Indiana Postgame Presser: Brady Hoke Comment Count

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What is more impressive? The offensive performance or the defense stepping up to make plays at the end?

“Well we knew we needed a couple stops at the end defensively. We were fortunate enough. But offensively, obviously we were pretty much in sync. I thought Devin [Gardner] did a nice job, found the guys who were open. Ran the ball better, which you look at the film and we’ll see why we ran it better. But that was a big part of it. We needed to complement each other. The stops at the end helped complement the offense. But the offense kept moving. Kept bailing us out a little bit defensively.”

Would Kyle Bosch have played if Joey Burzynski hadn’t been hurt?

“With Kyle, being here since January has helped his development. Joey getting nicked up a little bit probably got him in the game a little sooner than he would have. But he was a guy that Darryl [Funk] and Al [Borges] thought was coming along.”

What does 7 rushing touchdowns say about your interior line?

“I think it says something about all of those guys. [Mike] Schofield and [Taylor] Lewan, they’re not bad. I think Jake Butt is coming into his own a little bit as a blocker. AJ [Williams] I know was a little better. The two fullbacks on the field, you talk about two guys getting onto linebackers, they were pretty good. It was fun watching them.”

I know you’d rather not play a game with 110 points scored, but when you do, is it good to have a guy like Jeremy Gallon?

“Well I think so. Statistically I think it shows that. You know, he’s such a great competitor. Runs good routes. Finds the open spaces. Sure-handed. I know he had one that got away from him. Jeremy to me, he’s a tough guy who really is a little slippery at times. Yards after the catch are usually decent with him. He’s a total wide receiver. If he wasn’t catching it, he’s going to be working his tail off blocking.”

You had more spread concepts today. How did that open things up for Fitz Toussaint?

“Well it depends on how people are going to match you and how they’re going to match you up. If they’re going to be a little bit more with a dime or a nickel group, depending on who’s in there, some of that maybe took advantage of some angles that we had leverage-wise.”

You’ve taken some heat this season in the run game with the turnovers and the offensive line –

“Who’s giving us heat? You?”

Well … “people” –

“Maybe.”

Do you feel like you shut some people up a little bit? Do you care?

“No, I don’t care. We won the football game. That’s the only thing I care about.”

You said earlier this week that you were confident in Al and the offense. Did today demonstrate that?

“I’ve had a lot of faith in our coaches. Yeah, if that’s going to satisfy people, that’s fine.”

With the defense, were you disappointed in some of the things you saw? What disappointed you the most?

“Yeah. Well I think it’ll be interesting to look at on tape. We had some opportunities on some of those balls that got thrown over our head, and we have to take advantage of it. The first one, I know Ray [Taylor] was trying to get the call from Thomas [Gordon] and looked at Thomas, and the ball was snapped and the guy was down the sideline. We’ve had some opportunities in there to battle for the ball, and we’ve got to do a better job of that.”

What would you say is the identity of this team through seven games?

“Um … that’s a great question. And so good that I don’t know if I can answer that.”

What were your thoughts on the sideline when you saw Jeremy Gallon make so many plays?

“Well, there were some double-moves in there that really worked well off the boot game. With the double move, he hit two of those where you double-move the corner. Like most corners, to some degree, they get a little gun shy. Then maybe they stay deep with that cushion, and it opens up something else. Believe me, I’ve seen our guys do the same thing. It was just the timing I think and Devin having the ability to step up in the pocket on some of those things, are really what helped when he had that kind of time.”

Early in the third quarter, Fitz fumbled. How proud were you to see him bounce back from that?

“Well there’s no question, because I don’t think anybody – Jake Ryan and Fitz, no one has worked harder to get themselves back on the football field when you look at what they’ve done. The one thing about Fitz is that he’s a guy who – he’s got a great toughness to him. There’s probably nobody more disappointed than he was with the fumble. But at the same time, if anybody’s going to get back in the fight, it’s going to be him.”

Devin mentioned that there was some miscommunication on the field on the second to last drive on the play where he scored the touchdown from six yards out.

“You know, you check protections. Sometimes Devin does it, sometimes the center does it. One guy checked a protection one way, the other guy checked it the other way.”

What did you see him do?

“I saw Devin being very athletic.”

You’re 6-1 right now, then you have a bye week. Then you have the meat part of your schedule. What do you hope to accomplish? And does this bye week fall at a good time? Are you going to make significant changes? Will this Michigan team be different when they take the field in East Lansing in two weeks? How many more questions can I ask? Am I being serious right now?

“I could say this: I’d like to see the same offense show up. Maybe a different defense. We have work to do, no question about it. We have some things in all areas. From the defensive standpoint we have to clean some things up. Hopefully take the time, I know we’re beat up a little bit, but that’s part of the game. Get some guys healthier. Then work like heck to go out there and win.”

So you’re glad to have a bye? I mean, you just had one.

“We had a three-game schedule there is what we looked at. Then we have the meat of the schedule, like you said, the next five weeks.”

At what point did you think Jeremy Gallon was going to have a special game?

“I think the first couple possessions, the offense was making progress and doing some things. I don’t know if there was anything special that I saw.”

Why Burzynski and Magnuson? Also, do you think Kyle Bosch will keep his job at left guard? Also, as a defensive-minded coach, how frustrated were you?

“Yeah, a lot of frustration. Sickening. Sick feeling. That kind of thing. Yeah. We have to play it better. You don’t win championships without playing defense. We didn’t play very good defense today.”

And offensive line?

“They earned the right because of how they were evaluated, how they competed with what they did in practice.”

Anything wrong with Bryant  and Kalis?

“Yeah. Kyle got in the game with some six-pack stuff. They’re looking to compete.”

MGoQuestion: After the hit on Devin that drew the personal foul and gave you 15 yards on the next kickoff, did you consider doing anything other than kicking it out of the endzone for a touchback?

“Thought about squibbing it. Thought about blooping it. Matt [Wile], on the short bloops, doesn’t get the ball high enough like I’d like for him to.”

Drew Dileo and Joey Burzynski were both dinged up. How are they doing?

“We’ll see about both of them.”

What’s your feeling during a game like this where it’s a shootout?

“I think they always feel like a game no matter what. If it’s a 9-6 game, you’re still coaching both sides like you normally would and encouraging and doing all that, trying to help make adjustments on some things. You just had a sense that our offense would always respond. I think that’s probably what was disappointing about both the fumbles because they were self-inflicted wounds there where you were worried about how many possessions. Watching their offense and what they’ve done so far, you knew they were very capable.”

Big call on fourth and two near the goal line. How glad were you that Fitz was able to punch it in?

“You know what, there wasn’t any doubt about going for it. I knew that we would need points during the course of the afternoon.”

Comments

MGlobules

October 20th, 2013 at 4:51 PM ^

against Sparty, too; executing would be really really nice, whatever the play. But I agree that running it into the line continually will bring disaster

Victor Hale II

October 20th, 2013 at 5:19 PM ^

Assuming the ineffective spread against sparty you've referenced was when Denard was QB, I think the style of offense was not the issue. It was the predictability of that offense, IMO. And turnovers.

If Gardner protects the ball, his legs and passing should be enough to get a UM victory 13 days from now. The D should be able to hold MSU in check.

JT4104

October 20th, 2013 at 3:48 PM ^

Umm Coach...I think the answer to running the ball was two fold...one was IU and second was we spread out the D and gave the OL an easier time to identify who to block when there was only 6/7 guys in the box.

Section 1

October 20th, 2013 at 4:51 PM ^

...saw a large number of snaps; but nothing thrown his way.  Jeremy Jackson played a lot.  I really liked the way that all of the recievers (Gallon, Jackson, Chesson, Funchess) blocked.  Did they throw to Jake Butt all day?  Can't remember anything.

As an aside, Sione Houma saw a fair number of snaps and he had a really good day blocking.

Wee-Bey Brice

October 20th, 2013 at 4:45 PM ^

I sincerely hope we have something in store for Staee.. We have to hit them with some things that aren't on tape and take some chances. I-Form will not get us a single yard. 

Mr. Yost

October 20th, 2013 at 5:12 PM ^

We're also going to have to limit our play action naked bootleg or Devin is going to get KILLED! He's been able to just barely run around people, that's not going to happen vs. MSU.

One thing that will help is that they're a man-to-man base defense. We need to be able to hit those hitch routes.

ALSO, that back shoulder fade that we threw over and over vs. ND needs to be a staple.

In the end, Borges HAS to take what MSU gives him. If we go in their with our own agenda, it's not going to work. But just read the defense and call a play. I'd even go with a controlled no huddle for a little bit and do some of that "check with me" stuff where Borges can read the defense from up top and signal in a new play.

HAIL 2 VICTORS

October 20th, 2013 at 5:14 PM ^

"some people"

you know who you are.

If you are rational enough to put down your stone for Mattison all things considered you would think you might allow at least some patience for Borges as he is also playing with just three quarters of the deck.

MGrowOld needs to light his incense and kneel to his Al Borges statue.

charblue.

October 20th, 2013 at 5:24 PM ^

based on story angles or points that must be covered. If you're qb and wide receiver have a field day against IU in a shootout, this is the stuff that gets asked. If your defense looks like it it did yesterday, you get softball questions about the defense. 

There was a good question asked about this team's identity, which Hoke couldn't answer, because their performance this season hasn't led to any qualifying defintion, except one, this is an inconsistent, young team with a maturing talented quarterback. 

The crucible for this team is the schedule going forward. Everyone knew this. I thought the lynchpin win would be ND and that it would propel the kind of development that would lead to an automatic 7-0 start and showdown matchup with MSU that would give this team the edge it needs to finish and see what it can do against Ohio. 

Right now, I see MSU as the favorite in two weeks, tougher and coming up with just enough offensive tweaks to make its defense pay off through the schedule. For Sparty, Michigan is the season, in more ways than one. They still have to go to Nebraska and play Northwestern. But their schedule is more conducive for a run to Indy. 

No, the game in two weeks, is more than a rivalry game this year. The outcome will define the season for both teams. 

RJWolvie

October 20th, 2013 at 9:41 PM ^

about the UM-MSU game being season-defining for both teams. Now I'm even sicker about it, since I don't like our chances at all going against that D with our O line, & Gardner in an away game! Shit shit shit.



After last week, I thought we'd lose out or maybe get this one against Indy & then lose out. I'm a little more hopeful after this week that we can beat NW away (helps that it's not toughest away crowd, & that they seem to be regrading). So call it 7 reg season wins. Still don't see Iowa on road (our next best chance to win) (or maybe that's a tie with Neb at home). Probably lose both those. Don't see much chance of beating MSU on road or OSU at home. Wish I could believe anything more positive, but...

jsquigg

October 20th, 2013 at 5:47 PM ^

Of course all Borges' defenders will talk about this game, but he doesn't get any medals for taking half a season to feature the offense he should have always been using.  Especially since Indiana has a terrible defense as well.  Show me something against Sparty and I'll begin the forgiveness process.....maybe.  

Holmdel

October 20th, 2013 at 6:13 PM ^

We've said all along that Borges should be fired unless he was able to get his inexperienced OL to move the ball against the nation's number one ranked defense.  

...Oh, wait, we didn't say that.  Never mind.  Second try:

I greatly enjoyed bashing Al last week because it made me feel like an offensive wizard.  I miss that feeling, and so I am re-setting the bar artificially high so that if Al fails to meet it, I can have that feeling once more.

MGlobules

October 21st, 2013 at 8:44 AM ^

to the way the team and chain of command works; if anything it was probably the opposite. . . Borges is running the offense that Hoke wants. You can only really make ridiculous assertions like this if you haven't paid attention to the team for the last two years OR if you mean to assert yourself as all-knowing about offensive football and the guy who makes a quarter million dollars doing it and who has done so for a pile of teams knows nothing. It's dumb, and it's surprising that after this week anyone can still push it. But it's your internet prerogative. 

They have been trying to establish the run. Against lesser teams through the early part of the season they stuck with it under game conditions even when it wasn't working because that was what they were trying to establish, because they felt that those games presented rational opportunities to do so. We lost to PSU not because of the attempts to run but because of time management. These guys have thrown the dice and brought us many more wins so far than could have been reasonably expected; Hoke is freaking undefeated through nineteen games in A2, for cripe's sake. If Devin were laid up right now you same people would be cursing Borges for risking the poor guy's neck. What's more the offense has been reasonably productive DESPITE the insistence on running season-long. I am myself have very mixed feelings about the attempt to establish manball under the long-term conditions that Michigan faces. But there is way too much sillypants crap here from whackdoodle posters. Stop just stop.

Indiana Blue

October 21st, 2013 at 10:12 AM ^

"We lost to PSU not because of the attempts to run but because of time management."

Ace and Brian really missed on their analysis of the PSU game.  Just FYI - Devin has to play his position as he sees it.  He's a gifted athlete that MUST play to his strengths - and that includes running.  If he was to get a boo boo - then that's just part of the game.  Certainly NO ONE'S FAULT - he could also get hurt just standing in the pocket ... this comment indicates you have more MGoPoints than football knowledge.

Go Blue!

unWavering

October 20th, 2013 at 8:40 PM ^

I'm not going to claim that Borges was even close to perfect in games earlier this year, but it's probably hard to call an offense when your offensive line has absolutely zero push and shoddy pass protection and a quarterback that turns the ball over when he's under pressure.  The offensive line showed up in this game, and it remains to be seen if that's more because of the opponent (like part of the story, but IU can't be much worse up front than Akron/UConn) or because they are starting to work together well.

MGoBlueChip

October 20th, 2013 at 6:10 PM ^

I don't want to say MSU is a must win, but it is. Glad to see the offense open up but I doubt Devin will that kind of time when we head into EL. I will say I have more faith now than I did pre-IU.

reshp1

October 20th, 2013 at 9:04 PM ^

I don't know what made me think of this, but back when the first 1v1 drills from fall practice were release, this is what a couple people noticed from the Kalis reps:

I know that everyone wants to focus on the positive but Kalis looks very slow off the ball. You "heard" impact on every rep except for those involving him. Hopefully he was just having an off day.

http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/michigan-drill-video#comment-2123313

As it turns out, this wasn't an isolated bad day and a foreshadowing of things to come. Kalis really does look pretty back coming off the ball to meet the guy across from him. He looks very good pulling and athletic as billed, but lacks the pop to put defenders on their heels. Quite the opposite, defenders are putting him on his heels.

Cake Or Death

October 20th, 2013 at 10:34 PM ^

OK, I don't comment a lot but I read enough that I know the protocol around here, and what sets the general tone apart from many other places on the internet.  I read your comment and immediately recognized the signature from previous (similar) posts.

 

I suggest you either

1. pay attention to the reply comments you've received so far, or

2. reveal exactly what type of troll you are

borninAnnArbor

October 20th, 2013 at 8:48 PM ^

I am most worried about snap count against Mai. In the last two games it seemed like the d lines were moving before the ball was snapped and hit the o line while the ball was still moving in the center's hand. That has been contributing to the negative yards as well