Michigan State Postgame Presser Transcript: Brady Hoke
"You should have used a different game plan."
Your rushing offense –
“A lot of negative yardage plays. I thought there were some pretty good runs once in a while in there, but you snap the ball for a 20 yard loss, you get sacked I don’t know how many times, so your yardage part of it isn’t very good. You put yourself behind the 8-ball a little bit not executing, and then you’re forced into doing some things you don’t want to do the whole time.”
What does the offensive line need to do to protect Devin better and avoid sacks?
“It’s not just the line. There’s backs involved, there’s routes involved, there’s timing, all those issues are part of it. We have to get better.”
Did all the shuffling on the offensive line have something to do with it?
“Nope.”
What’s Devin’s status? He sat out the last series.
“Yeah, he got pounded a little bit. He was a warrior out there that last drive before the interception at the end. He did a nice job getting us down the field, had taken a lot of shots early in the game. He just was a little bit worn out.”
Does he have an injury?
“No. I wouldn’t say he has an injury. I would say beat up. If that’s an injury, then that’s an injury.”
In the history of this game, the team that rushes for more yards wins. How critical was the rushing game today?
“Well it’s always critical.”
Why do you think there were so many negative yardage plays?
“We didn’t execute as well as they did.”
That’s it?
“Pretty much.”
Taylor Lewan’s personal foul?
“I didn’t see that. I think that’s his frustration more than anything.”
You had a couple trips to the red zone in the first half. Did you think about taking a shot in the end zone at all?
“I think if we wanted to take a shot, we would have.”
There’s a lot of talk before the game about the toughness gap between the two teams.
“By … you guys?”
Yeah.
“From two years ago.”
Right. Did it disappoint you that the gap seems to have widened?
“I don’t think so. I think our kids played hard. I don’t think we executed very well. There’s eight to six plays in a game like this that make a difference. And if you go back and watch it again, you’ll see there’s eight to six plays that made a difference in the game from a standpoint of momentum, standpoint of confidence, and what you want to do. That’s part of it.”
How big was it to give up that touchdown before the half?
“That was a disappointing drive there at the end of the half. It drives you crazy. You give up points right at the end of the half, and it’s disappointing.”
How do you not allow a game like this to beat you next week?
“Well hopefully you do a great job as a group of leaders. Talk about coaches, senior captains, all those guys. Understanding where we are and what we need to do. I know they signed up for a guaranteed 12 games.”
With so much emphasis on a Big Ten title, what does this team have to play for?
“Still. It’s not in our hands. But you never know unless you’re forecasting for us now. Who knows?”
Does it surprise you that there was a lack of execution with the two weeks off?
“No. I think there’s more made out of that than anything else. Does it surprise me? Yeah. It surprises me. It has nothing to do with two weeks.”
Did you think you’d be further along?
“Well I was hoping.”
Is it coaching that you have to go back and look at?
“You always do.”
MGoQuestion: Going along with that, were you satisfied with the preparation and game plan?
“Yes. We wouldn’t have run the plays we ran unless we were satisfied.”
MGoFollowup: But considering the result …
“Hindsight’s always 20/20, right?”
What did you make of Michigan State’s defensive line and Shillique Calhoun?
“I think he’s a good football player. We’ve had a lot of respect for their defense all week going into this game, and I grabbed Max Bullough afterwards because he’s one of the guys I like watching play football. We have a lot of respect for them.”
Do you think the identity of this team is that it needs to get better in the trenches?
“That’s part of it. We haven’t played the way we like to every game.”
When Devin did have time, how did you think he played?
“I don’t know. Pretty good. But it would be nice to give him more time.”
What do you tell your fan base and alumni about dropping five of the last six games to Michigan State?
“Well, they’ve won five of the last six. Something like that. Well, we gotta keep working.”
Five of six is pretty significant. Do you think there’s that big of a gap?
“I don’t think there is a gap. I think they played awfully well, executed awfully well. I don’t think we did.”
November 3rd, 2013 at 11:51 PM ^
November 4th, 2013 at 12:55 AM ^
November 4th, 2013 at 12:59 AM ^
November 4th, 2013 at 1:13 AM ^
November 4th, 2013 at 1:34 AM ^
November 4th, 2013 at 1:05 AM ^
They are a shell of the team that hung tight with Ohio for 3 quarters.
November 4th, 2013 at 1:14 AM ^
Don't we have Nebraska at home this Saturday?
November 4th, 2013 at 1:11 AM ^
I have been a Michigan fan for 54 years. I believe that Hoke and Co. are recruiting well and are trying to bring along our players. I also believe that it will take some time. Without being too judgmental, I'm wondering about the "toughness" of recent teams. It seems like Hoke says that he recruits Michigan men. Hopefully, the recruiting brings in those kind of kids that will develop into a team that brings the wood on Saturday. I'm tired of watching this team not executing and consistently being beaten down.
November 4th, 2013 at 1:13 AM ^
“I think if we wanted to take a shot, we would have.”
What the hell kind of answer is that?
November 4th, 2013 at 1:14 AM ^
November 4th, 2013 at 6:28 AM ^
November 4th, 2013 at 7:19 AM ^
November 4th, 2013 at 2:31 PM ^
Clemson started two sophomores on the OL with two graduate school seniors and a junior. And a grand total of 4.
http://www.shakinthesouthland.com/2013/10/16/4836800/2013-florida-state-clemson-depth-chart-analysis
MSU does start five...but I notice you left out the O-Line info on this one....RS Freshman, RS Seinor, RS Senior, RS Senior, RS Junior.
http://michiganstate.rivals.com/cdepthtext.asp?Team=MICHIGANST
Oklahoma seems to think they start five, counting the RS sophomore.
http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=208797258
But other than those things, right on.
November 4th, 2013 at 3:42 AM ^
November 4th, 2013 at 2:22 PM ^
Otherwise you'd better inform Stanford they're starting the wrong guys-
https://admin.xosn.com/pdf9/2560493.pdf
November 4th, 2013 at 3:45 AM ^
November 4th, 2013 at 3:47 AM ^
November 4th, 2013 at 2:34 PM ^
UCLA is 6-2 also. Congrats.
November 4th, 2013 at 3:50 AM ^
November 4th, 2013 at 10:04 AM ^
Who would have thought that it would take Magnum P.I. to find out what most avid football fans already know. Just because you have young talent, doesn't mean you can't be good (at least competent). The reason our o-line is in the state it is isn't because of youth, it's coaching. Thank you Magnum, master sleuth, and I mean that seriously as I didn't have the time to research it, but watch enough college football to know youth doesn't equal bad. Thanks again.
November 4th, 2013 at 2:39 PM ^
Baylor data is hard to find. But they must have had a lot of switches since they were expecting to start 6 or 7, with 3 seniors and 2 sophomores on the O-line.
November 4th, 2013 at 8:01 AM ^
Go ahead Mr Smarty pants.....I'm waiting....
November 4th, 2013 at 2:17 PM ^
the apologists come up with a response to that one.
November 4th, 2013 at 2:34 PM ^
Most of his stats were made up.
November 5th, 2013 at 4:32 AM ^
November 4th, 2013 at 3:50 AM ^
As for Hoke's great recruiting, let's not forget that the Michigan's most notable players players since Hoke been here has been Denard and Gardner -- RR recruits. As for Hoke's recruiting prowess, where is all this talent that he's recruited? I'm not seeing it on the field. The "youth" excuse doesn't fly. The good teams seem to do well with young players. Is it perhaps that good coaches know how get the talent out quicker?
Let's stop blaming the OL for all of the team's problems. Isn't the OL one of Hoke's alleged areas of expertise? If you think he's a great recruiter, then he must be a lousy coach 'cause the talent ain't showing. Not even a glimpse. Not when teams like Akron and UConn can push you around. It's all on Hoke.
November 4th, 2013 at 3:55 AM ^
Another thing, a college team doesn't recruit future NFL players. They recruit players who BECOME NFL players by getting coached up so they EXECUTE well on game days and catch the NFL's eyes. The way Hoke has Michigan playing, EVERY team we face ends up looking like they've got NFL prospects on their roster. So let's not put the cart before the horse.
November 4th, 2013 at 6:58 AM ^
November 4th, 2013 at 7:06 AM ^
Ive read "blame Hoke, Mattison,Funk and Borges" Lets not forget Fred Jackson! How is it we have no backs that can block? Going into the season, we were told we have a stable full of competent backs, young guys who are competing every practice. Sure we suffer injuries, young players and of course fitz comes back "hungry" (add Al's running angry quote). I have yet to see where a back has continually picked up rushers behind our pourus line. I find it hard to believe that with the talent we have, the basics are somehow overlooked. I have a hard time believing that our backs, especially a 5 star 240lb RB does not have to ability to pick up or at least recognize a blitz.
November 4th, 2013 at 7:39 AM ^
Are the biggest softballs i've ever seen. I mean come on...NOBODY should be on hoke about how he answers these.
Look you have celebrities on inside edition who won't tell you what their favorite food is becuase it's too controversial then they go on Howard Stern and next thing you know they are talking about how they love anal.
Point is...it's the press' job to pull the answers out. Or at least push...in presser after presser there is no follow up questions. How about....
"Specifically, whose fault is it they are not executing?"
"Why does UM seem to struggle when other elite teams have young talent...and play much tougher competition?"
"You talk a lot about accountabilitly...who will you be holding accountable?"
"Specifically, how are you going to attack the rest of the season?"
I mean there is a massive list of follow ups to at least push the envelope. I understand you may not get specific answers to them all but we need to push it. If you get a ton of press people pushing it you will get some info...or he'll at least feel the heat a bit.
I swear I'm waiting to see the below on the next presser...
"coach hoke how much do you like hugs?"
"do you like the smell of flowers?"
November 4th, 2013 at 9:04 AM ^
It's basically a GO BLUE NATION meltdown.
Sparty has to be loving this...
November 4th, 2013 at 9:19 AM ^
Does "didn't execute" mean anything besides "didn't play well"?
November 4th, 2013 at 10:23 AM ^
Frieder == Moeller (successful but spectacular flameout)
Fisher == Lloyd (1 NC, other successes, and then a slow decline (2006 football notwithstanding). Of course, the lack of control Fisher had over Ed Martin has no parallel with Lloyd, who was as clean as it is possible to be, it seems)
Ellerbe == Rodriguez (FAILFAILFAILFAIL)
Amaker == Hoke (Great guys, run clean programs, good recruiters)
Beilein == ... Bo?
THE CYCLE REPEATS!!!
November 4th, 2013 at 10:12 AM ^
Outsider's view on the above:
He didn't say a single thing of substance and I actually came away angry that Michigan's coach is coming across as mediocre. How did we come to this?
Seriously, when Tress gave these kind of non-answers to the press it was accepted because we were mostly winning championships. We all (Buckeye fans) love that Urban and his staff are bluntly honest and have no problem calling out coaching, position groups, or players. It seems to motivate the coaches and players to do better. The above seems to show that there is no accountability on the coaching staff. Hoke does not seem to feel accountable to fans, alumni, doners, or the school for open, thought out answers or review of the performance from him or his staff.
November 4th, 2013 at 10:20 AM ^
I think the common denominator for OSU under Tressel and Meyer is winning. Honest question--how did those John Cooper pressers go?
To use the Michigan example, Rodriguez could not have handled press conferences more differently than Hoke, and yet he was blasted on this here blog and probably other places for it. Common denominator? Losing.
So, when winning, Hoke's folksiness is comforting and confidence-inspiring. When losing, it's evasive and evidence of a none-too-bright intellect.
November 4th, 2013 at 12:08 PM ^
Cooper was less open than Meyer, but more so than Tress. In bad losses, though, he seemed to be willing to take blame, whether it be in game decisions or game plan. He would cite the team's lack of preparedness. Obviously, the biggest factor in his eventual release was his record against Michigan. He failed in every scenario possible against you guys. But he at least took the responsibility for it and admitted when the game plan was wrong or he could have made better calls.
And I completely agree with you, winning solves all. It also comes down to patterns and adjustments. When OSU loses a game, Meyer's bluntness on what caused the loss will be appreciated. Until the issues keep occuring, at which point fans will be upset that problems are identified, yet not solved.
At the end of the day, though, I think fans would much rather have a coach be specific and open about issues/successes, winning or losing. It at least builds confidence that the coach can diagnose what is/isn't working, whereas it sometimes seems like Hoke doesn't necessarily know or want to come to grips with it.
November 4th, 2013 at 10:17 AM ^
November 4th, 2013 at 10:29 AM ^
November 4th, 2013 at 10:47 AM ^
The fact is we're Michigan fans. For some reason we feel entitled to win every game. We're young and we need to develop Hoke's players in the same system, another change now? As frustrating as it is I've resigned myself to the fact we are probably 2 years away from being competetive for a B10 title. We have to develop these recruits in this system the way we didn't w/ RR and yes 'his players' went 11-2 in what would of been year 4.
November 4th, 2013 at 2:01 PM ^
November 4th, 2013 at 11:44 AM ^
The part about needing to execute better came off as being a little naive to me.
November 4th, 2013 at 2:34 PM ^
STEN CARLSON was a legendary TROLL on Hailvictors.com. He defended everything Rich Rod did and wanted him as coach till they brought in Hoke at which point he said "I realize now we need Hoke". HIs dumbass analysis ran the site into the ground as he'd constantly cry to ban people who didn't agree with him and eventually it became a "yes man" site and lost all of its popularity. I warn you if you want critical thought and not more idiots like Sten who'll say "coach is right" no matter what then you should ban him. He is a monumental idiot who even said at one point "at this point in my life I'm more interested in the relationships the student athletes build with each other than I am in wins or losses". So consider his input as helpful as any OSU fan's thoughts with regard to UofM's progress.
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