Wojo: 8-4 is reasonable, plus damning Kalis quote
Wojo as usual with a reasoned take on the upcoming season, also of note in the article is this quote from Kalis that made me very sad:
“Coach Harbaugh is awesome. And the way coach (Drevno) coaches us, it’s just working. We’ve had days where we’re rolling guys 10 yards off the ball, and that never happened before. It’s not that we couldn’t do it, it’s just we didn’t know how to do it.”
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/2015/08/28/harbaugh-wants-see-w…
EDIT: here is another Kalis quote, elaborating on the above, from a different article:
“We definitely have more of a grasp on how to play the offensive line,” Kalis said. “How to get a rhythm. Technique. Footwork. Stuff we would never really practice or have a knowledge of before.”
August 28th, 2015 at 10:17 AM ^
was expecting bad news, saying a "damning kalis quote" doesn't sound good.
i mean, i get it, but you had me all worried too.
August 28th, 2015 at 10:17 AM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 10:19 AM ^
Umm he went to U of M.
August 28th, 2015 at 10:34 AM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 10:59 AM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 11:59 AM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 12:04 PM ^
Wojo is a print guy (DetNews), but he's a Michigan grad.
You do have a couple options: It's either Valenti or Pat Caputo. They are both on 97.1, are Sparty grads and at least Caputo still writes drivel for the Oakland Press.
August 28th, 2015 at 10:18 AM ^
We had an o line coach that didn't know how to teach blocking? Who would have guessed...
August 28th, 2015 at 10:18 AM ^
It makes sense, doesn't it? Drevno coaches the Stanford OL and they are top 5 in sacks allowed and average over 200 yards a game rushing.
Then he goes to the 49ers and after a few years, has ALL FIVE O-Lineman selected to the Pro Bowl.
You think maybe this guy is a good coach? I do.
August 28th, 2015 at 10:18 AM ^
to make something happen instead of wondering what the hell happened! They just looked so flat and clueless at times the past few years. No more of that crap. On your toes or off the field.
August 28th, 2015 at 10:21 AM ^
I remember being excited about Gardner being able to identify a Mike linebacker last year... seems like a similar type of quote. When I see translation on the field, I'll believe in the run game.
Hope springs eternal, though...
August 28th, 2015 at 10:27 AM ^
It's possible that Gardner did know more, but man, that offense was still a sputtering mess. And I heard the OL guys last year say positive things also about the simplified blocking schemes. Blocking guys 10 yards downfield sounds good. I hope that doesn't say anything bad about our D-line though. I always felt our D-line was underwhelming, especially considering that was supposed to be Hoke's strength.
August 28th, 2015 at 12:17 PM ^
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August 28th, 2015 at 10:43 AM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 10:22 AM ^
Kali's quote is just confirming what most of us understood for the last couple years, and that is Darrell Funk was an absurdly terrible offensive line coach that never should have been hired to coach at Michigan, amongst other things.
August 28th, 2015 at 11:07 AM ^
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August 28th, 2015 at 10:22 AM ^
Of course if it is true, it's one more black eye on the previous coaching staff. Outside of Mattison, it's pretty evident that none of them had any business coaching at a place like Michigan.
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August 28th, 2015 at 10:35 AM ^
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August 28th, 2015 at 10:46 AM ^
I mean it wont matter much if the O-line IS "rolling guys 10 yards off the ball" if the damn RBs cut into the ass of the nearest lineman they see and not the hole.
Hopefully that's behind us post-Jackson.
August 28th, 2015 at 11:03 AM ^
That phrase had me laughing. Maybe what they need is the Wild Thing solution:
August 28th, 2015 at 10:29 AM ^
they spent more time learning technique in the film room but not applying on the field. But then again when Hoke took over for Rod, the players said the same thing about watching film and playing defense with Rod vs Hoke.
August 28th, 2015 at 10:38 AM ^
and Dave Brandon was doing the teaching.
August 28th, 2015 at 1:03 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 10:23 AM ^
This confirms my suspicion of the past couple of years that Michigan did not actually practice football while Hoke was the coach, but rather they sat around and played World of Warcraft all day.
August 28th, 2015 at 10:27 AM ^
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August 28th, 2015 at 12:04 PM ^
LLLLLEEEEEEEEEEROOOOOOOYYYYYYYY....
August 28th, 2015 at 12:42 PM ^
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August 28th, 2015 at 10:33 AM ^
They definitely did practice a choreographed dance routine to Atomic Dog to be performed on a punt return.
That's a fact.
August 28th, 2015 at 10:24 AM ^
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August 28th, 2015 at 10:36 AM ^
How the F do you not practice this stuff? Isn't this a basic description of an O-lineman's ENTIRE JOB?! I'm no football coach, but what the hell WERE they practicing? Tying shoes with double knots? How to point at the guy next to you after you blew an assignment to shift blame? Checking out hot girls in the stands without looking like you were doing so? I'm going to do my best to pretend the last four seasons didn't exist.
August 28th, 2015 at 10:58 AM ^
I don't get the sense that Borges was really very interested in technique. Like Charlie Weis (miss you, big guy) he focused on the "system" and game planning for opponents.
I've never been an athlete, but I was a pretty serious music student at one time. I was drilled over and over on technique, scales, etc., until I was sick of it - even after I'd played for years. It taught me that you must continue to practice the basics even long after you thought you'd mastered them, and particularly when you're getting ready for a big performance.
August 28th, 2015 at 11:09 AM ^
Well Borges wasn't the OL coach anyway so ...
August 28th, 2015 at 12:30 PM ^
Values start at the top and flow down. Maybe he thought technique was being taught - or maybe he indicated that they can learn it "on their own time."
Whatever the case, they clearly didn't.
August 28th, 2015 at 10:53 AM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 12:41 PM ^
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August 28th, 2015 at 1:27 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 2:21 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 10:29 AM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 10:34 AM ^
what you're saying, and I'm hoping for the best. I do think that for the most part the players haven't developed or coached well over the past 3 seasons. I'm optimistic the season will be great, but I too think 8 wins is about where they'll end which would be a HUGE turn around from last season.
August 28th, 2015 at 11:14 AM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 10:35 AM ^
Our recent first-year head coaches had some hiccups. Moeller lost three games by six points his first year. Lloyd lost four games and I think only the Alamo Bowl was a game they didn't have a second half lead. We know about RichRod. Even Hoke needed a miracle to pull out the ND game to avoid three regular season losses that year.
I believe 3-4 losses is reasonable for a team we have not laid eyes on in a game that counts.
August 28th, 2015 at 10:38 AM ^
Why not? We have (1) good talent that was not properly trained or coached, (2) a QB that will has a history of high percentage completions and low turnovers, (3) four really stud running backs from which at least one and maybe two will break out big time, (4) proven defense that seems to have more talent than before, (5) special teams that will make special plays.
And then and then.........Harbaugh and a coaching staff that is remarkable for a college team.
Go Blue!
August 28th, 2015 at 10:57 AM ^
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August 28th, 2015 at 11:03 AM ^
Maturity is such a big thing in college football that gets a little bit overlooked.
Most successful teams aren't winning without rosters that are heavy on Juniors and Seniors.
Obviously, Hoke brought in a lot of talent, but some of the BEST talent he brought in is starting to reach full maturity.... my expecations are high.
August 28th, 2015 at 12:04 PM ^
My favorite quote:
Depth chart? Uh, sure, there will be a depth chart. But Harbaugh won't release it until Utah releases its own Monday, and he might or might not list starters by their real names.
August 28th, 2015 at 12:04 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 10:32 AM ^
I am looking forward to this opener more than any one since RR's first year. (Yes, I was excited, thought he'd do great things. Also felt he needed to go when he did.) There's a plan in place, it's coherent, and we have coaches that know how to teach the skills needed to make it happen.
We won't win every game under Harbaugh, but I am completely confident we'll look like a focused and disciplined TEAM, and that the staff will be able to fix problems as they arise. Maybe even make-gasp-intelligent in-game and halftime adjustments!
August 28th, 2015 at 10:36 AM ^
I was kinda expecting a loss to Utah because of the QB situation. But I was expecting better than what we got. I don't think I've ever been so excited about a season opener before, even when we had top 5 teams.
August 28th, 2015 at 10:36 AM ^
is right, I do remember similar language being spouted off last season before the opener, possibly by Kalis..something along the lines of, "Just wait, we are MUCH improved, you'll see a complete difference..." something like that...the time for talking is almost over...gotta "be about it" soon!
August 28th, 2015 at 10:44 AM ^
someone go and dig up quotes from Hoke's first fall camp and see if people weren't saying the exact same things.