[Fuller]

Things Discussed:

• Karan Higdon's heavy workload
• Shea Patterson's demeanor on the sideline
• Chase Winovich is good
• Penalties! Lots of penalties!

[After THE JUMP: The most Jim Harbaugh of press conferences]

Is there a health update on Rashan Gary and Chris Evans?

“No, no updates this morning. I’ll see the players this afternoon.”

Jim, can you talk about the progress you’ve seen in Jon Runyan?

“Yeah, good progress. He’s been healthy, stronger this year. Playing with a physical demeanor and he’s always been athletic. He’s stronger at the point of attack and playing good football.”

Jim, would you say that this game was the best performance you’ve seen out of the offensive line, so far?

“I don’t know if I’d say that. This past game?”

Yes

“Yeah, it was good. I thought the entire team, they were willing to do what it took to win. And they had the talent to do it, got it done.”

Have you ever been part of a comeback as a coach or a player like that, on Saturday. I know you came back when you were at Stanford, USC. Is this the biggest deficit you’ve ever came back from as a coach?

“I don’t think so. In my coaching career?”

Yeah

“Larger point deficits, yeah.”

Jim, going back on Karan (Higdon), career high carries for him on Saturday, think he only had two 20-plus carry games before that. I guess what goes into the trust with Karan, being able to get involved 30 times and have him kinda dictate (things)?

“He’s really got the ability to run, all the assortment of runs. He’s not in a category, we can only run outside runs or only run inside runs. … High level of trust in Karan, in every phase, including ball security. So, allows us to use his — as much as the offense has.”

I know production’s obviously important there, but you mentioned ball security. I don’t think he’s had a fumble this year either. How important is that? It’s not necessarily picking up the yards, just keeping the drive going, keeping the ball secure

“Critical.”

How would you assess your receivers blocking downfield, so far?

“It’s been improved. So, always strive to get better at every area. That’s an area, so strive to improve on that. But it’s much improved and they play more physical, there’s already been numerous touchdown blocks.”

As an observer of the sport, whether it’s an NFL game or college game, do you think that’s becoming a little bit of a lost art with wide receivers? Being good at blocking downfield

“Um, I wouldn’t say that.”

Coach, what did you learn from Shea Patterson and his ability to be in adversity, be down by 17, and then prevail in the end?

“A lot. That’s a great feeling as a quarterback. Having a comeback win and getting — his energy is infectious on the sideline and in the game. The game was tight, needed a spark, he gave it. It got closer and he gave more energy. Did it himself, took the ball, took plays into his own hands. … He was chasing the victory, and rallying his teammates. Not everybody has that. He showed it.”

Coach, what have you seen out of Maryland so far?

“Very highly-ranked defense. Lot of speed on defense, and able to put points on the board offensively. And physical. Physical team. Played very active in the secondary. A lot of team speed in the secondary. Lotta good things. Mondays — your confidence is not real high on a Monday. You look at your opponent and watch what they do well, that’s why you watch the tapes and put your gameplan in. Little bit more on Tuesday and a little bit more on Wednesday. By Thursday and Friday, we’ll think we have a chance. So, that’s usually the way it — the level of confidence grows as you prepare. … Right now, seeing a lot of things that are really good from the Maryland team.”

Jim, going back, what you said on Karan, looked good on all the runs. Is there one area that you’ve seen him improve the most? I know you guys have used him on first down, short-yardage situations, I mean, is there one aspect of his game that you’ve seen him improve on a lot this year?

“It’s just always — the biggest improvement I’ve seen from Karan is the extra yardage. The yardage after contact, he’s gaining — if a play is blocked for two yards, he’s gaining four and five. A thing that he’s continuing to build on is his ability to catch the ball. He’s done that, been able to turn a four-yard gain into a seven or eight or nine-yard gain. Make the first defender miss, bleed out more yardage. He’s been consistently good and improved in that area.”

Jim, Chase (Winovich) said he was baffled, the holding was called or not called. Is that just something — what’s your message to your guys like that, when there’s obvious frustration … in that department?

“Explain the rules and explain what the issues are, and Chase is playing — first of all, Chase is playing at a really high level. 11 tackles, TFL and two sacks, he was — he’s gaining a lot of attention. Sometimes, it’s a blocker and somebody that’s chipping, or there’s two — I remember one time, he got three guys. … That’s ultimate respect for the defensive end or pass rusher. He’s all over the field. He was our player of the game at the end this week. They’re gonna cut, try to hold, chip, double-team, all those things. Ultimate confidence, to a defensive end, to a pass-rusher. So, keep doing what you’re doing, Chase. Doing a marvelous job. Really having a sensational start to the first quarter of the season.”

Michigan, you guys are one of the most penalized teams in the country so far. Has it reached the point where it’s concerning?

“Yeah, we’re concerned about every area of the football program. Everything we can get better at, you’re always asking, what can we do to improve? That’s one of the areas that’s included.”

When you’re a really aggressive defense, do you think that lends to getting more penalties called?

(Harbaugh shrugs) “That’s what defenses are supposed to do.”

Went back and looked at it, first quarter did not go the way you wanted it to go, the last three did. When you diagnosed what happened early as opposed to what happened late, what was the difference, why it started slow?

“Both sides of the ball, yeah, we were — they outplayed us in the first quarter. Felt like our team responded in the next three.”

Did they respond faster than they did the first game — Notre Dame game was similar, they jumped on you, took them a minute. Did you feel like you responded faster this time, on the road?

“Yeah.”

Going back to penalties, have you guys emphasized more in the last few weeks of practice curbing those? Or is it, say —

“Yeah, we have.”

Did you get an explanation on the holding on Karan?

“Not yet.”

When does that usually happen? When they feel like telling you?

(Harbaugh nods)

What does it do for your team’s confidence to know that it can come back from a deficit like that? If it happens again, obviously you’d rather not, but what does that do moving forward for your team’s confidence?

“I think it helps. Helps a lot. Lot of successful seasons, there’s always a win like that. Proud of our guys.”

What does homecoming mean to you?

(Still answering previous question) “Especially on the road.

“What does homecoming mean?”

What does homecoming mean to you?

“Oh, it’s one of the great words in the English language. A homecoming. People coming back, whether it’s a reunion or a get-together of family, it’s one of the top words in the English language.”