Monday Player Presser Notes 11-15-10 Comment Count

Tim

Cam Gordon

On the fumble return, "I was thinking 'scoop and score' like you talk in little league." Patterson was encouraging him during the runback. Was exciting to be able to score.

It's a learning experience to be in his first year on the field. Helping the team was the goal all along, and he's glad to be able to do that.

Position change is good for him because it's good for the team "I'm a football player and I want to play, nothing to it but that." Everything is coming at him faster at the new position, and the field is a bit more compacted. Being physical is his biggest strength. It's not confusing to switch positions for the third time. He's just a football player and loves being on the field.

Wisconsin: "They have some pretty good backs, the o-line is big. We'll see how it looks this week." When they put up 83 on Indiana, his only thought was "that's a good team." "They put up 83 against Indiana, not against us."

The defense's attitude has changed. "'I don't care attitude' - in a positive way" has been the defense's calling card for the last two weeks, and they'll continue with it. If the opponent gets a big play, they have to move on and not care.

Adam Patterson

Found out he was going to start within minutes of the beginning of the game. Was excited to get his first start. "It's was kinda hard to relax, but you know." There have been points where he wondered if he'd ever get the opportunity to start. Was motivated to prove himself. Filling in for Mike Martin "It's a lot of pressure." Need to step up when he goes down, even though it might be tough to fill his shoes.

Going through the coaching transition: "I feel like it's an experience that's really prepared me for my future and for life." They aren't that different, but this staff is a lot more intense.

When Cam Gordon was returning the fumble for a TD,"I just kept trying to tell him 'keep going, keep going.'"

Team will be focused to prepare for Wisconsin. "Wisconsin always has a big offensive line, and they always have a good offensive line." You respect them, but the goal is to prove you can compete with them. "You also come in with the mindset that this is going to be a very physical game."

Wisconsin scoring 83 against Indiana has motivated the M defense to make sure they don't have a bad performance themselves.

On the defense: "I really feel like the swagger is getting there. Every game we play is a stepping stone." The defense is developing, and they learned this weekend what they can do if they play up to their potential.

"To go out there and to win these next to games is very motivating." Trying to show what they can do, and improve bowl status.

James Rogers

"If the team ever needed me anywhere, I would do it. That was my whole mindset." He's going to get his degree, and to play football and get playing time is just an extra benefit to that.

Since the Illinois game, the defense has been more loose, and they're translating it to the field. "It's a good way to go into the game. Our swagger and everything about our defense got a lot better, and it's perfect to go into the Wisconsin game."

Not worried about Wisconsin's 83 points against Indiana "I guarantee you they're not going to score 83 points on us." Wisconsin is a powerful team, but Indiana backed down a bit at the end, and Michigan won't do that, they'll fight to the finish.

Will miss running through the tunnel after doing it the last time this weekend.

"I hope they throw the ball my way a little more, I haven't seen much action lately." Wants the chance to build up some stats. You just had two interceptions: "Yeah, FINALLY."

"I've seen Courtney grow a lot even when JT was there." He'll be a great player in the future and has stepped up. Vinopal has stepped up in a tough position. Talbott and Christian have also done a really good job as true freshmen.

"We need this Ohio State win bigger than anything. That's something we've been waiting on, and our focus will be on that really soon. We've gotta take on Wisconsin first."

Main difference between Carr and Rodriguez eras is a major step up in the conditioning.

Stephen Schilling

Lots of memories about touching the banner, etc., excited to have one more time to do that. Wants the seniors to leave with a win.

The change in coaching staffs has made for an unexpectedly interesting experience. "Hopefully this is the year that Michigan turns the tide." Ohio State "That's the big one obviously, and they've got us however many 6 or 7 years in a row." Winning in Columbus would set the program up for years to come.

Ryan Kerrigan is a great player. "We weren't running the ball very well, and got into third and long." That allowed Kerrigan to get after the QBs a bit more.

"The energy has been there the last two weeks" for the defense. Even though they struggled a bit, they want to prove themselves again at the end of the season.

Wisconsin is always tough against the run. Michigan is coming off a poor rushing performance against Purdue, so they'll need to be back on their game to have success.

There are keys to victory for every week, and ball security is on the list every week. "You can't win games with turnovers. The last two we were lucky to come out of there with a win."

Kelvin Grady

It's always important to take care of the ball, especially against a grinding team like Wisconsin.

It's impressive that Wisconsin could put up 83 points. "I didn't really think much of it. Obviously Wisconsin's a great team, but it didn't make me scared or anything."

Important to send the seniors out with a win in their final home game. Glad they were able to get to a bowl game for those guys. "We all wanna win, for them it might be a little more important."

Denard responds well, even after he makes mistakes.

"We're not content with anything." Want to win the last two games. "We're gonna go and and we're gonna fight in those two games."

Tries to stay ready for the occasion when he gets the ball on the reverse, but isn't begging for it to get called.

Different receivers prefer different routes, but it's their job to work them all in practice. "If you're in that position, and they happen to call the play and you've gotta run that route, you're gonna run that route."

Comments

mrlmichael

November 15th, 2010 at 5:19 PM ^

I love the attitude of our players. They have a fight to the very finish attitude. They have shown it in a lot of games this year, and have shown it when it comes to the season as a whole as well. It is a reflection of great coaching. 

DustomaticGXC

November 15th, 2010 at 9:39 PM ^

People ignoring the fact the team has such a great attitude across the board when evaluating Rich Rod drives me nuts.  If Rich Rod was even partly the monster he's often made out to be in the media... er... the FREEP, mostly, this team would be the Dallas Cowboys.  But they aren't.  They've bought in completely and they love their coach. 

 

Selfish, uncaring coaches who don't know what they're doing or how to lead men don't have players like these boys.

mejunglechop

November 15th, 2010 at 5:29 PM ^

Yeah what was the deal with Cam looking like he was about to turn blue and pass out on the fumble return? Shouldn't Cam be encouraging Patterson and not the other way around?

mwburner26

November 15th, 2010 at 8:17 PM ^

Ok so I'll be THAT guy for this one. Cam was not running out of breath as you put it, in fact if you look at the play again you will see that not only is Patterson in full stride when Cam picks up the ball, but he quickly loses his lead (a lead he held onto for a about 3 yards), as Cam passes him and is in the endzone first. I'm pretty sure his "Keep Running" comments were made from surprise/ celebration. Anyways check it out for yourself if you'd like.

here's every defensive snap, the play happens at 1:25 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP4Fl3RwHf8

mejunglechop

November 15th, 2010 at 10:27 PM ^

+1 for actually looking up and linking the play. I looked at it again and Patterson was 3 yards back when Cam picks it up, Patterson is already approaching top speed so at midfield he's about half a yard ahead of Cam who is hitting full stride. When Cam's foot hits the end zone, Patterson is at about the 1 yard line. So in 50 yards Cam gained a yard and a half on Patterson and this isn't taking into account Patterson weaving around a little bit looking for someone to block.

Don

November 16th, 2010 at 7:49 AM ^

I just watched the replay of Cam's fumble return six times, looking at the overhead shot as well as the clip shot from the endzone, and I honestly don't know where in hell you got the notion that Gordon was running out of gas. His running form held up completely all the way, he did not slow down at all, he leapt into the air after he scored the TD, and in short did not exhibit any of the classic signs of somebody who's out of gas. Check out the replay of Woodson's PR against OSU, and that's somebody who was pretty gassed by the end by comparison.

The reason that Patterson kept up with him was that Gordon had a convoy and clear sailing ahead of him, and there was absolutely no reason for him to be busting his ass to get to the end zone. He was in third gear, not fourth.

Look at Mel Anthony's then record-84-yd TD run in the '65 Rose Bowl against Oregon State. Offensive lineman Tom Mack accompanies Anthony over the last 20 or 30 yards, and Anthony is not pulling away from him very much. Do you think that means that Anthony was in lousy condition? I don't.

Am I saying that Gordon is a real burner? No, but I don't think that his fumble return gives any indication whatsoever that his conditioning is not what it should be, either. What I do think is remarkable is Patterson keeping up with him, even if Gordon was really in his third gear.

ish

November 15th, 2010 at 5:26 PM ^

good to see seniors like patterson and rogers get a chance to meet the press and give their thoughts.  let;s give them a loud cheer this weekend.

Michigasling

November 15th, 2010 at 8:31 PM ^

Was thrilled to see them given the stage.  I'd seen a brief post-game interview with Rogers, but with the sound not starting right away in the press conference, I had no idea who was speaking because I've never seen Patterson before!  (Other than the name on the back of the jersey, usually from the view from behind the bench.)  So happy for both of them.  Not just because they were given the stage, but because they deserved it.  The defense they played on played unexpectedly well.  How could they possibly have played well without Martin & Mouton (& Woolfolk & Floyd)?  Because guys like these stepped up.  And they stayed, through coaching changes, through losing seasons, knowing they weren't anyone's first choice for playing time.  Gosh, I love this team.

jmblue

November 15th, 2010 at 5:30 PM ^

"If the team ever needed me anywhere, I would do it. That was my whole mindset." He's going to get his degree, and to play football and get playing time is just an extra benefit to that.

There's been some debate about just what a "Michigan Man" should be like.  Answer: look at James Rogers.

The Nicker

November 15th, 2010 at 6:06 PM ^

"I guarantee you they're not going to score 83 points on us."

 

That's a pretty big guarantee. I wonder if Wisconsin's going to use that as bulletin board material this week.

blueheron

November 15th, 2010 at 6:13 PM ^

Patterson: "... this staff is a lot more intense."

Rogers: "Main difference between Carr and Rodriguez eras is a major step up in the conditioning."

- - -

Is it really true or have they heard it repeated so much that they believe it?  I'm inclinded to think it's true, but I honestly don't know.

If it's true, it makes it less likely that the team is "soft" or "getting pushed around."

bronxblue

November 15th, 2010 at 8:32 PM ^

It is probably just a true statement.  I can't imagine they would make up the conditioning angle as some smokescreen, especially since it wasn't like the Carr regime was full of unathletic, out-of-shape players.  The truth is that RR runs a rough ship, and that includes pushing these guys in conditioning drills. 

msoccer10

November 16th, 2010 at 12:33 PM ^

Rodriguez makes his players work their asses off and players don't get time on the field unless they earn it. That's why we've had so many transfers. Guys who thought they were awesome coming out of high school and assume they are going to play and be great just because they had five stars will never do well with Rodriguez. You have to work. I love that about our coach.

And its exactly the same way Bo did it.

MaizeAndBlueManGroup

November 15th, 2010 at 6:30 PM ^

There will always be a special place in my heart for seniors like Adam Patterson and James Rodgers. They stayed through the coaching transition and didn't cowardly jump ship at the first sign of negativity. They are Michigan men, and I hope they finish out their senior year the way the deserve.

High Desert Blues

November 15th, 2010 at 6:58 PM ^

I've been really impressed with all the players and how they handle themselves in front of the media. In the pre-game live chat with Bruce Madej on Saturday, I asked about the mentoring the players get for interviews and press conferences. In addition to the SID and PR staff working with the players, he said that journalist Tony Collings has worked specifically with the football & basketball freshmen. Collings was a news bureau chief in Moscow, he worked overseas for Newsweek and CNN. 

Go Blue Beat T…

November 15th, 2010 at 10:13 PM ^

Terrelle Pryor really sucks ridiculously bad. And his interviews are embarrassing. Thank God he's not in blue. Having said that...I'm fired up to watch us surprise the college football world and stomp the Bu%$*#$@. I have a feeling those seniors can't wait to be a part of a great win to end this horrid losing streak to that school down south. Oh and hopefully we'll beat Wisconsin, too. 

Crime Reporter

November 16th, 2010 at 10:16 AM ^

No matter what happens the rest of the year, I can honestly say this is a team I will never forget. They endured through the dark times, remaining vigilant and upbeat.

They do not play for themselves but for each other. And I can not thank them enough. It has been a fun ride.

The Name

November 16th, 2010 at 10:17 AM ^

Does anyone else feel that these two may end up being special players for UofM in a few years? Because after the past two weeks I have a good feeling that they may end up being very good players for us.