Delaware State Postgame Presser Notes
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Rich Rod
- Liked opportunity to play in front of 106k, and the fans supported the team, despite lack of an exciting opponent.
- Liked that a bunch of older guys were able to get their first real playing time. Even ST starters didn't play in the second half. Guys are happy because their teammates got to play. So many close games prevents quality reps for the depth. A lot of fun to let the scout team guys get real playing time.
- Carlos should be cleared up by Monday. Molk might be back for the PSU game, and he should be able to practice this week. No new injuries happened today.
- Tate practiced well during the week. They wanted to give him some game reps, but the first couple series went well, and they didn't need him. They knew tuesday that Tate would be able to play. If he was needed all game, he could have (but they planned on playing Denard). Wanted to get Denard some passing reps. Sheridan will be a great coach some day. Cone knows the system, great to get him some reps.
- Planned to give Shaw and Smith the most carries. Wanted to give Kevin a few as well. How importat was it to get the backups some carries? You need at least 3-4 tailbacks, because they often play 2 at once, etc. It's critical to get the lower guys some reps. VS and MS physical for their size. Cox is on the scout team, but he got a chance to prove himself today.
- Beginning of the year, this game would be used for evaluating. Middle of the year, it's a rest week, and time to give reps to depth players.
- James Rogers moved to CB this week. Asked a couple weeks ago if he could help out on defense.
- Wanted to run the offense, but didn't want to show anything new or throw the ball too much.
- The coaches are "very mindful of the guys we plan on redshirting" Justin Turner will redhsirt.
- Guys are ready for PSU. They were talking about the Lions as soon as they started going back up the tunnel.
- RR knows the team is where he wants it when the 2s are almost as good as the 1s.
- JT Floyd was out with what might be the flu. Cissoko still suspended - day-to-day.
Kevin and Kelvin Grady
- Never talked to each other about scoring TDs in the same game. "These are the type of opportunities and moments you work for" - Kelvin.
- Both brothers are competitors, never worried about scoring touchdowns together.
- Kevin loves running the ball, it was god to get the opportunity to do it again. Kelvin's TD - he didn't do much, coaches just made the right call against the coverage.
- Team had no problem with intensity - You shouldn't need the opponent be a big one in order to get up for a game in Michigan Stadium.
- Kelvin still loves his hoops teammates, and they support him in football.
Vincent Smith
- Wasn't expecting a huge workload, but was prepared to make the most of it.
- Never worried about whether or not he needed to redshirt. He wanted to do whatever the team needed.
- Smith wasn't aware of all the things he was doing, just worried about running the ball.
- Freshman year is for getting the experience down, in the future he can worry about moving up the depth chart.
Brandon Graham
- Hasn't scored since his junior yr of high school. Brandon Smith scooped the ball to Graham a bit.
- Every game is taken personally. Today was to try to get everybody out there "Get everybody to live their dream of playing in the Big House" Ohene Opong-owusu was a captain today. He was hustling, etc.
- With 2 sacks today, and 3 good weeks, the number is starting to climb up. He's really come on lately.
- Try to keep guys focused in the locker room this week. Trying not to miss assignments this game. About last year's PSU game: "Last year was last year, this year we fight for 60 minutes."
- The Big Ten is up for grabs. The goal is 10-2 "It can happen." You never know what can happen in the big 10. Never lose hope, the goal is a big 10 championship.
- Vincent Smith is tiny and strong. "You ain't seen him with his shirt off. He's cut up."
Denard Robinson
- "Just going out and having fun with my team. that's all this was."
- Felt great to throw 2 TDs. Safety came down on the Grady TD pass. Knew what was coming. Sometimes the pass to the wide open guy is the hardest one. Don't want to overthtrow or underthrow. Had to throw it to webb because he was so open when denard got his head around.
- Bounce-back from 2 losses is a big deal. The team can re-focus, put past games in the past. It's not hard to do, because your teammates tell you it's ok to make a mistake. You just need to get back on track. Against Iowa, Denard was calm. The interception had nothing to do with his nerves.
- Don't try to do too much. Improving as a passer every day. Coach and teammates helping him out. Reading the defense is what Denard is working on now. Always room for improvement. Better than he was when he first got here.
- More comfortable to get in rhythm, rather than one series at a time? Feels comfortable any time he goes into the game. Both he and Tate want to play, but they don't worry about who's on the field. They just want the team to win. Even Cone and Kennedy got reps today.
- Vincent Smith's running style is fun. He ran loose, and hard to tackle.
- On his fumble, a guy ripped it from behind just as he was going to secure with his second hand.
As a former scrub, I was very happy to see Michigan schedule Del State. Scout team guys go through conditioning hell knowing that they will be in excellent shape to watch the game from the front row.
You hope in games like Indiana you might get lucky and sniff out the last 30 seconds of playing time. But then the stinking first teamers never get it in gear and the team wins in the final seconds. Sure your excited, even thrilled, for the win. But you know that is one oppurtunity down, and there is only so many oppurtunities in a season.
Alas, a team like Del State comes in and the starters play like champions. You know by the end of the first quarter that you will actually get some playing time. Not playing time in victory formation, but actual time that matters. Congratulations scrubs, you will never forget that tackle you made for a loss. You will never forget that pancake block. You will never forget those few yards you fought for so hard. Here is hoping you get to do it again (next week)
Go Blue!
Did anyone notice if Cameron Gordon played?
I noticed that he spent a lot of time sitting next to J.T. Turner during the game. My assumption is that = REDSHIRT.
No question, Jim.
Good to see a kid try to do whatever it takes to help the team and get on the field.
So to that end, does he have any chance at contributing there. I not nearly as leery about position changes as others. It'll be interesting to see where he settles in on the depth chart. This is the same depth chart that rocketed Jordan Kovacs to the first team, so I am not crossing anything off the possibility list.
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God Bless Your Cotton Pickin' Maize & Blue Hearts
did michael williams and jordan kovacs switch assignments from their positions against iowa?? i thought i saw some situations where williams played up close/on the line [like he did earlier in the year when woolfolk was the free safety] and i also thought kovacs played some "centerfield" which would be what a free safety is expected to do.
One thing we learned from this game is that our third-best QB is definitely ... CONER! He looked totally gumpy trying an option pitch, but his throws looked good. He had good touch and good accuracy. I mean, it WAS D-State, but still ... he looked better than Sheridan.
Also, as was mentioned by Enjoy Life, I was totally against this kind of game, but changed my mind afterwards. It was good to have a mid-season scrimmage for all the reasons already mentioned.
It still might be better for all of college football if FBSvFCS games didn't count in the Win-Loss records. I mean, why are the two division separated if they can play one another in the regular season? These games are usually an embarrassment to the FCS teams and simply pad the records of the FBS teams.
There are plenty of low-level FBS teams to invite to the Big House for a lighter week: Florida International, Florida Atlantic, Temple, the Mountain West Conference. Of course, the only place one can make this kind of statement as an M fan is here. The rest of the nation simply responds with, "You're just upset about App State."
EDIT: I just noticed something in the box score, which I missed when I watched them game live: WE NEVER PUNTED. Zoltan had the day off. Bryan Wright, however, is going to be sore all week after 10 kick-offs.
They should have put Cone in the postgame presser. I would love to see him answer about how he felt about the "LETS GO CONE" chants. I'm sure that's the best he's felt since he joined the game.
New Blog Project: Ovation Oration
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Now, I wasn't watching the game with an eagle eye, but I was very impressed by the class of the DSU players. Numerous times I saw their players help our guys up off the field, even in the end zone. They didn't have to do that, and I wouldn't expect it. But even in the midst of an embarrassing defeat, they showed good sportsmanship.
Nicely done.
"In desperation there's that shred of hope; people who are down and not desperate are resigned." - Brian Cook
Anyone remember the website that the band director said to go to vote for them in some Battle of the Bands?
They were entertaining and good sports when clearly their team was out matched. I liked how they participated in the wave, even the slow-mo part. Props to their band for being cool.
the scoring bonanza we saw today carries over to next Saturday and UM scores a great upset over the Schitty Lions.
Dear Terrelle Pryor,
I want to thank you for choosing to attend The Ohio State Community College. It is such a relief to know that you are not fumbling and throwing interceptions for my Wolverines. The only thing worse than your decision making on game days was your choice to play in a prehistoric Jim Tressel offense over Rich Rod's spread which fits your physical talents to a tee.
Sincerly,
Grateful Wolverine Fans
BILG
I think that he would be a monster in our offense. He might be really scary running a Pat White scheme. But I am not going to complain about Tate.
a lot of people say this but i kinda doubt it. he can't read defenses, that's like a pre-req in this offense. he's also borderline uncoachable. you notice that he makes the same mistakes this year that he was making last year? that'll happen when you don't listen to the people that are watching you practice. so IF he's incapable of reading a defense and uncoachable how could be run this offense?
http://cnbsports.com
Watching the end of the OSU-Purdouche game yesterday, it looked like Pryor was giving Tressel quite a bit of lip. That would get my blood boiling if I saw that on our sideline.
"And he we are in Columbus in front of a sellout crowd of 10,000 alumni and 74,000 truck drivers." --Bob Ufer
"Purdouche"? Really? I've never found boilermakers to be that bothersome. Perhaps your mileage varies?
with Pryor as the QB makes the offense go. getting him one on one with a linebacker or DE is a great match-up. the reads get all the easier because of the numbers the D commits to the run game.
...the Canadians make up for it with their emotion and classic ice-dancing skill.
he can't run that because he can't read the DE. he's also not the great runner people make him out to be. he's very timid running in traffic. unless there's absolutely no one around him he's an average to good runner.
http://cnbsports.com
i watched him make the zone read successfully in the purdue game as i've seen him do it in others. that completely overstates pryor's ineptitude.
...the Canadians make up for it with their emotion and classic ice-dancing skill.
Guy just doesn't have it.
All the tools with none of the will.
"Wow, so you go to Michigan, so you can spell, good for you." - white_pony_rocks
I was totally impressed by Cox, possibly more than I was by Vincent Smith. I think Cox might be a step faster than Vincent, and just as tough, and I like that.
I think D-Rob looked good - if he learns how to throw, I can actually see him splitting more time with Tate next year. I feel like his runs are more controlled, he has a better feel for the lanes, and is elusive and gutsy without it feeling reckless.
Unrelated to the remainder of the post, Regarding redshirts: Is Turner being groomed as a safety or a corner?
"I think D-Rob looked good - if he learns how to throw, I can actually see him splitting more time with Tate next year."
While Sheridan still doesn't have any wheels, his passing was much improved over the wounded ducks hurled skyward last year...
May we see similar improvement year-on-year from both our freshman QB's into the 2010 season...
Larry
I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV
I thought he was a bit indecisive on two of his runs, but he definitely ran hard, and it sounds like Coach Rod was pleased. I did think Smith was more impressive than Cox, but that might be a function of him getting a lot more reps.
Cox has very impressive balance that allows him to extend runs when you think he's going down. We will be just fine next year with him, Shaw, Smith, and Touissant coming in as a redshirt freshman.
I think you might be right about Cox. I love how he runs. I'm not sure that either Smith or Cox has much speed. Do we have an heir apparent to Carlos Brown i.e. a blazing speed guy who can take it 80 yards?
besides mike shaw?
http://cnbsports.com
63-6 is a great score. It reminded me of the time when Bo coached. High scores were a regular thing back then. Second stringers got PT all the time. I guess the rest of College Football has got caught up to Michigan. Parity? Michigan is going to be really, really good when this team matures. I hope the defense gets stingier in the future. I really wanted a shut out.
Victors Valiant '88
Been saying whats the point if he doesn't play by the Delaware St. Game. Nice to see some of the other freshman out there & I really like Vincent Smith. I love going to games when OSU or MSU is losing and they flash the score a hundred times. Saw the highlights & TP is not a good QB. Not even close. Shows you how phenomenal an athlete he is though, playin on this level without a great concept of how to run an offense. Any step below where he is in natural athletic ability & he wouldn't start as a QB in any major conference in my opinion.
I can't believe someone asked Denard about the interception last week ....
Agree -- we needed this game to reset, rest the starters, pump up the guys who don't see many reps, and prep for the home stretch.
"I can't believe someone asked Denard about the interception last week ...."
It's the first chance we've had to talk to Denard since the Iowa game. That was a totally fair question to ask him.
Varsity Blue
... when Coach Rod said:
"Sheridan will be a great coach some day."
Not a great player but a great teammate - love that this guy will do anything the coaches ask of him.
Big fan of having guys like that on the team.
Due to "popular" demand:
http://jimharbaughscramble.blogspot.com/
Thanks for the write-up Tim!
There are no corners in space.
Yeah, I agree with you, Enjoy Life. The press conference fluffery about getting 5th-year walkons and the like a bit of playing time sold me a bit as well.
Varsity Blue
I was not an advocate of scheduling cup cakes this late in the schedule. But, this actually ended up better than a bye.
First team got a few reps and a lot of rest. Everyone else got to play. Plus a lot of $$$$$ was made by all.
Better to play this type of game later in the season rather than game #1 (IMO).
Yeah, that is my license plate.
a bit of snoozefest on TV, but a good bit of mid-season medicine for a young team.
I got to:
and yelled and fell backwards out of my chair.
Ouch.
This team is under construction. We thank you for your patience.