Having Your Player's Backs

Submitted by NoMoPincherBug on

During the Wolverines' 10-2 season, Robinson has taken criticism, but Hoke balked that this was a statement game.

"I don't know who he's making a statement to, because he's our quarterback and will be our quarterback at Michigan," Hoke said. "Denard went out there as a quarterback of Michigan and went out there to help his teammates and be accountable to his teammates. He couldn't do it by himself and no one ever does, but I thought he played an aggressive, controlled football game."

 
 

victors2000

November 27th, 2011 at 7:25 AM ^

force ever since he's arrived to take 'the job'. He has been nothing short of amazing, just what the program needed when it decided to move in another direction after Coach Rod. I was one of the 'eye rollers' when his hiring was first announced, but it seemed every day since the announcement he did something to benefit the program and make things better.

There is a magical feel to what is happening now, some 'Hoke'-us pocus so to speak, things keep getting better and better and I look forward to the next thing he pulls out of his cap. Obviously that's just a phrase as he doesn't wear a cap nor does he have sleeves, for that matter.

maizenbluenc

November 27th, 2011 at 8:29 AM ^

so was this the best game ever? Is this Michigan football yet? etc.  These questions really deserve the old "now why would you ask a stupid question like that?" response. Especially when the game just played could clearly have been improved upon. I like how Hoke handled it, but the press can ask some pretty annoying questions.

tbeindit

November 27th, 2011 at 9:11 AM ^

You know, I've been defending Denard on this board and with friends for well over a year now.  Anytime he makes a mistake, we need to get rid of him, etc.  The people that lack any faith in him have just driven me crazy.  He will break virtually every offensive record at Michigan before he graduates.  

It's time for everyone to accept that Denard is one of the best qbs not only in the Big Ten, but in the nation.  So proud to have him at Michigan

Charlie Chunk

November 27th, 2011 at 9:55 AM ^

Hoke's style of coaching works well with these players.  He understands that the product on the field is a result of good coaching and game preparation.  I think that's why he can be so calm on the sideline when things don't go as planned.

This coaching staff brings a lot of experience to the game and it shows.

It was a great year for the team!

Go Blue! 

MGoNOLA

November 27th, 2011 at 10:35 AM ^

At the bar on Saturday I had the unfortunate pleasure of sitting next to some of the worst M fans I've ever seen. The constant talking down our players, coaches, and bar stool quarterbacking was ugly. Even the elderly Ole Miss fans were laughing at these clowns.

When OHIO is on the line you support the team, denard, Hoke (or whoever the coach is), and you cheer even louder when mistakes are made.

HighKnees

November 27th, 2011 at 10:37 AM ^

Compare Hoke to Brian Kelly, who is constantly reaming his players out on the sideline.  Doesn't Hoke seem to inspire better play from his players?  Kelly's style just seems to make his players nervous. 

There are a number of high school coaches that post here - what do you guys think?  Football's an intense game and I understand some yelling (I'm sure Mattison and Borges play the bad cop to Hoke's good cop sometimes), but it seems to me that the positive reinforcement that Hoke practices works much better than Kelly's "if you f--- this up I am going to chew your ass out" style.  (sidenote:  did anyone catch the ND broadcast last night, when Herby said that Brian Kelly made him nervous?  I found that funny).

CompleteLunacy

November 27th, 2011 at 11:15 AM ^

But the kelly-type style can work just fine. Look at how Bo did it. The difference between Bo and Kelly is that Bo had a method to his madness (which can be ascertained from Bacon's book "Bo's Lasting Lessons") whereas Kelly just seems to have anger problems and just comes across as a dick.
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<br>All that being said, i love the way Hoke coaches. And i bet you he has some Bo in him behind closed doors. But his demeanor in public and on gamedays is great.

Yeoman

November 27th, 2011 at 11:19 AM ^

Kelly makes it personal. There's a world of difference between "what the fuck was that?" and "you're a fucking asshole".

Mattison commented on this in a presser a couple of weeks ago (no reference to Kelly, of course). No matter how harsh it gets, the criticism can never become personal.

HighKnees

November 27th, 2011 at 11:42 AM ^

Yeah, definitely good points.  Football's an intense game, and I'm sure there's a balance between reassuring a guy and getting him primed to play a complex but aggressive game.  I just like Hoke's calm during games.  I noticed after the deep bomb to Corey Brown that Hoke pulled Floyd and I think Countess aside and spoke to them calmly and deliberately.  At the time I thought to myself "good move, these guys are probably so jacked up to play, yelling at them would just put them on edge."  That's the kind of leader I want for a football team.

CompleteLunacy

November 27th, 2011 at 12:22 PM ^

The best coaches are the guys who can read their players the best. Some people just have 'it' in that sense and know when to prod aggressively and when to coach calmly or leave alone. Hoke has it. In my eyes Kelly does not. And that sort of thing is what separates good teams from great teams in the top 25 imo.