[Fuller/MGoBlog]

Can you talk about the kind of depth you were building on Saturday with all the guys that got in the game?

“Well, first, to start with, many players played and played well. Tremendous for morale. Guys that worked extremely hard all along just got to contribute, so it was good for our team.”

Along those same lines, in the past few years before you arrived the ‘wait until they get experience’ thing was kind of a common theme. Seventeen guys play Saturday. What has been the difference when you look at the ability to play young guys when you look at a few years ago and those young guys weren’t really getting a lot of reps?

“I can’t comment specifically about a couple years ago. Probably as you know, we talked about it. It’s a meritocracy in who plays. By your effort, by your talent you will be known. Positions on the depth chart when you go in the game, what the roles are, are based on that.”

The team struggled a little bit, maybe the first series and half, to run the football. What changed for you guys? It just seemed like all of sudden once Wilton completed that one third-down pass things just started clicking for the offensive line and clicking for the blockers on the outside. What was the difference?

“Uh…the third down, the fourth play of the game?”

Yeah, he connected on the pass but it seemed like as soon as that happened everything started working for the running game, too.

“Yeah, that was the fourth play of the game.”

Do you have any updates on Bryan Mone and Taco Charlton and if they’re going to be available this week?

“I don’t think either one will be available this week.”

If they’re not available, how does the defensive line need to regroup depth-wise and get ready for this game?

“I think Mo Hurst will return to action. Ryan Glasgow played very well in the football game. So did Chris Wormley. There’s talented players at that position. I don’t think that Bryan Mone and Taco will be out…it’s hard to say at this point. I don’t have an update on how long they’ll be out, but I don’t anticipate them playing this weekend.”

With that, you guys had Onwenu play a little bit of offense and a little bit of defense. With a couple guys out, do you think he’ll get more on defense at this point?

“That’s possible.”

[After THE JUMP: even more injury updates, and Jim Harbaugh verbally assassinates a character assassin]

Do you like what you see from him as an interior tackle on that line?

“Yeah, he played well. He played more snaps on offense, but he’s somebody who played in the game, played well, stood out as a very good player in the game.”

It seemed like Grant Newsome was always downfield getting to the next level. Can you talk about his play and the play of the left side of the line there, the young guys?

“Yeah. Grant [Newsome] continues to be one of our top linemen. I thought Kyle Kalis played extremely well at the right guard position. Mason Cole looked very good. Erik Magnuson at right tackle we thought was our best, and then Kugler and Bredeson had the share of the duties for the most part at left guard. So we’re still working and getting that final five set. I thought especially those four that I just mentioned played extremely well, and then Ben showed very good signs for the future at left guard.”

With Grant Perry, what do you like best about him and assess his play from the game on Saturday.

“It was very good. He also contributed on special teams. Eleven downs on special teams. He’s been a player that’s been in the lineup all camp, every day, every practice. His efficiency, his play was very good on Saturday. Thought he stood out as well.”

I know you mentioned him briefly on Saturday, but wanted to ask you what it meant to get Michael Hirsch in the game and what it’s been like to work with him this past month in camp.

“Oh, very positive. Very, very, very positive. All positive around Michael. He’s been good in practice. He was good in the game. Has a great attitude. All good being around him.”

Chris Evans mentioned Saturday that you have a separate locker room for the freshmen during camp when they first get there. How long have you been doing that and what’s the purpose behind that?

“There’s a pretty big age difference between freshmen and senior and fifth-year seniors. I like the class being able to come in, develop leadership, and be a group. Not get out into the…into the varsity locker room. So there’s a varsity locker room and a freshmen locker room. It’s really that simple. There are several reasons why I think it’s good, and been doing it for a while. Yeah.”

Last week when I asked you about Biff Poggi, this past game looked like things were running pretty smoothly for you. I was wondering, did you talk with him, did you consult with him over anything and just looking to get more understanding of his role and the way that you will interact with him during gameday.

“Uh, yeah, we consulted. We didn’t consult during the game. Good man. Great to have on the team.”

What specific things would you go to him with? There wasn’t anything from this game that you would--

“Yeah, as I tried to explain to you last week—I don’t know if this is going to be an every week thing for the press conferences—but this is a team effort. Everybody does a little and it all adds up to being a lot. I don’t think we share everybody’s job description but everybody’s doing their job and Biff is a key member, like everybody. Everybody on our staff, there’s no little people. Everybody has a role and contributes.”

Mike McCray was defensive player of the week in the Big Ten. Did he look as good on film as the numbers indicate?

“Yeah, he was. He was good. Outstanding tackles for loss, tackles, sacks, pressures. He was our defensive most valuable player of the game. Got the most helmet stickers; another indication of really good play. And he’s been consistently good all through training camp [and] spring practice. Top performer on defense for us.”

Khalid [Hill], I know he scored a touchdown, but it looked like he’s adjusted to that new spot pretty quickly in terms of lead blocking. Happy with his progression there?

“Yes, very happy with his progression. He’s had a lot of time on task playing the fullback position and he has practiced well at it. He’s a natural at that position and doing very well. Henry Poggi was also extremely good in the game. Both those fullbacks continue to be our top two fullbacks, and the position seems very natural for them. They’re executing very well.”

Braden—do you expect anything on him this week or is he still out?

“There’s a good possibility that he could play this week. We’ll judge by practice during the week.”

Can you talk about Ben Gedeon as well and what he brought on Saturday?

“Yeah, a top performer on defense. I really like our inside backers. Devin Bush played well, too. Mike McCray was outstanding. Ben Gedeon was pretty darn close. Those two played outstanding. Feel like we’re more athletic. Feel like we’re in great hands in terms of two real good players up the middle.

“We really strive for that on defense. Kind of like in baseball, be good up the middle: catcher, pitcher shortstop, second baseman, center fielder. A lot of truths for defensive football, be good up the middle: linebackers, the nose, the tackles, the safeties.”

Delano [Hill] played really well on Saturday, too. How much does it help to have someone his size and speed? It seemed he played very close to the line of scrimmage. Seemed like he was able to make a lot of plays in that box for you guys.

“He’s physical as a safety and can cover on the back end. Made a great play, interception returned for a touchdown. Him and Channing Stribling both stood out in that way. The rest of the downs were real good, too. Stribling and Hill both played real good games for themselves.”

Addressing the running back play, Karan [Higdon] got some carries. He showed a little bit last year. Your confidence in the ability of the running backs and the depth of the running backs?

“Growing and getting better. Feel like that’s a position that’s ascending. Chris Evans was extremely good. Even better when you watch the tape. Thought it was good things to get better at.

“Ty Isaac, thought he had a good ballgame for himself. Karan had some real good carries. And Kingston Davis showed some things there at the end of the ballgame.

“We know what De’Veon can do and we expect him back in the lineup this week. Again, much like Ben and a few guys, you’ve got to see what practice looks like. But yeah, that position’s coming along.”

What did you see out of Jabrill in terms of him moving? Did you see the effect that that was having in terms of Hawaii getting set and watching where he was?

“Yeah, it was really good. Jabrill was one of our top performers in the game. I’d take Mike McCray, Jabrill, Wilton Speight. Of those three, Jabrill did it on defense and special teams. Showed up in the backfield putting pressure on the quarterback, in coverage, in the return game on special teams, and in the cover game on special teams on kickoff. Thought those three were outstanding. And Brandon Watson. He was another top performer defensively and on special teams.”

Jabrill wants to always do more. It seems like every time we talk to him he says ‘I want to do more.’ Do you have to sometimes say ‘Okay, you don’t need to push this much’ in a blowout situation or something?

“He was up there tied for the most plays of the game. Don’t have to convince me. I’m all for Jabrill doing more.”

Two more injuries you haven’t talked about yet: Noah Furbush and Drake Johnson. Can you update us on their statuses?

“Yeah, they were both out for the ballgame this past week. We’ll see where they’re at this week. Noah may be working through something a little bit longer than Drake. We’ll see.

“And along those lines, too, I made the comment about Jourdan Lewis. I’ll reiterate that. That was my decision based on he was getting close to being healthy enough to play in the game. He was working through something. Had nothing to do with any off-field suspension. Heard about Ed Cunningham. Got way out over his skis speculating that it was some kind of suspension. [scoffs]

“Jourdan Lewis is one of the finest guys we have on the team, football character and off the field character. Just total character. There’s few, if any, better than Jourdan Lewis. Just wanted to clarify that for the record.”

We saw what your defense looked like without Ryan Glasgow toward the end of last season, then he returned Saturday. What does he add, and how is your defensive line different with him in there?

“He was one of our top performers last year. So when he’s in there, we’ve got one of our top defensive linemen in there. When he’s not, we don’t. So that makes a big difference.”

With Kareem Walker, do you have an update on his status? We didn’t see him in there Saturday.

“He’s working through some things academically, and we’re—less football and giving him the ability to concentrate on academics for the next weeks. And we’ll get some progress reports, but want to make sure that he’s doing the job in that regard before football full-time or half the time. Full-time academics.”