Harbaugh Presser
On Josh Uche: "He's got a great strong mindset. Trains at a high level, wants to be good. Getting better all the time
"On Shea Patterson: "I thought he had a heroic type of ball game. Particularly this last game, he's playing really, really good football. Game in and game out, consistently good."
On the snap counts: "We were mixing in a count that was a two count or a hard count. That was our way of combating it."
On Jordan Glasgow: "It's almost not human like quality of he never see any kind of flaw or weakness physically or even a complaint or anything. Just steady, jackhammer at all times. 100% about getting the job done and doing the best of his God-given ability, every single time. It's what I admire about him most."
On Notre Dame as a rivalry: "It's a big game.""I think there's some discussion about it. It'd be good," on keeping the series going. "They're really talented. Offensively, defensively, it's a really good football team. We're plowing through it now. They're playing really good football."
"Win our next game. That's our goal. We have a really good plan for this week. Practice it, go out an execute. Feel like our team is optimistic as ever that we're hitting our stride."
Kwity Paye: "He had another outstanding game this past game. Physically, he's come a long way -- he's really trained himself at a really high level. He's got a really great attitude."
Harbaugh confirms they had practice this morning. "Those who didn't play in the game."
On the calls: "There were some. You had the human reaction of, what your human reactions are. Sometimes it's not fair. (Said) a long time ago, the only fair is the county fair -- you'll be disappointed sometimes. "Yeah, looked at those -- make no excuse."
"We would take as many Ronnie Bells as possible." Calls him mentally and physically tough.
October 21st, 2019 at 12:49 PM ^
I respect and appreciate how Harbaugh is always positive about the players and his staff. A reporter may try to get him to say negative things about the team or his fellow coaches and he never gives it to them. Often I read a bunch of snarky comments here criticizing Harbaugh for not being sufficiently cynical and despairing about the way things are going. These press conferences are not Truth Forums. He's not going to denigrate his team publicly, and I don't understand why anyone would want that.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:25 PM ^
+1 for using the word "denigrate" instead of "downgrade." The Gundy rant bringing "I'm a man" into existence is good but it was a net loss because people starting substituting "downgrade" for "denigrate."
October 21st, 2019 at 12:50 PM ^
As crazy as it sounds, I believe his optimism now. We should have won that game, and if our offense looks like it did in the second half from now on, I think we can beat anyone.
Just please, for the love of all that is holy and sacred, find a way to stop digging a massive hole at the beginning of the game (but that's at least 1/2 on the BS refs this time).
October 21st, 2019 at 1:15 PM ^
"As crazy as it sounds...." coming from The Mad Hatter I couldn't help but laugh. I do in fact share your opinion and optimism. This team can make some noise if we see a complete offensive effort for 60 minutes.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:15 PM ^
agreed..... with a new OC, installing a new offense, its shouldn't be surprising that it took a while to start clicking, JH has been saying they were close and the way they played in the second half on Saturday reflected that.
Onward, Go Blue
October 21st, 2019 at 2:04 PM ^
The way they played in the first half reflected that, too. If the refs had made the right call and called OPI on the first PSU TD and not made the disastrously wrong call by calling OPI on Collins when, if anything, it was defensive PI, we could easily have been ahead at the half based on just those two horrible calls, that led to 2 PSU TDs and took away a score from us.
October 21st, 2019 at 2:02 PM ^
Agree with this, if I could add the following.... for the love of god please do not put a safety or Linebacker on the other teams best WR....now back to your regular schedule programming.
October 21st, 2019 at 12:51 PM ^
Praising his players is indeed what a coach should do in a press conference. He also wasn't afraid to speak his mind when PSU targeted Shea.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:02 PM ^
The team showed a lot down 21-0 on the road. They really didnt back down the adjusted and it worked. You can tell the offense is starting to make sense again. I think Shea finally has his confidence back which is huge for a QB. He was throwing the ball all over the place in the second half. He would have completed 70+% of his passes if it werent for the numerous drops from Black, DPJ, Collins.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:03 PM ^
He addressed the Ronnie Bell email issue, called out Connor Grady by name, said Grady probably got drunk on Saturday night and sent the email, and now thinks "I'm an idiot".
EDIT:
October 21st, 2019 at 1:11 PM ^
when Harbaugh says he feels good about the "plan for ND" I sure as hell hope it includes covering Cole Kmet streaking down the middle of the field with someone other than a LB.
October 21st, 2019 at 2:54 PM ^
Uche'll be all over it
October 21st, 2019 at 1:13 PM ^
I dont think Ronnie Bell needs it, but i do appreciate how much coach has been looking out for him. Heart and soul of the team, that man.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:18 PM ^
Hopefully this offense sees what it can become and do from this game- I think they did well enough to win, but the defense giving up big plays is what doomed us. If the big TD plays don't happen Michigan wins this game. Let's hope they offense plays similar the rest of the way, and Coach Brown rips his defense and gets them ready for ND.
Go Blue!
October 21st, 2019 at 1:19 PM ^
Saturday night was the most animated we've seen Jim in a while. He might believe this team can do something now
October 21st, 2019 at 1:42 PM ^
Looks like he changed some meds. You can tell in these press conferences. His cadence is better, not so long pauses in sentences. I know from personal experience what some meds can do, give you that zombie like effect where you're just there. Obviously speculation on my part and I'll be downvoted to Bolivian, just my 2 cents.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:53 PM ^
I've seen it, as well, the difference that a different medication can deliver. Meds for anxiety and depression are real, and they're (mostly) needed by those who take them. But the wrong ID of the problem, or lack of careful (and truthful) follow-up on how its going, can make things worse.
October 21st, 2019 at 6:13 PM ^
Think you guys should maybe stop talking about it as if it's something that you know? It's pure speculation, and pretty shitty.
October 21st, 2019 at 8:37 PM ^
I have personal experience with it (not me, but immediate family). I don't know if Harbaugh takes anything, or not - merely commenting on what different meds can do.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:23 PM ^
On the snap counts: "We were mixing in a count that was a two count or a hard count. That was our way of combating it."
PSU did not get any great jumps on the snap. We also had very few false starts for that atmosphere. Yay coaching.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:37 PM ^
Their CB/Safety blitzes did have some guys running full speed at the LOS off the slot WRs. Patterson almost had 1 or 2 screens batted down by the blitzer, but they did a good job getting the ball out quickly to where the blitz was coming from and had number advantages in the 2nd half because out it.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:26 PM ^
On the calls: "There were some. You had the human reaction of, what your human reactions are. Sometimes it's not fair. (Said) a long time ago, the only fair is the county fair -- you'll be disappointed sometimes. "Yeah, looked at those -- make no excuse."
Just call out the shitty reffing and take the fine. God I would love to see a coach just call them out once. But we all know how much the refs would screw over JH in the next big game and would savor every minute of it too
October 21st, 2019 at 1:58 PM ^
"But we all know how much the refs would screw over JH in the next big game ..."
Fuck it, they do it, anyway... Call out the BS after telling Warde he's going to back up the words. Seriously, one face to face, heart to heart between Warde and Jim would have Warde slobbering all over himself to back up his coach. Which is something he did not do after 2016 OSU.
(And don't spew the 'privately behind the scenes' BS - you either back up your coach publicly, or you don't. He didn't.)
October 21st, 2019 at 2:12 PM ^
Lane Kiffin called out the officiating this week with a tweet.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:34 PM ^
I mean I would like to see maybe Jim take the fine and rip into the officials a little more. Just something along the lines of how a couple of the calls in the first half (non PI on Black, OPI on Collins) had a big impact on the first half. Also maybe mention that the targeting on Patterson needs to be called or at least looked at by the booth which was the worst part of that whole thing. And then just end with despite what went against us we had the chance to overcome it. But yeah I don't think speaking in a general tone is that impactful versus calling out specific penalties and their impact a little more harshly. But I guess on the flipslide neither option would accomplish anything since the Big Ten doesn't give a shit about having competent officials or holding them accountable. And then like you said who know if they hold it against him the rest of the year. At least he ripped them on the field, that was nice to see. And it did impact things because after he went off on them the second time the officiating become at least a little more fair.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:45 PM ^
I would too...if it were any other coach, but they already don't like him. He'd only make that worse.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:34 PM ^
I'll take Harbaugh as my coach, any kid named Glasgow on my team and hell yes, Ronnie Bell.
Just beat OSU. This team is going to finish strong this year.
October 21st, 2019 at 2:19 PM ^
Totally agree. Harbaugh is EXACTLY the right coach at Michigan for a great many reasons, one reason being that he brings in students like Bell and Glasgow.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:40 PM ^
I would just like to say it is very refreshing to be reading positive comments about the team and the coach and players instead of all the negative comments. That is all.
October 21st, 2019 at 4:08 PM ^
Agreed. You need a thick skin or happy pills to read this site most days.
October 21st, 2019 at 8:39 PM ^
Especially after a loss!
October 21st, 2019 at 1:47 PM ^
You all keep talking about the O, and I understand they got off to a slow start. But what about Don Brown, calling single coverage, repeatedly, against Hamler and co.? The last TD, Harbaugh has said, was a blown call - who's that on? It's on Mr. Brown, and I would say he and the D have gotten the team into big holes early on multiple occasions (PSU in '17, ND last year, Wisconsin and PSU this). He's a great coordinator, and usually comes up with very effective adjustments, but holy crap I wish he'd get those right the first time in one of these big games. It just seems like our athletes are good enough, and his plans are, too, AFTER we're sunk.
Edit: this was intended as a reply to BootedBlue, above. Sorry
October 21st, 2019 at 1:55 PM ^
I mean of the things that got them beat I would say drops, officiating in the first half and giving up the 3-4 big plays on bad matchups/playcalls. How people want to weight those things is up to them.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:54 PM ^
Can someone ask him why he and the staff let this team start out flat everytime we play good teams? Playing catchup and taking 2 quarters to adjust might speak to his record vs good teams!
October 21st, 2019 at 1:57 PM ^
I have said this in other threads but I just don't agree with this narrative that they came out flat. The yards were almost even in the first, it is not like they were not moving the ball. Just various things came together to prevent them getting more points in the half. But it was not on the same level as Wisky as far as being flat.
October 21st, 2019 at 3:15 PM ^
Yeah they did not come out flat. They were nervous likely and had to play thru all of that energy on PSU's side from playing in that environment. Once they settled down, they were fine.
October 21st, 2019 at 6:24 PM ^
Look up the first quarter score of road games vs ranked teams...in all of Harbaugh's years it is PATHETIC look it up dont take my word for it. His teams here start out flat as the norm and he doesn't get these kids up for big road games!
October 21st, 2019 at 1:55 PM ^
Would have using Dax Hill and his speed to cover Hamler and his speed worked out better for Michigan's defensive backs?
October 21st, 2019 at 2:20 PM ^
My guess is yes, he did close really fast when Hamler cut that slant. Don Brown dont usually counter speed with speed.
October 21st, 2019 at 2:23 PM ^
Honestly I thought maybe Michigan would have moved Thomas or Lavert Hill to the slot to try and take away Hamler. I can understand the reluctance in lining Dax consistently up on him though, because even if you have all the speed in the world, he is still a freshmen who is more likely to have mental breakdowns and speed can't make up for those.
October 21st, 2019 at 2:26 PM ^
Harbaugh is so used to road losses now he has canned responses in his pressers
October 21st, 2019 at 3:16 PM ^
You're a dope!
October 21st, 2019 at 2:27 PM ^
Jordan Glasgow is Desmond Morgan 2.0. Get his ass off the field.
October 21st, 2019 at 2:32 PM ^
Glasgow has been good this year, this is a bad take. Besides a couple hiccups against Blackshear he has been the most consistent LB.
October 21st, 2019 at 3:40 PM ^
Hes a solid lb but theirs no way he should ever line up at the LOS and rush with no stunts.
October 21st, 2019 at 3:17 PM ^
I think we found Connor Grady.
October 21st, 2019 at 7:36 PM ^
And you are Connor Grady 2.0. Get your ass off Mgoblog.
October 21st, 2019 at 11:56 PM ^
Wut?
Desmond Morgan was the team’s best LB in 2015 and an honorable mention All-B1G player. He was not the problem on those teams.
October 21st, 2019 at 3:16 PM ^
So is josh uche not eligible to return next year? Asking for a friend as there's been conflicting reports on this...
October 21st, 2019 at 3:29 PM ^
I am hoping to see the offense we saw from the 2nd quarter on is what we will see from the start of games from now on and that it was not just a byproduct of being down 21-0.