Player Comments from
Weekly U-M Football Media Luncheon
11/12/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Junior/Sophomore Quarterback John Navarre
On the improved running game ... "We looked at the Michigan State film and knew we did not run that well and we developed an attitude to take pride in the running game all week in practice. I think the amount of effort our offensive linemen put forth on Saturday was great and as a quarterback I had a good view of how well our offensive line played. The offensive line played well and really dominated the line of scrimmage."
On the passing game since coming off the bye week ... "Statistically, I have got to get better, but winning is the ultimate goal. Your job is to do all you can as a quarterback to give your team a chance to win, but interceptions do not do that and that is something I need to shore up."
On the Big Ten championship race ... "You have to keep it in perspective and focus one game a week. You have to focus on the task at hand, maintain an attention to detail and not look past anything because you can get hurt if you don't do those things. You also need to treat every game as a championship game because that is what it is at this point. Fortunately, we control our own destiny."
On other teams having to prepare for more than one quarterback ... "That is definitely a positive for us because it is a different angle and gives the opposing defenses something else to prepare for. Jermaine (Gonzales) is another wrinkle with his ability to run that other teams have to be aware of."
On criticism in the media ... "I have never been distracted by the media or by what people say because when you play quarterback at Michigan you have to be tough-skinned and you are going to have critics no matter what you do. You just have to look past that stuff and play football."
On his confidence ... "I think everybody was a little bit down after the Michigan State loss, but to move the ball smoothly like we did against Minnesota has helped my confidence as we get ready for the final stretch of the season."
Senior Tailback Walter Cross
On the running game ... "We just talked during the week that we had to have an attitude about our running game. We worked on it a lot in practice last week and it was like we were going back to our bread and butter. We took the attitude from practice into the game and as an offense we got back to basics."
On the play of the running backs ... "The backs as a group ran the ball well, but that is easy to do when the offensive line blocks like it did on Saturday."
On playing at Camp Randall Stadium ... "Playing at Wisconsin is one of the toughest places to play in the conference. It reminds me of playing at Ohio State or at Penn State, which are big stadiums that can get loud."
On the success of the reverses ... "It inspires us to watch our quarterback (John Navarre) get out ahead of the reverse and laying blocks on people. He is a tough guy who is going to do whatever it takes to win and that is the type of guy you want leading an offense."
Sophomore Wide Receiver Calvin Bell
On the effectiveness of the reverses ... "I think we just execute the play well and our coaches do a great job of setting the play up and calling it at the right time. We get the defense over-pursuing a little bit and then hit them with that play and we have great success with it."
On the play of both Michigan quarterbacks ... "Jermaine (Gonzales) has that mobility so you can use the quarterback draw and also spread the defense out, while John (Navarre) can sit in the pocket and throw the deep ball or pick defenses apart. It is a lot like the reverses in the sense that it gives our offense an element of surprise."
On the use of the trick plays ... "Our coaches have done a great job putting in plays that you don't normally see Michigan run and they have been very successful at picking the right times to use those plays in games."
On playing opposite Marquise Walker ... "Whenever other teams lock down on Walker it opens up passing lanes for the other receivers, and I think teams will make a mistake if they chose to just concentrate on Walker. We all have the ability to catch the ball and do something with it after we catch it."
Senior/Junior Outside Linebacker Victor Hobson
On playing at Wisconsin ... "I remember last time how loud it was and how into it their fans get. I also remember their team feeding off of all that energy, so we know what it is going to be like up there and we have to be ready for anything."
On Wisconsin running back Anthony Davis ... "From what I have seen on film he is a great back. He is shifty and fast and poses a threat every time he touches the football. He runs a little bit like the backs from Minnesota in the sense that he is so quick, but really he has his own style."
On Wisconsin's balance ... "Any team that has a great receiver and a great running back makes them difficult to prepare for because you cannot focus on just one aspect of their offense. We will have to concentrate on both areas this week, but stopping the run comes first and that will be our biggest challenge."
On Michigan's run defense against Minnesota ... "I think we are near where we need to be in terms of stopping the run. Minnesota did gain some yards on the ground, but our goal every week is to stop the run and we did a pretty good job of that vs. Minnesota."
Junior/Sophomore Offensive Tackle Tony Pape
On the improved ground game vs. Minnesota ... "It was exciting to run for 300 yards because we planned all week to concentrate on the running game and it was gratifying to go for 300 yards for the first time this season. I think we played better as a unit on Saturday and we limited our mistakes because in the running game all it takes is one mistake to stop an entire play."
On the play of the running backs ... "I think we gave our running backs confidence and when we give them confidence they hit the holes harder and make more things happen."
On playing at Camp Randall Stadium ... "I am excited because that is why you come to Michigan. You know you are going to play in big games and in front of a lot of people, so everybody is excited about the game this weekend."
On the championship race ... "We are treating this as a two-game season and we need to play each of them with a sense of desperation and play as hard as we can. There is a lot on the line when you talk about a Big Ten championship and it is time for us to come together."
On Wisconsin's defense ... "Wendell Bryant is a threat on the defensive line because he plays the one-technique, defensive tackle and defensive end at different times in the game. We need to keep an eye out for him and you have to be ready to perform at your highest level when you are lined up across from an All-American."
On the blocking of quarterback John Navarre ... "We love running the reverse as an offense because it is set up very well and I know John loves getting out and blocking. He played defensive end in high school and he still looks forward to going out and hitting people. It felt good to watch that reverse for a touchdown the next day on film because it is a nice complement to the rest of our offense."
Junior/Sophomore Outside Linebacker John Spytek
On tickets for the Wisconsin game ... "I got a lot of them. I was able to get about 25 of them. It took a lot of hard work and bargaining with a lot of players."
Are you a little more excited to be playing in your home state ... "I think you get excited for all of the games. For me to get a chance to go back home and play in front of many family and friends, it's a game I've been looking forward to all year."
Do they like Michigan in Wisconsin ... "No, they really hate Michigan over there."
What is it like to play with your brother Dave ... "It is a great experience to have him here and to get a chance to see him every day. I think it's a unique opportunity to play college football with a brother. A lot of brothers don't get a chance to play together and to play at a place like Michigan is a great experience so far."
On being in the heat of a championship race ... "There is a excitement to it but you also have to prepare for it. We got to where we are because we prepared for it. We can't get caught up in the excitement of the championship because if we don't take care of Wisconsin this week, there won't be a championship. We need to stay focused and do everything we need do each week in order to be prepared."
On playing on the kickoff squad ... "It starts with having a great kicker in Hayden Epstein. He kicks it deep and gives us a chance to get downfield. We work real hard with Coach (Bobby) Morrison every week and he does an outstanding job of preparing us. We know what every team does each week and it makes it easier for us as we head down the field. After we get down the field, we just need to get off blocks and make plays."
On seeing Epstein kick balls into and through the end zone ... "We get all pumped up on the sidelines and when you see him kick it through the end zone we get a little disappointed because we can't hit somebody."
On the kickoff return unit's success ... "We worked real hard on it during the spring and have continued to work very hard during the season. I think the fact that Todd Howard was able to bust two last week just gives us confidence that we can do this at any time if we all just get on our blocks and stay on them. We have confidence that Todd or Chris (Perry) or Marlin (Jackson) that they'll bring it out and hopefully by the end of the year we'll put one in the end zone."
What is the key to setting up good kickoff returns ... "You just need to get back, get on your man and stay on him. You can't slip off your block. You have to keep them out of the way because we all know where the return is going. You have to get on you man and stay on him."
Senior/Junior Defensive Tackle Shawn Lazarus
On playing against Wisconsin's big offensive line ... "It is a challenge every week but these guys are big. They have three older players in there and two guards who are little younger. They are all very good players. I won't be playing against their 6-8 tackle, though, but he may be blocking down on me. We'll just wait and see on Saturday."
On being in the championship race ... "We are aware of it but we just want to go out and perform. We want to control the line of scrimmage and do our job and hopefully get off there with a win. The main objective is to win and that's the bottom line for us -- win."
On Wisconsin tailback Anthony Davis ... "They have a great tradition at Wisconsin of always having a good running back. I think he is leading the Big Ten and might be tops in the nation in rushing per carry. He is a great player and it will be a challenge for us to control the line of scrimmage and try and shut the running game down. We need to keep it to a minimum."
Is Wisconsin's offensive line the most physical you've seen on a yearly basis ... "Traditionally, they have had a bigger offensive line than most Big Ten teams. This year we've gone against a lot of big offensive lines and I think that is the trend across the Big Ten and across the country. Every week is a challenge and we need to step up to it."
On the balanced offensive by Wisconsin and how the passing game affects defenses ... "Lee Evans is a really good receiver. We are going to have to get some pressure on the quarterback and make him throw the ball when he doesn't want to or pull it down and make him run with it because they are extremely mobile. This team has a lot of threats, they have a good running game, offensive line and receiving corps, and it will be a big challenge. Even though their record doesn't show it, they have the potential to be a powerhouse."
On the up-and-down nature of Wisconsin this season ... "We approach every game the same. Wisconsin has the potential to great. They have all the things it takes to be successful."
Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
