Fall Camp Presser Transcript 8-22-13: Brady Hoke Comment Count

Heiko

Bullets:

  • Shane Morris is the backup QB.
  • No decision on center or left guard yet, where Jack Miller, Graham Glasgow, and Chris Bryant are playing musical chairs. 
  • Michigan has a lot of receivers whose first names start with the letter "J."
  • Matt Wile will handle all kicking duties other than regular field goals and PATs.
  • Norfleet is the kick returner. Norfleet will probably be the punt returner. Norfleet4Life.

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Opening remarks:

"We have nine games before we open up and Team 134 gets an opportunity for their first impression. I think we've had a very good camp. We have two days left of camp, and tomorrow we'll start looking more at Central Michigan, scout teams, look teams, that sort of thing. The coaches have already been breaking down that opponent in the summer. Really the last couple days, [we'll be] getting back to it a little more at the stadium, [run] about the half the number of plays of Saturday's scrimmage. I thought we came out, played hard. I think we'll get some answers on some rotations or spots, if you want to call them that as we look at the tape tonight and keep evaluating through the end of camp."

You said Fitz stood out after the scrimmage on Saturday. Who stood out today?

"You know, I think Devin [Gardner] is always a guy who plays pretty well. Running back-wise, we kept Fitz out, to be honest with you, today. We've got [Thomas] Rawls, [Derrick] Green, who's healthier, Deveon [Smith], Drake [Johnson], Justice [Hayes] -- we really wanted to focus in on those guys in the run and the pass game."

Did Shane Morris play in the scrimmage today?

"Yeah. He went all the reps with the twos, and then he [took] reps with the ones. He made some plays. He's got some decision-making that's got to be a little better. We have to help him a little better at times with route-running because we had some younger receivers in there a little bit, working them through. But he learned a lot today."

Did he take all the reps with the twos?

"Yes."

So has he separated himself from Brian Cleary at this point?

"Well he's done that. We thought he had done that."

So is he your backup?

"Yes."

Shane is the backup?

"Yes. You guys didn't know that?"

You never told us. Have you gotten to the point where you've identified your returners? Dennis Norfleet as kick returner still?

"Well, he'll also do punts. We've got him doing both of them now. He's done a very good job. Cracked one the other night, which was live for about 35, 40 yards. There was some good-on-goods competition. So that was good to see. Gallon and Dileo obviously are still two guys that we like. [Jehu] Chesson in the kickoff returning, and then [Channing] Stribling and Jourdan Lewis have been doing some of the punt returns."

What have you seen from Shane Morris?

"I just think he's continued to improve every day, learning the offense every day. He throws the ball, spins it really well. Timing's pretty good, and I think it was better today on some things. We just thought that he moved forward."

When did you think we should have known that Shane was the backup?

"Oh I don't know."

When did you make the decision?

"Pretty much after Saturday."

Even though he didn't play in the scrimmage?

"But he had done a pretty good job before then."

Are there any other backups we should know about?

"Backups ... Quarterbacks? Or general? No, it was good to get out there today, and I like how we went after it today."

Did anyone take advantage of the fact that Fitz was held out today?

"Well, until we watch it and evaluate it ... I thought Deveon had a couple good runs in there. I thought Derrick looked a little sharper. Timing was a little better. A couple guys did a pretty good job picking up protection, blitzes, those kinds of things. For me to say this guy is where he's at, I think I'd be remiss to do that."

What about at center?

"No, not really. Again, I think this was a good day for us. I think Jack [Miller] took a lot of snaps, but Graham [Glasgow] took them also."

As far as Shane goes, do you want to work him in with the first team in the first game?

"We want to win the first game, so whatever that takes."

In an ideal world though, would you want to get him in there?

"Yeah. I don't know if we live in an ideal world."

MGoQuestion: Have you decided on left guard yet?

"No. I think Chris [Bryant] and Graham have been through there a little bit. Ben [Braden] ..."

Tom Brady addressed the kids today. What did you think?

"I thought he just proves, number one, what a class act he is. Secondly, how much he loves the university and this program. It was a great morning in a lot of ways."

Did you surprise the team with that?

"Yeah, they didn't know."

How was that?

"You can imagine some wide eyes."

There have been some pretty famous people stopping by fall camp. Does that make this camp a little different?

"You know, I don't know. I don't know. I think some of the people that have come in and addressed the team and been with the team. I think they all have had a message. It's nice when people want to come see this great university and this program. Obviously when you have a guy like Tommy, who played in this program, it's significant."

You mentioned that Brady hadn't been back since 2007. Was that a priority when you came in?

"You know, we'd had such a good relationship, and really when we saw him in Boston at one of our former players' socials and he came by, he talked about when he had an opportunity ... It worked out pretty well with playing Detroit. You've got to give him a lot of credit because the third preseason game for a lot of people is a game where a lot of your starters play significant downs. For him to work that out and get here early in the morning, it was really something that was special."

MGoQuestion: How does Courtney Avery look at safety?

"Oh, I think Courtney's done a good job. I mean, I think his intelligence level -- I think he's done a nice job, and he's always known the whole defense pretty well, and so that helps and that's part of his mental makeup. But his instincts have been really good in what he's done."

MGoFollowup: Coach Mattison talked about rotating personnel in the front seven but not in the secondary. Does that mean you have to name a starter between Avery and Jarrod Wilson at safety?

"Sure."

MGoFollowup: Have you done that yet?

"Nope."

Has anybody stepped up at receiver since Darboh's injury?

"You know, you got your three J's. Jehu [Chesson], Jeremy [Gallon], and Joe [Reynolds]. I mean, those three guys are guys that really, with Amara being out for the year, they're going to have to carry a little more of the load, but they've been able to do that. All three of them understand the positions pretty daggone well and can do a lot of things."

Is there sort of a revitalized feeling for guys who realize there may be more playing time to be had?

"No, I don't think so. I don't think our kids -- believe me, their hearts are with Amara. They also know that we all have got to pull our weight. When someone goes down, someone's got to stand up."

Would you like someone to take that spot and be a defined No. 2 receiver though?

"You know I think we're pretty comfortable with all three of them, to be honest with you. JJ -- Jeremy [Jackson] -- has had a great camp. His best camp. Joe continues to do a lot of positive things. And then Jehu, I think he is really scratching the surface of what kind of receiver he can be."

Al said the freshmen aren't quite ready yet. What do they need to do to be ready?

"Well, they need to just more time. More learning, more route running skills because in high school, depending on school, you don't have a lot of that. The identification of support in the run game, identification of two high safeties, one high safety in the pass game, how you get off bump man. All those things are things they haven't really had to deal with."

Just for clarification, had Amara separated himself from that group?

"No, I think Amara had done a really good job in spring and fall, so he had grown as a wide receiver."

Do you think Matt Wile will be able to handle long field goals, kickoffs, and punts?

"I think so. I think he, number one, wants to. That goes a long way, and then I think Dan Ferrigno's been smart with him. If he's getting a little tired, leg-weary, we have him take a day off and let him rest up."

MGo-1RedundantBecauseIWasTweetingAboutShaneMorrisEarlierAndWasn'tListening: Have you narrowed down the guys at punt returner yet?

"Yeah. 'Fleet. And Gallon's still back there. Dileo's still back there, and I mentioned Channing Stribling and also Jourdan Lewis."

MGoIAmGoingToDoReallyWellOnRoundsNextYear: And kickoff returner is still Norfleet?

"Yes."

Comments

charblue.

August 23rd, 2013 at 2:22 PM ^

Wile is handling all the punting and kicking duties. Does that means that Gibbons is only kicking field goals and extra points? That seems to be what Hoke indicated. And secondly, the multiple questions about Morris status as the backup to Gardner was apparently decided on after Cleary was given a final scrimmage audition with the twos last Saturday. So, if Morris was held out of that scrimmage to be rested, or whatever, the real reason for doing so was to evaluate Cleary. And the decision was then made to name Morris the backup. OK. 

So, then why all the drama about the process? The kids usually know where they stand in the competition and what they need to do make their case on the depth chart. It's not like either are pushing Gardner. 

Jon06

August 23rd, 2013 at 2:26 PM ^

You know, you got your three J's. Jehu [Chesson], Jeremy [Gallon Jackson], and Joe [Reynolds]

He mentions JJ later along with Jehu and Joe, so it had to be Jackson the whole time.

JohnnyV123

August 23rd, 2013 at 3:29 PM ^

Yikes Heiko. Not having a good week. Isn't this your second "already asked earlier in the press conference" question this week? Not to mention upsetting Al with your jump ball question.

Princetonwolverine

August 23rd, 2013 at 7:38 PM ^

Does anyone know why some players have names on their jerseys and others don't?

It seems to me to be easier for coaches to have everyone's name on the jerseys.