding fauth with Hoke, I have since he has come here. What I don't get is why people try and personalize everything this guy says. We don't need to give him a pass for his performance as a coach, but picking apart his every word is getting a little childish. There is plenty of REAl reason to be upset with Brady Hoke, this isn't one of them in my humble opinion.
September 8th, 2014 at 6:39 PM ^
People are pissed, but you all need to chill the f*** out.
Replace "believe in" with "support" and there's not even a controversy. Hell look at my signature, Fielding Yost said the same thing.
All he's saying is if you're a true fan...you'll still support the team and the players on it. If you're not a true fan, you'll jump ship and you won't support the players, their hardwork, or the team.
Agree or disagree, but this isn't some kind of crazy ass comment. Some of you all are putting it on a Pelini type level just because you're mad.
If Hoke said this after winning the national championship, a few people would call him arrogant for saying "see! I told you so!" and the majority of the fanbase wouldn't even pay it any mind.
Non issue. Just go win some f-ing football games and stop wasting everyone's time with these meaningless press conferences.
September 8th, 2014 at 6:49 PM ^
Speaking for myself, the frustration is with how standoff-ish, almost condescending that he is towards the fanbase. It feels like he's telling us, "I don't need your support and confidence. The players do."
Which of course is complete bullshit. Without the support of the fanbase his ass is out of a job.
September 8th, 2014 at 6:56 PM ^
September 8th, 2014 at 6:51 PM ^
An answer of "well, we obviously still have a long way to go, and the players need the support of the fans throughout this process" would be infinitely better.
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