Air Force Head Coach Troy Calhoun Post-Game Comments on Michigan
Air Force Head Coach Troy Calhoun had some interesting remarks about Michigan's football team post-game.
Link here because my embedding skills suck. Sorry guys.
1. On the Speed of Michigan
“It was a factor…..High quality players…..They are an exceptional group”
2. On Michigan’s physicality
“They’re a stout group. I mean, an impressive squad. Certainly are going to win a bunch of football games this year. It’s just their size, their athleticism, and a pretty complete group.”
3. Game plan-wise, you didn’t complete a pass in the first half…were you concentrating on establishing the run?
“Well, they are a little bit different. They probably don’t have to quite commit as many guys to the run as maybe some of other squads we’ve faced. It’s not like there were 11 guys within 4 yards of the line of scrimmage, so they had something to do with that (lack of success throwing).
4. About getting outside on Michigan in the 2nd half
“Well, we probably blocked a little bit better. And then, candidly, in the first…especially the first 25 minutes of the game, we’ tried…..but.... to block bodies that size, that move that well and that play blocks as well as they do, again…I mean, that’s a credit to their guys.”
5. Was their anything about Michigan that surprised you, that you didn’t expect to see today that you didn’t see on film?
“Um, I wouldn’t say surprise. But I think once you get on the field and you recognize with whom they are playing, it’s impressive. It is. You know, they’ve done a super, super job in recruiting, it does hurt a bit when you get a chance to play a game here (Ann Arbor) where they’ve been pretty fair the last 2 ½ years.”
6. What did you see on the punt return. Did your kicker sort of outkick the coverage there?
“Uh no sir. I think the returner, like a said a bit earlier, he’s a…..he’s not small, and he does have some decent feet, any time you got that kind of combination with a returner, they have good strength in order to break some tackles. They did a good job with three key blocks and once he’s got a little bit of room, he’s gonna go.”
7. You held them mainly to field goals, you weren’t giving up touchdowns until the very end…your defense….you held them to 5 field goals.
“We did. We gave up some yards. Like I said we’re going to dissect and debrief and learn from this and keep developing. That’s what we really, really have to do."
September 18th, 2017 at 9:02 AM ^
I like how the coach at the military academy uses the word "debrief."
September 18th, 2017 at 9:04 AM ^
I actually think we could have shut them down even more with a five man front. When we did use them AF went nowhere. What is good though is the defense we run is going to bring Purdue back to reality and Blaugh is going to be sacked a lot. I really don't see any teams running the ball on Michigan with any success, thus making them one demensional and the hounds will be released.
September 18th, 2017 at 9:27 AM ^
The Academy programs, from players to coaches, are kept classy.
Those young men are training to fight for our country and protect our freedoms, not get NFL contracts.
It'd be pretty good if we never played them again. Go Army, beat Navy.
September 18th, 2017 at 9:53 AM ^
Calhoun's Air Force squad sticking it to Frost's UCF.
However, MSU is OURS! We'll grind their faces into the mud our own selves. Oh, you think you outplayed us in the trenches last year?...
September 18th, 2017 at 9:58 AM ^
He says UofM was bigger, faster, more athletic, physical. Nonetheless, AF and its players hung with them. That's coaching. Having your team prepared. Putting together a good game plan. Making good in game adjustments. And, I agree with him. Calhoun and his staff & players were really good. Played to their potential. Outcoached Michigan. Just couldn't quite overcome the inherent differential in the players.
September 18th, 2017 at 11:12 AM ^
And I respect Air Force and their coach. But I wonder if even was thinking "I thought their offense would be better." Or maybe an opposing coach wouldn't think that way and just credit their defense. Either way, seems like a good guy.
And we gotta get our act together at Purdue.
GO BLUE!!
September 18th, 2017 at 11:39 AM ^
...hoped we looked at when searching for a coach if Harbaugh wasn't coming. Has pro experience and has the resume to run a pro-style offense. His coaching acumen was on full display against us with their schemes.
September 18th, 2017 at 1:34 PM ^
His assessment is spot on too. However,I'd say what he didn't...M wore down his squad second half and especially last ten mins d was suffocating.