Brady Hoke B1G Presser Notes Comment Count

Tim

A recap of Brady Hoke's time in front of the cameras (and also off-camera media questions) at Big Ten Media Days today.

It's humbling to represent Michigan in the greatest conference in the country. It's the Wolverines' 132nd year of football. "I don't think we're rebuilding. Period." The players understand what Michigan means, and the team doesn't put stock into a rebuilding year.

The players are doing what they've been asked, but the team is still a long way from where we need to be. How you go through camp (attitude, toughness, discipline, accountability) will lead to how the team performs.

The expectation is always that seniors will lead the team. Fall camp is "funnest time of the year." Hoke thinks the guys will show up on August 8th in shape to play.

Fortunate at Michigan to have several great rivalries. "The rivalry with Ohio is as big a rivalry as there is in the sport." If you don't get excited for that game "you may not be human." Hoke says the team understands the importance of that game, and they talk about it all year. OSU is not a wounded team right now. They're a tremendous program with great tradition. Michigan has 42 B10 championships. "When you have schools that have those legacies, I don't see anybody as wounded." It doesn't diminish the rivalry that both teams have taken reputation hits recently.

Hoke is excited for Denard's potential in the offense. He's done a tremendous job so far, and ran the same offense in high school that he'll be running now. The mechanics of taking snap, play action, etc. is not new to him. Borges has done a tremendous job with him.

"We're smart enough to have elements that he does well from what he did in the past in the spread in our offense." They'll adjust the proportion of spread and pro-style elements in the offense depending on how the team executes in fall camp. They still need to worry about finding a tailback, which should happen within the first 2-3 weeks of the fall.

Why would you worry about changing schemes, when they were so successful last season? "Two sides of the ball in the game of football." As a defensive coach, when you play against a pro-style offense in practice, you build a toughness. This is a physical league, and you need to stop physical offenses.

The excitement of adding Nebraska's tradition, adding a championship game, brings even more fanaticism for the Big Ten conference. Even if it means playing OSU twice? "That game always needs to be played the last week in November. That's tradition. I think there are certain traditions you don't mess with." If you happen to play them twice in a row, so be it. It happens in other sports all the time.

Mattison doesn't just bring X and O benefits. Knowledge, teaching. "That's first and foremost: you've gotta be a tremendous teacher." There's a scheme knowledge that is good, but it's the relationships with 18-23yo kids, and motivation skills all tremendous. If the staff or head coach aren't thinking of the best interest of the kids, they aren't doing a good job.

Hasn't made decision on Stonum. There's no timeframe for making a decision, and he's not worried about team chemistry in waiting to see if Darryl does all the right things to earn his place back on the team. Redshirting this season is possible, but there's too much that can happen in between to be thinking about that.

As for other wideouts, Junior [Hemingway] and Jerald [Robinson] have done a nice job. Odoms "brings a lot of life to us." Presents problems in the slot.

Mike Martin, Ryan Van Bergen, and Will Campbell have worked hard this summer, along with Craig Roh. The seniors are "doing the things that seniors should do."

JT Floyd should be healthy enough to practice right away.

Recruiting: "This might sounds arrogant, but if it is, it is: We're Michigan." Great history, tremendous staff. lifeblood of a program is the guys who come in. Wants toughness, team players, etc. The coaches out on the road do a great job, but Michigan sells itself.

Recruiting is going well, but Signing Day is still a long way away. "We've got 5 or 6 left that we need to be a little picky about." They'll probably sign more than 25 prospects. Recruiting is strong in Ohio, but it's always been like that. Possibly started with Bo Schembechler's roots in Ohio.

Big House night game. "We're looking toward September 3rd first and foremost." First night game with a rival, but the place is going to be jumping with excitement, looking forward to it.

On Kellen Jones: "He's just not enrolled in school." There are no other players that he knows of who won't be on the roster this fall.

Hoke got a bit of time off, but he wasn't able to "turn off" coach mode. He has 115 sons to worry about every day.

Closes with "Thank you, and Go Blue."

Comments

Mr. Yost

July 28th, 2011 at 2:24 PM ^

Sounds like we're going to run more shotgun and spread than people think.

So many people got caught up in the spring game where we were vanilla...AND where we were working on our weakness to get better. We did that all spring, work on the part where we needed to improve.

I'd like to see the difference in fall camp, from everything I've heard, the spread will still be there. But our coaches had an entire SUMMER to study it and learn it. How were they going to teach it in the spring when they didn't know it as good as the players?

Now parts of the spread will come back, the team has been working on "manball" and the power/pro-style game.

Anybody else excited to see the end result?

wolverine1987

July 28th, 2011 at 8:15 PM ^

I can't wait either and hope we do. But I fear that based upon last year that our best tailback is still our QB. I hope with Denard running much less this year that the running game isn't disadvantaged. But fingers crossed, hopefully someone will step up

ND Sux

July 29th, 2011 at 7:39 AM ^

our lack of talent at RB is wildly exaggerated.  In truth, we have a decent stable with a nice mix of speed vs. man-ball types, and everything in between.  I'm kinda pulling for Michael Shaw to have a great senior year...soooo many injuries have prevented him from hitting full stride.  Shaw is fast, and could excel behind tremendous line play.  There are things I like about all the guys though.  Smith has been a warrior.

Blue in Yarmouth

July 29th, 2011 at 9:04 AM ^

I think it is overblown as well. I look at our RB's and see some real talent at that position. They weren't great fits for the spread (other than Smith perhaps) but guys like Shaw, Cox, Hopkins and Rawls are guys that should excel in a prostyle offense.

I have particularly high hope for Shaw (as you seem to). This guy has size and great speed. His problem to this point has been staying healthy. Last year he had some great runs where he would drag defenders for numerous extra yards and break tackles pretty regularly. 

I remember one game (I think it was against Ill.) where he took 2 defenders on his back about 8 yards across the goal line. He really showed alot last year and answered a lot of his critics IMHE. The only thing he needs to prove now is that he can stay healthy, and if he can do that, I think we will have a stud at RB this year. 

Mr. Yost

August 1st, 2011 at 8:22 PM ^

After one big run against the 2nd team defense in the Spring Game?

Mike Cox and Jake Ryan were world beaters in the Spring Game vs. the 2nd team and everyone wants to act like they're Bo Jackson and Lawrence Taylor in Super Tecmo Bowl.

Pasadena_Blue

July 28th, 2011 at 2:28 PM ^

Can't wait for the season to get underway so i can take a shot every time Hoke uses the word Tremendous!  Going to make for some oustanding afternoons of college football

In reply to by bubblelevel

psychomatt

July 28th, 2011 at 3:24 PM ^

We've beaten them four of the past five, including the past two years with relatively poor UM teams. A loss would be disappointing due to the high profile nature of the first night game at the Big House, but it's unrealistic to expect us to beat ND 100% of the time.

As for ND, another loss to UM would be a major setback in the "BK is an elite coach and will restore the Irish to past glory" storyline. It also would almost guarantee at least three losses and make it unlikely they will make a BCS bowl. FWIW, unless current Vegas odds change, they also will be favored. The Irish have far more at stake this year than we do. A ND loss will cause a minor meltdown in South Bend.

bklein09

July 28th, 2011 at 3:47 PM ^

I agree with this epinion 100%.

I desperately want to beat ND this (and every) year, especially because of it being the first night game and the fact that I am flying 2/3 of the way across the country to be there in attendance.  

But this game does not make or break our season in the same way that it potentially could for the domers. 

The majority of the college football world is expecting them to come in and beat us...in our own house...in front of the largest crowd in history.

Sounds like all the pressure is on them, IMO. 

If they lose to us, it will be a huge uphill battle for them to reach expectations, which this season are BCS or bust from what I am hearing. 

If we lose that game, it will be dissappointing for certain. But we still have the entire Big Ten season to get back on track. That's one of the benefits of playing in a conference. Plus, in general the expectations for the Wolverines are much lower this year. 

The meltdown in domer country if they lose to us will be of epic proportions, and I can't wait to see it!

SC Wolverine

July 28th, 2011 at 2:36 PM ^

I agree that we may be vulnerable against ND so early in a new regime and system.  But we must pummel Sparty.  If we do that and win the games we should win, we will be all right this year.  Beating tsio would be spectacular, but we can lose to both ND and OSU and have a good season this year (only).

Yostbound and Down

July 28th, 2011 at 4:28 PM ^

Without beating ohio when they are at their weakest moment in years (I dare not mention how long it's been) I don't think Hoke can call this season a success. Sure beating Little Broski would be tremendous, and I'd rather beat them than Notre Dame; I just find Sparty fans so much more damn annoying than the Leprechauns, plus it's vital for in-state recruiting, plus we need to put Sparty back in their place, which in turn helps us in national recruiting and perception. The tone of the national pundits is that MSU is now on par with UM, which is devestating to future recruiting efforts landing top prospects. That has to be corrected.

But The Game is what Hoke was brought back to win. Michigan also has to concern itself with beating the Spartans, but it's been dominated by tsio recently. And the perception is that the rivalry with tsio is the biggest part of the job that RR didn't get or comprehend. So to bring Michigan back to the level of competition in the B1G that we all want, that means beating tsio (at home) this season is top priority. With the three rivalries Michigan has, I'd consider going 2 for 3 a success. Just one of the two must be ohio.

Bodogblog

July 28th, 2011 at 5:39 PM ^

The tone of the national pundits is that MSU is now on par with UM, which is devestating to future recruiting efforts landing top prospects.

 

I don't know any national pundit that considers MSU on par with UM.  None in their right mind.  They have a good team this year, and are coming off a good season (for them) last year.  People are speaking about the team's performance, not the program.  MSU isn't close in terms of program prestige.  But yes, we need to gd beat them.

stubob

July 28th, 2011 at 2:31 PM ^

After hearing that quote "He's done a tremendous job so far, and ran the same offense in high school that he'll be running now."

and going back to his recuiting video, I'm nothing but excited to see what the offense does this fall.

74polSKA

July 28th, 2011 at 2:42 PM ^

I was never panicked but that is reassuring.  I just keep thinking about the amazing jump DR made from year 1 to 2.  Hey is obviously a tireless worker and intelligent player.  I think his open field running will explode on broken pass plays as well as called runs.

Tha Quiet Storm

July 28th, 2011 at 2:31 PM ^

"On Kellen Jones: "He's just not enrolled in school." There are no other players that he knows of who won't be on the roster this fall."

So what exactly does that mean? Is there a chance that he enrolls in the winter or next summer, or is it 100% in stone that he will never play here?

AZBlue

July 28th, 2011 at 3:00 PM ^

The equivalent of "I only talk about Michigan players".

As curious as I am to know the true story on KJ, I respect his privacy and apparently so does coach H.

 

PS - As I mentioned in another thread Coach looks thinner as well.

BigBlue62

July 28th, 2011 at 2:32 PM ^

I love Hoke's demeanor.  Respectful and well spoken but with just a small pinch of cockyness.  Good stuff.

Can't wait for the season.  I think the D is going to surprise people (in a good way, of course)Go blue.