Wednesday Presser 9-17-14: Brady Hoke
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News bullets and other items:
- Ty Isaac’s appeal was unsuccessful, which means he has three years of eligibility beginning next fall
- He currently is able to participate on the scout team
Opening remarks:
“Thanks for coming. It was good to get back on the field on Tuesday. Those practices, it was very physical. Had a great effort. It was another day for us to go out and compete and challenge with each other and prepare for a very good Utah team. It’s going to be great playing at home. You know, that always gets your players and coaches and everybody else, it gets them excited in the support that we’ve had, and we’re looking for that on Saturday.
“We’re not going to talk about injuries and I might as well bring that out now. And some of that is because you can say something about something and then you’re wrong. Everybody heals a little differently, and the other thing is for our kids. I want to make sure we’re doing a good job protecting them.”
Coach, what would you consider some of the biggest keys to beating Utah?
“Well, I think number one I think they’re third in the county in points scored. I mean, they’re explosive offensively. Good skill players. The two backs are kind of interchangeable in there. For the style of offense I think they really do a nice job of seeing holes. Travis Wilson has done a tremendous job when look nationally where he’s at. He’s second in pass efficiency. Gets the ball out of his hands pretty quickly.
“From the defensive side, I think they’re, depending on how they calculate it NCAA-wise, first in sacks and first in tackles for loss. Knowing Kyle [Whittingham] and Dave Christensen from [my] Mountain West time they both like to be aggressive defensively and then also on the offensive side of the ball.
“So for us, number one, we’ve got to improve. We’ve got to keep getting better every day we go on the field. I think from a defensive perspective keeping the ball inside and in front of the defense, making sure on those money downs, those third downs, [that] we can get off the field. Offensively, got to keep the sticks, got to be able to run the football, and also when you take shots you’ve got to execute.”
As someone who’s a guru in defensive line performance, is their defensive line- is it scheme? Is it the individual players that they’re so productive?
“Yeah, you know, Nate Orchard is one guy they’re using in a lot of different ways. As an outside linebacker, sometimes as a defensive end. I think from his athleticism that he has, he can cause you problems and then obviously he’s a playmaker for them so they’re putting him in some positions to make plays. I think up front they’ve got a quickness to them, and that’s something that can give you some problems. They spike a three-technique into an A gap, which is a coach’s nightmare but if you’re quick enough can be effective.”
[After THE JUMP: lots of tempo talk]
Brady, have you guys heard about the Ty Isaac appeal at this point?
“Yeah, it didn’t go through.”
How’s he handled all that? I mean, I assume he came here hoping to play or even expecting to to some degree. How has he handled the whole…
“He’s handled it great. I’ll tell ya, he’s our scout running back. You know, one of the two guys that kind of fill in that role and he had a great day yesterday. I think from an attitude standpoint and everything he’s been awesome.”
So he’ll have three years left starting next year, is that correct?
“Correct.”
Brady, Greg Mattison compared Utah’s offense to Indiana last year. Given the way that game played out, are you expecting another shootout on Saturday?
“Well, we hope not, to be honest with you. They’re a high tempo [team]. They wan to snap the ball quickly. They want to see if you’re disorganized defensively so when you look at that part of it I think some of the same schematics- you know, very similar to Ohio, very similar to Indiana so you see a lot of those things also but the tempo’s a big part of it. We practice at a high tempo and try and- every day we do that, but try and mimic as much as you can the tempo that will be played with.
MGoQuestion: It looks like Derrick Green’s vision has improved this year. I know a lot of that’s innate for a running back, but how can you coach that and how do you coach that in this program?
“Yeah, you’re right. A lot of it, guys have it or they don’t have it and I think part of his vision is the reps he’s had, the tracks he’s run. You know, a running back has certain tracks that they’re going to run and certain reads off those tracks so I think the more he’s had with that and the more reps we’ve given him I think he’s done a better job with it. I also think at the same time offensively up front there’s a little more separation and we’re getting a little more movement.”
Coach, last night Bryan Mone said when he first started working with you he was scared of you and now he says you’re like a father figure. Can you talk about the relationship because [of] the amount of work you do with him?
“You know, he’s a special kid. He’s truly a very Christian young man who…he’s a long way from home and having Sione [Houma] here I think has been a big help. I think the way he built relationships with the guys playing nose tackle for us. Ryan Glasgow has done a tremendous job bringing Bryan around. I think Maurice Hurst and Ondre Pipkins, I think all those guys. They’re a close knit group.”
Brady, if you are without Funchess on Saturday can you kind of go through the pecking order of wide receivers and how not having him out there might effect each one and their productivity?
“It just depends what personnel group. We might play more tight ends. It just depends what we want to do.”
Saw that Dymonte [Thomas] played quite a bit there last week. Was that due to injury opening a spot or was that due to him performing?
“Well, he’s played pretty well. He’s practiced well and you want to reward those guys. He’s done a nice job. He’s gotten better each time he gets on the field. He’s competing. It was good to give him those snaps.”
What was the missing piece for him to push forward coming into this season?
“I think it’s experience and maturity. I think that’s- some guys pick things up a little better sometimes and a little faster and I also think he’s been instrumental in special teams for us and the more reps he’s had at that has helped him on defense.”
On the receivers for a second, outside of Funchess who do you think is most capable today of maybe stepping up and being a number one if it’s called for?
“Well, I think we’ve got a few guys. I mean, I think Darboh and Chesson both have had good practices. They’ve had good years. I mean, they haven’t been perfect. No one has. But I think those guys. Norfleet and what he gives you. I think again, go back to the tight end position with getting guys ready for different personnel groups, I think that’s a positive.”
In terms of their tempo and trying to defend that, you mentioned the other day that you’ve faced a lot of teams like this with the tempo before. Have you done different things against different teams or is there kind of a standard way of doing things?
“Are you talking from schematically, or…”
Yeah, yeah.
“No, I think everything’s a little different. Some people are going to favor just the zone read, some are going- when you look at the run game, some of them are going to be more play action with some boots. Some of them are going to be big three-step teams to get the ball out of the quarterback’s hand. So I think it just depends, you know. From how you want to defend, who your playmakers are, where do you want to put them and get them in position so they can make plays.”
Are they one of those styles? Is Utah one of those styles or have they adjusted this year versus other years in terms of how they…
“You’re talking about Utah?”
Yeah, Utah.
“No. It’s Dave’s offense, to be honest with you, from Wyoming so it’s always been- there’s going to be a lot of three wides trying and stretch the field from the standpoint of space and all those things.”
We talked about it a little big on Monday, but the overall rotation at corner: do you guys know or have an idea of what you want to do there? With the nickel and everything else.
“Yeah. I would think that we have some ideas but they won’t be concrete until after we get done with Thursday’s practice.”
Who would be the three guys maybe right now in the lineup?
“Well, you’ve got the corners who you see on the depth chart.”
Even Raymon?
“The corners you see on the depth chart.”
MGoIncludedForYourReadingPleasure…
September 17th, 2014 at 5:10 PM ^
MGoYou'reRight!
I can only hope Hoke was pointing at you when he started answering the question.
September 17th, 2014 at 10:35 PM ^
He wasn't, but now I have a new goal for the season...
September 17th, 2014 at 5:11 PM ^
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September 17th, 2014 at 5:15 PM ^
We’re not going to talk about injuries and I might as well bring that out now. And some of that is because you can say something about something and then you’re wrong. Everybody heals a little differently, and the other thing is for our kids. I want to make sure we’re doing a good job protecting them.
This is the statement that had Brian basically calling Hoke an asshole for showing his contempt for the press? I think it's time to take a step back around here. Some of the editorial criticism has gone overboard. Maybe he shouldn't have eaten that lemon after all.
September 17th, 2014 at 5:36 PM ^
September 17th, 2014 at 5:41 PM ^
Yup, couldn't help but notice Brian conveniently left off the second, arguably more important part of that statement.
September 17th, 2014 at 5:50 PM ^
Brian posted someone else's tweet. That other guy is just out to make Hoke look bad, which is another point in favor of those of us who think the press deserve nothing and are actively trying to undermine Hoke with the fans.
September 17th, 2014 at 6:02 PM ^
has jumped on that wagon.
September 17th, 2014 at 6:18 PM ^
I'm hoping he just jumped the gun, not actually all the way onto that particular wagon.
September 17th, 2014 at 6:42 PM ^
September 17th, 2014 at 6:55 PM ^
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September 17th, 2014 at 8:14 PM ^
coaching a team that can win on the road with something approaching consistency. It wouldn't hurt to win some of those now one sided rivalries. Did you happen to watch under manned Purdue make ND work for a win? Compare and contrast that with Good Guy Choke Hoke's squad who all but wrapped up NDs win with a bow.
September 17th, 2014 at 5:59 PM ^
What is he protecting them from? Injured-football-player-preying zombies?
September 17th, 2014 at 6:06 PM ^
If the opposing team knows that a player has bad right arm, they would attack it, they would hit it. May be not to harm the player, but to slow him down or create a turnover.
September 17th, 2014 at 7:40 PM ^
September 17th, 2014 at 9:07 PM ^
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September 17th, 2014 at 6:26 PM ^
I mean, it's not public knowledge when you get hurt. There are laws specifically to protect you from people releasing your medical information. Perhaps that's the angle he's coming from there.
EDIT: The guy above me's answer makes more sense.
September 17th, 2014 at 6:43 PM ^
Wouldn't players be able to waive HIPAA rights if HIPAA is what you are suggesting?
It happens in the NFL, and coaches on some college teams share injury information with the media.
September 17th, 2014 at 8:00 PM ^
I'm not suggesting HIPAA per se, but the ideals of HIPAA. Injury information isn't something that's necessary for the public to know, so why disclose it? It does not help the players, and Hoke is a "players first" type of coach.
September 18th, 2014 at 1:08 PM ^
There are laws specifically to protect you from people releasing your medical information.
As far as I know most, if not all, NCAA universities have athletes sign HIPAA/FERPA waivers as part of their scholarship.
September 17th, 2014 at 6:16 PM ^
September 17th, 2014 at 8:24 PM ^
September 17th, 2014 at 8:42 PM ^
September 17th, 2014 at 9:05 PM ^
September 17th, 2014 at 11:25 PM ^
September 18th, 2014 at 1:33 AM ^
Assuming all that you have said to be true, what is preventing Hoke from answering honestly whether he, and the trainers, think that a player will be healthy enough to play in the next game, regardless of what that injury may or may not be?
Fundamentally, that's not a question of injuries, but rather of playing time.
September 18th, 2014 at 2:05 AM ^
Think about how long it can take to recover from a twisted ankle or pulled muscle. Even if you 'feel' good, it's not until you push yourself, that you know whether you've healed.
I'm not trying to defend Hoke, but I'm just trying to be realistic and think about my own experiences.
September 18th, 2014 at 1:45 AM ^
Please continue contributing as you have. I enjoy your posts as well.
Go Blue!
September 18th, 2014 at 10:07 AM ^
I really enjoy your posts, too, and find myself agreeing with most of them. Can you tell us which coach you played for?
September 17th, 2014 at 6:17 PM ^
That when Hoke says "You can say something about something and then you're wrong"...he's speaking the truth. Because it happened. This year. In week one. Remember? Right after App State, he said Peppers would play against ND the next week despite the injury. And obviously Peppers did not play the next week. He was wrong. I don't think he was lying either. He was just wrong. So he'd rather just not talk about it going forward. Which...fine. Who cares? There's no requirement for coaches to give out injury info.
So, yeah, I think we need to calm down criticizing Hoke for not perfectly saying the thing you want him to say. Nothing in that quote reads contempt of the press to me. Not that I would care if Hoke does have contempt of the press (and he probably does at least a little)...because quite frankly, after the last 7 years of Michigan football coverage, much of the local press deserve that sort of treatment.
I know that losing and the uncertainty of the year (especially post-ND game) have a lot to do with it. But Michigan wasn't exactly elite when RR said "get a life" either, and yet this blog had no problem defending RR then.
September 17th, 2014 at 7:18 PM ^
I hadn't thought of that until reading what Hoke said in this presser...
Imagine a kid expected to be the savior of this program, injured in Game 1 of his college career; head coach/father figure(?) tells the press earlier in the week that he's going to play, ratcheting expectations up even higher, and then by Thursday or Friday, kid realizes that he's not gonna be able to make it and feels he let the coach down.
Not saying it happened that way, or that JP is too sensitive, but it might have been a little too rough to put the kid through, college big boy pants notwithstanding....
September 17th, 2014 at 11:09 PM ^
September 17th, 2014 at 5:30 PM ^
Desmond Morgan on the depth chart...
/headdesk.gif
September 17th, 2014 at 5:45 PM ^
They spike a three-technique into an A gap, which is a coach’s nightmare but if you’re quick enough can be effective.”
Wow, Brady is slipping up there and actually saying something specific in a press conference that actually means something. I'm sure he meant to say "They play physical".
He needs to re-work on his press conference poker face.
September 17th, 2014 at 6:06 PM ^
he really need to wear sunglasses during the press conferences to hide the truth /s
Go Blue!
September 17th, 2014 at 6:24 PM ^
I seriously think that this quote is a maaaajor problem with this underachieving program:
"Coach, last night Bryan Mone said when he first started working with you he was scared of you and now he says you’re like a father figure."
September 17th, 2014 at 6:54 PM ^
Please explain.
September 17th, 2014 at 7:04 PM ^
The charitible explanation is it suggests our players come to no longer fear the coach.
I'm guessing in a way it's the opposite of George C. Scott playing Patton in the movie -- "They'll lose their fear of the Germans. I hope to God they don't lose their fear of me."
I don't agree with that assessment, by the way ... I think they have their appropriate fear/respect of Hoke. I'm just saying that may be what was meant by the post by cigol above.
September 17th, 2014 at 9:07 PM ^
The background on Patton's statement is that in War the only way to keep troops on the front lines, ultimately to their potential or likely death, is that they are more afraid of the alternative. That is much different than what is ultimately a volunteer role in sports. So it doens't really apply here.
In sports the old school style of the coach that you are afraind of is found to not be as efffective as the coach that you will die for...so to speak. You play for your team and coach. What motivates more...fear or love. Love is a bit strong but I think it gets the idea across. There is research now about why top athletes are motivated and what motivated them to do their best.
This doesn't diminish the need for competition as a motivational tool which is clear for this team. They have to work harder than the next guy to win the job.
September 17th, 2014 at 10:14 PM ^
(and thanks to all posters). This is what I thought cigol meant, but honestly, it's counterintuitive. What's wrong with being a father figure? I aspire to my old man's standard everyday: I never doubted his love but I damn sure knew I'd be held accountable for being stupid. That seems to be a good paradigm for coaching, too.
September 17th, 2014 at 8:21 PM ^
not their daddy. There's a time and place for everything, time now to win. Time now to stop saying to Frank Clark...well you almost got the sack, get 'em next time. Time to say, Mr. Clark, if you can't sack the QB I'll find somebody that will. And then do it.
Open question, when is the last time the Michigan DL absolutely had it's way with the opposing OL? Next question, when is the last time the OL impossed its will on the opposing DL? Coach Hoke told us at the very beginning that would be his point of emphasis. Daddy Hoke has yet to deliver.
September 17th, 2014 at 7:26 PM ^
September 17th, 2014 at 8:19 PM ^
If Hoke lost his shit on the sidelines on someone, everyone would be bitching about that too. Look losing is a legitimate reason to criticize Hoke. All the peripheral stuff that questions his character, his love for the players, etc is disingenious to say the least.
September 17th, 2014 at 8:27 PM ^
And he doesn't need to wrestle with the players as their wake up call on game day.
September 17th, 2014 at 8:31 PM ^
Hoke's not going to stop being who he is just because some people thinks he should. His fatherly relationship with the players is a huge part of his recruiting success, so grand scheme of things, he really shouldn't change. How many of our commits have mentioned a family atmosphere?
Of the reasons we're not losing, players not being "afraid" of Hoke is going to be way down in the noise.
September 17th, 2014 at 8:37 PM ^
That Michigan can only recruit and keep players by playing house with them, then we should all just accept the middling position the Michigan football program has assumed. Perpetual mid-tier, Yay.
September 17th, 2014 at 9:02 PM ^
September 18th, 2014 at 1:56 AM ^
There is a contingent of the fan base that believes along those lines, right or wrong.
September 17th, 2014 at 9:54 PM ^
September 17th, 2014 at 11:21 PM ^
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