Coach Carr Comments from Weekly Press Conference
11/9/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football
Weekly Football Media Luncheon
On Wisconsin ...
"I think Wisconsin is the best team we have faced all year. When I look at Wisconsin, I see the best kicking game that we've played this year. Their punter might be the best punter in the nation, averaging 45 yards a kick. Their field goal kicker has made 16 out of 17 and when you match that with a turnover rating of plus-21, you have a football team that does not beat itself. You have an offensive team that has every starter back on the offensive line and a running back that is one of the best two or three in the nation. There isn't any question they are the best football team we've faced all year, so if you ask why I'm not in a very good mood, that's why."
Wisconsin's offensive line averages something like 304 pounds. Do you consciously go out and recruit the biggest players
"There was a time here at Michigan when we liked to have our offensive linemen as big as we could find. I think we changed that philosophy when we tried to get a more balanced offensive scheme, because in that type of scheme, you are generally looking for guys that are very athletic, guys that can move. We like to pull the guards and pull the tackles as well as the passing part of it.
"I think Wisconsin, as long as Barry (Alvarez) has been there, has been a program that likes a big strong physical lineman. Aaron Gibson is something like 360 and was even bigger than that in high school and a lot of teams didn't recruit him. But what happened was they (Wisconsin) got a guy that had a real determination and was willing to work to gain strength and has turned into an absolutely great tackle. They have two guys that will be drafted and Gibson may be the first offensive lineman to be drafted."
On simulating Wisconsin running back Ron Dayne ...
"We don't have anyone that can simulate Ron Dayne. Ron Dayne is not an ordinary guy. He is tremendously athletic for 260 pounds. Even if we had a guy, I wouldn't want him to hurt our guys. We do not match up size-wise. We are a defense that is predicated on speed and movement."
On the Badger defense ...
"You have to have patience from the standpoint that they are not going to give you big plays. That's part of their scheme, to concentrate on stopping the running game and make you execute the intermediate and short passing game. They are very good at stopping the run because they see it so much in practice. They are a defense that is going to mix up their coverages."
Is Michigan on a roll
"I don't think you are on a roll when you play a very good football game, and I don't think one game puts you on a roll. We'll see if we can maintain the same type of intensity and emotion we had and the same kind of execution. I think we did a good job. There were a couple of things I didn't like, but certainly it gives us encouragement."
On junior rush linebacker James Hall ...
"This is hard to understand from a guy from Louisiana, but he is better in cold weather than he is in warm weather. It was the same a year ago."
On the Wisconsin secondary ...
"They have two guys back there, one runs a 4.3 (40-yard dash) and the other runs a 4.4. Their one safety, No. 8, Doring, I want you to know he is my kind of football player. He is something to see, and the thing I've been impressed with is they play a kind of defense where they don't give up big plays."
On the Michigan running game ...
"I don't know that Clarence (Williams) can carry the ball 30 times a game, but if he can carry it 15 and give us everything he's got and we can give Anthony (Thomas) the same amount of work, I think it gives you the kind of punch and the kind of freshness that if you are blocking well, it gives you a chance to wear a team down. That was part of our success on Saturday. I liked it."
Is there anything about Wisconsin that surprised you
"I wouldn't say there is anything that surprised me. I knew they were going to be a great team. When you look at Barry's (Alvarez) teams, he's a defensive coach. They are very, very physical and that's the kind of team they've always had. When they have a back like Dayne, they are going to have a great football team. Defensively, they are better than I thought they would be.
"The thing that concerns me the most is the great kicking game because when you play the way they do and you have a great kicking game, you have a great football team."
On Wisconsin quarterback Mike Samuel ...
"Wisconsin probably throws more passes than anyone, but the thing that impresses me is his efficiency. What he brings to that offense with some use of the option, I think he is much improved from a year ago. He does a great job doing what they want their quarterback to do."
Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
