Monday Presser 10-27-14: Players Comment Count

Adam Schnepp

photo (1)

Jack Miller, Yukon Cornelius, Amara Darboh

 

Jack, the offense didn’t score a whole lot but some people noticed the difference between last year against Michigan State and this year in terms of the offensive line holding its own. Was progress made there or does the frustration about not scoring that many points overwhelm that?

JM: “A little bit of both probably. There was some progress, especially when you compare it to the season before against Michigan State. We did a much better job picking up some of their blitzes, those type of things, and were able to move the line of scrimmage a little bit more than we did last year. Obviously the way it turned out kind of put a damper on it.”

 

With a record of 3-5 and just four games left to play how do the goals shift? How does the focus remain on just one game at a time? Also just kind of talk about the coaches message at this juncture in the season.

JM: “Being 3-5 it almost becomes easier to just take it one game at a time. When you’re winning you’re thinking of the big picture probably a little more. You’re thinking of what’s to come. When things aren’t going your way necessarily you buckle down and all you can really do is focus on the next game. That’s where we’re at. That’s the coaches’ message. That’s kind of been our approach throughout the season.”

BB: “Yeah, I’d agree with that. All of our focus has shifted to what’s in front of us: Indiana. The next game, that’s what we’re focused on.”

AD: “Yeah, both of those guys said it best. Just focused on Indiana right now and focused on practicing and trying to get better.”

 

Brennen, the way Michigan State was able to run the football…does that give an incentive to control an Indiana team that runs the ball also very well?

BB: “Yeah, they have a great back back there, their leading rusher. We definitely- we watched the State film and we’re going to have to learn from our mistakes. Definitely bring it in practice this week and be ready for that run.”

[More after THE JUMP]

The stake incident at Michigan State: what did you guys make of that? Do you think it was overblown or was that a show of emotion from you guys and from Joe in leading this team?

JM: “Yeah, I think first and foremost it wasn’t meant to be disrespectful to Michigan State in any way. It was an emotional thing and a motivational thing that happened. Yeah, it got overblown but that’s what happens when people are upset and those types of things so that’s over with and like I said, I speak for everyone and coach Hoke said it best, it wasn’t a disrespectful thing. It wasn’t meant to be disrespectful.”

 

Just a quick follow-up to that, were you guys surprised that it seemed to be taken that way from Dantonio’s comments after the game?

JM: “Um, not necessarily. I think any time stuff like that happens on your home field it can spark a little bit of emotion from the home team so no, not necessarily. That’s their prerogative to feel how they want to feel about it.”

 

Jack, you mentioned that it was overblown, this whole thing. It seems like this year there have been so many little things that have ended up being these massive stories. Is it difficult in the locker room when every little thing is magnified so much when it isn’t going well?

JM: “Yeah, that’s just the nature of it. People are upset. We’re upset, and so naturally things become a bigger deal than they probably really are. Kirk Herbstreit said it best with the whole Shane incident, if we were 5-0 at that point nobody would have cared, and I think it’s probably the same thing for a lot of these situations.”

 

To follow-up on the running game, coach Mattison talked about how they brought up an extra tackle and more beef up front. What was it that you saw that was frustrating when trying to stop the rushing attack there?

BB: “Yeah, I just think their o-line was able to get to our linebackers pretty quick so that made it hard. We didn’t stay in our gaps when we needed to. We weren’t as stout as we wanted to be in the gut of our defense.”

 

Seven drops in the game against Michigan State. I know you had one in the beginning of the second half that could have possible set you guys up in Michigan State territory. How do you focus to change that, correct that, and then obviously step up for your quarterback, who put the ball close to you guys?

AD: “It’s just [that] football is a game of momentums and we had a couple chances to make plays and we didn’t make them, but we’ve got to move on [and] focus on Indiana. This week in practice just make sure we follow through with our eyes and have a game-like practice and try to make sure we make those plays when the Indiana game comes.”

 

Amara, where do you feel you’ve made the most progress? A couple games before this you became a third-down target and came up with some big catches.

AD: “I try to improve everywhere: in my route running, being physical, catching the ball and everything. I try to be competitive also and it doesn’t always work the way you want it to but all you can do is try and give it your best.”

Feeling more comfortable out there?

AD: “Yeah, feeling a lot more comfortable. Being out there after sitting out a year it’s kind of good to be back out there and getting used to things.”

 

Is this season wearing on you at all? Jack talked about how small things seem to get overblown. Is it taking a toll on you with a month of the season left?

AD: “I would say it’s bringing us closer together because we’ve had some tough losses and it’s kind of forcing us to build a stronger brotherhood. You get to really know guys, and we’re trying to figure out what we need to do and keep working hard and improving.”

BB: “I’d agree with that. Definitely brings the team together. I’d say it gives us an opportunity to fight back against adversity.”

JM: “I’ve said it before [but] we’re as upset and as frustrated as anybody out there. This isn’t going the way we foresaw it, and it’s frustrating when you work as hard and as long as we do in the offseason to not obtain the goals that you have for yourself but this team is resilient and there’s a lot of fight in it and there’s no other option but to go out and compete every Saturday and do that for each other. That’s all we can do.”

 

Jack, the stake thing was probably a little bit overblown but Mark Dantonio’s comments were about this systemic disrespect that those players feel or an arrogance that they feel playing you guys. Do you guys sense that or do you have idea where that feeling comes from with the Michigan State guys?

JM: “I’m an Ohio kid so I didn’t grow up here around the rivalry necessarily. I do think that I know it’s a heated rivalry and there’s a lot of resentment between the two programs, but that’s what a rivalry’s about. I don’t think that in my time here there’s been any displays or anything like that to warrant a complete lack of respect, but like I said I’ve only been here four seasons and I’ve only seen what I’ve personally been around. Like I said, it’s part of the rivalry, I think.”

 

Brady said the stake thing came from a message Friday night in the locker room. What was the message? Did you have a guest speaker? See a movie? What was it all about?

JM: “It was- yeah, it was a story. Coach Hoke talked about this. I probably can’t put it any better than he did. It was a signal and a symbol for unity and team and staying together, those type of things and coach Hoke hit on it and like I said, I can’t do it any more justice than that.”

Comments

westwardwolverine

October 29th, 2014 at 9:24 AM ^

Having a guy slam a stake into another team's field and then having the team strut around afterwards and stare at the home team's sideline is always going to be seen as a challenge/disrespectful gesture. How they can't see that is beyond me. Its not like they huddled together with Joe Bolden in the middle of it placing the tent stake into the ground to symbolize unity. 

But then again, they take after their coach. Brady Hoke said Notre Dame was chickening out of the series, then proceeded to get his ass handed to him 31-0 (and real recognizing real, gave up after 2.5 quarters). 

Stunts and talk are pretty much all Michigan football is right now. 

JFW

October 29th, 2014 at 10:23 AM ^

I agree.

We've devolved to a team that makes gestures over just winning.

These kids are great, but they just sound kind of shell shocked. And it seems like they've just lost confidence in the system.

No more skywriting. No more stakes. No more form before substance. Lets just work on the winning part, and the not backing down when the other team gets in our face.

I remember at one point MSU was driving and Spielman said that he'd call a time out and challenge the defense's pride. If you want a meaningful gesture, coach, make that it. Call on the team to win, to stop the other team, to drive and score. Create unity by developing them into a cohesive team that executes well together.

Then the rest deosn't matter.

Stunts like this make us look like punks. (Yes, I know Hoke said he didn't know, I'm thinking more along the lines of coaching solidly and making a winning, disciplined team being more important than symbols of unity.).

It almost reminds me of RR's Groeben sing-a-long. But at least that didn't give our rivals a chance to shove it back in our face.

I think if they can get a new coach next year who really challenges these kids on both sides of the ball they can then get some of the unity and brotherhood they want.

 

You Only Live Twice

October 29th, 2014 at 9:27 AM ^

On Michigan Insider this morning, Marcus Ray gave us a glimpse of what gets said - and done - on the football field.    There's a lot of it that us fans wouldn't think is "respectful."

You Only Live Twice

October 29th, 2014 at 10:05 AM ^

And definitely puts things in a different context.  Marcus wasn't dismissive, more that he was laying it on the line about, again, what gets said and done on the field, especially in rivalry games.  He spoke candidly and bluntly about exchanges and actions between his squad and OSU when he was a player.  Play clean football, yes, but intimidation of one's opponent, part of the game. 

If you mean was he dismissive about the stake, he certainly had no issue with what was done - only the failure to own the game on the field, and the backpedaling apology.  

You might enjoy listening to the segment also for Marcus' dissection of the product on the field, strengths, weaknesses.  Mostly weaknesses this time.

caup

October 29th, 2014 at 10:07 AM ^

The difference between Jack Miller and David Molk, both in attitude and performance, is really depressing.

I really wish Molk was still on this team, he's a guy we could count on to respond to this whole stake BS with some goddamn backbone.

His Dudeness

October 29th, 2014 at 11:16 AM ^

I know he is just a kid and I know I am a grown man and I know he could beat me up and all of these things and of course again I am an asshole a giant prick and an asshole, but look at Jack Miller.

Look at Jack Miller again.

Watch a game and focus on Jack Miller.

Jack is probably a wonderful kid, probably smart, probably helps a guy in a wheelchair get top shelf groceries in the supermarket.

Jack Miller is not a Michigan center.

Again I am a big time asshole but I just can't believe that's the best we have at that position.

Apologies.

 

 

 

 

hayo-went-ha

October 29th, 2014 at 11:11 AM ^

It’s too bad the players are embracing Herbstreit’s comment. Fan support was much healthier in 2008. It’s plausible to me that, for many, a dominant football team is sufficient but not necessary for the pride they want from associating with U-M. But what else to point to right now? It’s not the players’ fault that excellent common values, at least as represented publicly by the AD, are nowhere to be found. This stint of losing reveals how important those “little things” are.  

Steve in PA

October 29th, 2014 at 12:10 PM ^

Eyes down, heads down, slumping posture, and melancholy facial expression. Maybe it's just the picture but none of those players conveys confidence, enthusiasm, or energy.  I feel for them.