Big Ten Media Days: Stephen Schilling Comment Count

Tim

steve-schilling-yoRound Two of roundtable interviews. Previously: Troy Woolfolk drops bombs. Up next: Stephen Schilling.

The Team

  • Rodriguez tells the players on the team not to worry about exterior drama. He wants them to focus on football, and he can worry about outside factors. Everyone tries to ignore what's said in the media sometimes, or have thick skin about it.
  • Schilling doesn't think the outside drama has worn on Rodriguez too much. He's a strong coach, and can get through it.
  • The struggling the last couple years has been tough on everyone. It's been humbling, because most people on the team (Rodriguez included) have had success everywhere they've been. It's tough, because nobody commits to Michigan expecting to experience a losing season.
  • The opener has a bit more excitement than it does in some years. Last year probably taught everyone to not put too much stock in the first game.
  • Iowa and Ohio State are two games that Schilling's looking forward to, because he likes to measure himself against the best. Whoever comes out on top in the league has earned it. Michigan needs to hold up their end of the bargain to keep the OSU rivalry meaningful.
  • The first couple years, there were a few guys who weren't able to buy in. Some of them left to transfer to other schools, etc. Now, everyone is bought in.
  • There have been several moments that could have gone the other way that would have made the last two seasons very different. The goal-line stand against Illinois was a big regret for the offensive line. The MSU loss was easy to get over, because it was just the first loss and most of the season was still ahead of them.

Personnel & Schemes

  • The team is much more experienced in year three. It's easier for the coaches to add new schemes, because the players know what they're doing now. "Every year, you get more comfortable with the coach, and he gets more comfortable with his players." There should be an even bigger jump between years 2 & 3 than there was last year.
  • One reason Denard was able to improve so much in the spring was that he got to fly under the radar. There wasn't as much attention and pressure on him as there was on Tate.
  • Taylor Lewan and Patrick Omameh are best friends, so it's funny that they've emerged at about the same time. Both guys are really physical, maybe to a fault sometimes, because they might risk injury. Both are athletic, and should be good additions.
  • David Molk's injury last year helped a couple guys get some reps in the spring, especially Rocko Khoury and Christian Pace, and also Elliott Mealer. Pace has a great work ethic, and his performance this spring showed that he could be a budding star. Still, it will be good to play next to Molk again.
  • There's potential for the offensive line to become dominant. They've been great at times, but they need to make that dominance more consistent.
  • The defense's ability to play multiple fronts on defense will make them harder to prepare for. The offense also benefits, because they get to practice against different types in fronts.

Leadership

  • The seniors had five or six meetings to get on the same page for leadership purposes. They wanted to be sure they were all leading with good continuity. The biggest thing is to lead by example.
  • There's a sense of urgency among the seniors, and they have a few special things planned for camp "that I'm not really gonna talk about."
  • The run up State Street last week was the senior-led run for the last workout of the year. It's a team bonding experience. Everyone had a fun time running up to the Diag, but a few guys took the bus back when the run was over.

Comments

buckley

August 4th, 2010 at 2:12 PM ^

"The run up State Street last week was the senior-led run for the last workout of the year. It's a team bonding experience. Everyone had a fun time running up to the Diag, but a few guys took the bus back when the run was over."

What is it, like a 1.5 miles to the Diag?  They couldn't run back?  Plus it's downhill coming back to the practice facility.  Ah, kids.

Firstbase

August 4th, 2010 at 2:58 PM ^

Give me a break! I'm 50 now and still run 3 miles daily. I can't believe 18-20 year olds can't jog (or even walk) that small distance. 

Barwis needs to have them work on endurance training!

Having said all that, if they win 8 or 9 games this year, they can take the bus from the field to the locker room for all I care!

Beavis

August 4th, 2010 at 3:32 PM ^

For a big (possibly fat) lineman, 3.0 miles is a long way to go. 

They aren't built for long distances.  They are built for 5-10 yard spurts, where they need only have the endurance to regain their breath by the next snap.

Although you can make jokes about their weight, their pure strength and quickness (in 5-10 yard intervals) is certainly "more athletic" than your 3 mile run/jog on a daily basis.

Farnn

August 4th, 2010 at 4:30 PM ^

It's not even 1.5 miles, more like a bit under a mile if googlemaps is correct.  At that distance its faster to walk anyway than it is to take the bus.

michgoblue

August 4th, 2010 at 2:13 PM ^

Nice, uneventful press conference.  Well done by Schilling.    Troy, love ya and all, but that is the proper way to speak to the media.  Just talk about people "buying in" a "sense of urgency" and drop a few names of players who might emerge. 

MGoShoe

August 4th, 2010 at 2:20 PM ^

...recap of Schilling's time in the barrel over at maizenbrew.com.  A sampling:

Schilling came right out and said he's enjoyed playing Rodriguez "a lot." Looking back on things Schilling said he had the honor to play for a Michigan coaching legend in Lloyd Carr, and expects that some day people will look back on Rodriguez the same way. Schilling said Rodriguez will probably be remembered as one of the Michigan's best coaches when he's done as well.

Steve stressed that the seniors in this class want to make sure that they're all on the same page as they mentor the new and younger players. He said that they're all leading from same view point, making sure that there aren't 20 different guys telling the younger players 20 different things. Everyone is on the same page, and that's helped a lot already. Last year's start and finish were two different emotions. There seemed to be a snowball effect as things went downhill last year, and they weren't able to correct it. This year the seniors are meeting and will talk with the coaching staff to make sure that nothing like that happens again.

Tim: I'm looking forward to your recap of the basketball events today.  Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

varsityblue The grind continues: Basketball press conference and practice availability this afternoon. Been a busy couple weeks for me.

ish

August 4th, 2010 at 2:54 PM ^

looks like the prediction that pace would be a great fit despite his relative lack of guru approval is going to be right.

SlymCyke

August 4th, 2010 at 4:03 PM ^

Looks like he's telling someone they're in for a world of hurt (I'm sure what he'd  really say would be censored)!

I hope he has a really good year.  Everything I see/hear about him suggests he's a really good guy, a hard worker, and a leader in the offensive line.  I'd really like to see him have a lot of success this year not only for our team, but hopefully for a bright future for him in the NFL.

cargo

August 4th, 2010 at 6:48 PM ^

There's a sense of urgency among the seniors, and they have a few special things planned for camp "that I'm not really gonna talk about."

 

I want to know what they have planned

bluesouth

August 4th, 2010 at 9:02 PM ^

that run to the Diag and subsequent bus ride after a full work out?  If it were after a work out or 7 on 7 or other unobserved practice that may explain the bus ride for some.